How To Eliminate Denominationalism In One Lifetime

[Brother Adam]

hrm... i disagree with the whole prots worship a book thing. that's taking it to the extreme. kindof like catholics worship bread and wine. B-A-L-O-N-Y!

THANKS for all of the information. it is appreciated and helps me understand more.

[God Conquers]

It's different, cause we believe that that bread is actually Christ.

[Paladin D]

Eucharist = Christ. Thus, it's perfectly fine to worship it.

[mulls]

Catholics adore Jesus -second person of the Trinity, in the Eucharist, which means we are adoring God.

Protestants worship a book.

Protestants worship God's words, we worship God himself

Protestants are confusing the part with the whole.

cmom, i know you know better than this.

[foundsheep]

The diffrence in opinion on John chapter 6.

[hyperdulia again]

bump

[Bruce S]

Hyper, why did you bump this one?

It is 99% all Catholics agreeing they are right with each other.

This isn't a debate thread, but a mutual admiration society.

We KNOW you all agree that you have it right, what is the point of this thread anyway?

The title is "How to Eliminate Denominationalism In One Lifetime"

Let me summarize what I've learned so far from this thread:

"Join us. Period"

OK got it. Anything else you want us to know?

[Paladin D]

Toward unity (Catechism quote)

820 "Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time."277 Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me."278 The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit.279

821 Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call:

- a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity;280

- conversion of heart as the faithful "try to live holier lives according to the Gospel";281 for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ's gift which causes divisions;

- prayer in common, because "change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism;"'282

-fraternal knowledge of each other;283

- ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests;284

- dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities;285

- collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind.286 "Human service" is the idiomatic phrase.

822 Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike."287 But we must realize "that this holy objective - the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ - transcends human powers and gifts." That is why we place all our hope "in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit."288

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM

If anyone was interested.

[Bruce S]

Unity is impossible with the "Join US" mentality. When Catholics agree to move towards OTHER Christians, giving them credence for loving Jesus as much as they do, it might be possible.

For now, it is a one way street, and the signposts all point to Rome, not Jerusalem and Jesus.

[jasJis]

Hyper, why did you bump this one?

It is 99% all Catholics agreeing they are right with each other.

This isn't a debate thread, but a mutual admiration society.

We KNOW you all agree that you have it right, what is the point of this thread anyway?

The title is "How to Eliminate Denominationalism In One Lifetime"

Let me summarize what I've learned so far from this thread:

"Join us. Period"

OK got it. Anything else you want us to know?

"Join us. Period."

So very, very close, my brother.

How about:

"Let us seek to embrace the TRUTH in Love, and together, with Grace, we'll be able to focus on His Truth and lose sight of our error."

**pop** < All the "denominations" disappearing.

[Bruce S]

"Let us seek to embrace the TRUTH in Love, and together, with Grace, we'll be able to focus on His Truth and lose sight of our error."

Good, excellent advice.

For much of this morning, I have been discussing Pentecostalism, the good things, the bad things, the excesses.

Frankly, your advice is excellent.

I admit to OUR errors all the time, I admit we have STUPID greedy pastors, I admit to nutcases, and on and on. I also see some beautiful things, wonderful pastors.

From YOU, however, all I see is YOU saying everyone else is in error, you have all the truth, never have a problem, all is correct.

NOT dialogue, only condemnation of everyone that doesn't have your denomination as the answer to everything.

No discussion, only lecturing.

I'm too old, have lived life in too many circumstances, have owned and operated too many businesses, and read too much to accept that and treat anyone with that closed minded approach to determine where I'm going to end up.

There is MUCH in all of the denominations, if YOU would get out of the Catholic Church pew, wander around, see what the rest of the world is doing, and take out the BEST from all, Catholic Church included, Pentecostal exhuberance, Messianic understanding of Jewish roots, the research of Presbyterianism, even the MORALS of Mormon's, you would see that OTHERS are honest seekers too, they are valid, they are in search of the same thing YOU profess, only they want to do it with an open mind, not a closed mind.

Grow and fly....test the waters, you won't die.

Best, and chill.

[jasJis]

Unity is impossible with the "Join US" mentality. When Catholics agree to move towards OTHER Christians, giving them credence for loving Jesus as much as they do, it might be possible.

For now, it is a one way street, and the signposts all point to Rome, not Jerusalem and Jesus.

Read the Catechism excerpt that Paladin pointed.

It is YOU who think the Church says "seek Rome with us". The Church says "Come fellow children of Christ. Join us to seek God through the Truth of the Cross with us." The Church won't move toward error to encomany you, but it does reach it's arms out for you and take you as you are, error and all, and together we'll seek Grace of the Cross that will lay aside all error. In the Cross, Jesus has obtained for us the Grace of Perfection. Come to the Cross to be washed perfect. Bruce, it's a journey and a process that is only made complete when we join Him in heaven. Perfect Grace is here on earth in the Church. That Grace serves His Will and improves us each and every day, but we aren't made perfect until we are washed by the blood of the lamb in Heaven. Grace is a gift. Gifts are not forced on us, they are offered, we are allowed to accept or decline.

[Bruce S]

Read the Catechism excerpt that Paladin pointed.

It is YOU who think the Church says "seek Rome with us". The Church says "Come fellow children of Christ. Join us to seek God through the Truth of the Cross with us." The Church won't move toward error to encomany you, but it does reach it's arms out for you and take you as you are, error and all,

Yada yada....

Broken record. Got it the first time, how many different ways are you going to attempt to say....

"We are right, everyone else is wrong?"

That isn't debating, that is petulance.

:unsure:

[jasJis]

NOT dialogue, only condemnation of everyone that doesn't have your denomination as the answer to everything.

No discussion, only lecturing.

I'm too old, have lived life in too many circumstances, have owned and operated too many businesses, and read too much to accept that and treat anyone with that closed minded approach to determine where I'm going to end up.

There is MUCH in all of the denominations, if YOU would get out of the Catholic Church pew, wander around, see what the rest of the world is doing, and take out the BEST from all, Catholic Church included, Pentecostal exhuberance, Messianic understanding of Jewish roots, the research of Presbyterianism, even the MORALS of Mormon's, you would see that OTHERS are honest seekers too, they are valid, they are in search of the same thing YOU profess, only they want to do it with an open mind, not a closed mind.

Grow and fly....test the waters, you won't die.

Best, and chill.

I am amazed that you have been here this long and believe there is truth and validity in what you posted. Then again, you aren't posting it for those who have responded to you, you are posting if for those young people who haven't left the Catholic Church or felt a need for it.

Bruce. I too am old. I too have made my mistakes. I've left the Church in thought, word, and deed. I know the sins of priests, nuns, and brothers, in the Catholic Church. I've lived them. Felt them. Been personaly sinned against by them. Have seen loved family and friends hurt by their sins.

I've also seen it in other "denominational leaders", be they ordained clergy, elders, or members.

People sin and destroy. God, with His grace, heal and grow.

I am Catholic from the long way. The way you suggested. Looking back, I see I abandoned TRUTH. I went away seeking it. TRUTH permeates God's creation. TRUTH permeates humanities thoughts and desires. It's always there. I'm what you call Catholic because I seek all the Graces of TRUTH I can find. The TRUTH that Pentacostals preach is also preached in the Catholic Church. The TRUTH the Jehovah Witnesses preach is also preached in the Catholic Church. The TRUTH that Judaism preaches is alsi in the Catholic Church. The TRUTH that Islam preaches is also in the Catholic Church.

I don't need to go to an sub-outlet to find TRUTH. I don't need or want the error on the shelves they have and the selection of TRUTH is incomplete. I'm going to the Mall of TRUTH where the selection is complete and always in stock. It's also laid out a little better and the error that is there as well, isn't as intrusive or obstructive. (Darn the human clerks, but the management has Divine aid.)

I have a great appreciation of where I am now. I learned alot by my mistakes. I am tremendously graced. I know the joy of the Prodigal. As a Prodigal, I understand the attitude of my Faithful brother who stayed at home. I pray he will never suffer as I have in order to appreciate the pleasures and grace of Our Father's House. I'd rather him stay and be comforted, nurished, and kept safely here at home. He doesn't have to have the same level of appreciatioin for Our Father as I have, to recieve the Love of the Father. The Prodigal is no less and no more loved then than the Faithful.