Is This Heretical

[Archangel]

Thank you for letting us know what you believe, Mrs. Bro. Adam.

Do you believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church? If not, can you please list a few of the things you reject. Some of the common objections I have seen from non-Catholics are:
[list]
[*]Sacred Tradition
[*]the infallibility of the pope
[*]the Real Presence in the Eucharist
[*]confession to a priest
[*]the Immaculate Conception of Mary
[*]the Assumption of Mary into Heaven
[*]the Deuterocanonicals
[/list]Just curious. Thanks.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Mar 15 2004, 11:59 PM'] I worry about anyone that the BB [i]doesn't[/i] consider a heretic. [/quote]
That's funny too because to declare someone a heretic suggests that these people are claiming a definitive teaching authority for themselves. They are all popes I guess.

I wish I could see Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Erasmus, and Cajetan locked in a room together discussing doctrine. That would be a fun book for someone to write. Construct a fake dialogue between these men based on quotes from their writings. I know this is a tangent, but it would still be a very, very fun book to read! Don't you think?

[Brother Adam]

It already exists. I read part of it in HS. I don't remember the title anymore though.

[Jake Huether]

You are not an heretic. Because you do not reject the Truth. You just don't understand it yet.

I don't think you or Bro have ever said you reject something outright. You've always been pretty consistent in stating that you don't get it. Or you don't understand it.


[quote]
I believe that the Holy Spirit is our intercessor and that God has told us to confess our sins to Him.[/quote]


I don't believe that there is a specific instance in the Bible where God told anyone to "confess" to Him. What's there to "confess" when God already knows it? God has commanded people to repent. But repentance and confession are two seperate things? It was the Apostles that told the people to confess, but then I don't think they ever specified to whom they must confess. But since God the Son told the Apostles, who's sins you forgive are forgiven, we can presume that these people confessed to the Apostles.

It is through our confession to a Priest that our repentance toward God is solidified. And by Christs Grace through the Sacraments we recieve strength not to sin again.

[Brother Adam]

[b]Biblical Authority[/b]
The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not carry Scripture's inherent authority.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20, 21

[color=purple]This makes sense to me, but I don't think is complete. Paul also said to hold fast to the traditions passed down to us. [/color]

[b]Autonomy of the Local Church[/b]
The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the local church itself. Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church's beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation. A Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and in an associational tie, but a Baptist church cannot be a "member" of any other body.
Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 19, 23

[color=purple]This actually seems silly to me now. The Apostles governed the world-wide universal church of Christ. Each church, only divided by geography and not doctrine had leaders within the church buildings who would submit to the authority of the Apostles (Bishops).[/color]

[b]Priesthood of the Believer[/b]
"Priest" is defined as "one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God." Every believer today is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and people. As priests, we can study God's Word, pray for others, and offer spiritual worship to God. We all have equal access to God--whether we are a preacher or not.
1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 5:9, 10

[color=purple]True, but again, just doesn't seem complete. [/color]

[b]Two Ordinances[/b]
The local church should practice two ordinances: (1) baptism of believers by immersion in water, identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and (2) the Lord's Supper, or communion, commemorating His death for our sins.
Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

[color=purple]But Confession, Annointing, Ordination, Marriage...they are all in the Bible too.[/color]

[b]Individual Soul Liberty[/b]
Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what he believes is right in the religious realm. No one should be forced to assent to any belief against his will. Baptists have always opposed religious persecution. However, this liberty does not exempt one from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God Himself.
Romans 14:5, 12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9

[color=purple]Agreed.[/color]

[b]Saved, Baptized Church Membership[/b]
Local church membership is restricted to individuals who give a believable testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer's baptism. When the members of a local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3

[color=purple]I won't comment...[/color]

[b]Two Offices[/b]
The Bible mandates only two offices in the church--pastor and deacon. The three terms--"pastor," "elder," and "bishop," or "overseer"--all refer to the same office. The two offices of pastor and deacon exist within the local church, not as a hierarchy outside or over the local church.
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1

[color=purple]These are two offices specifically described specifically by scripture, but not the only two seen in scripture.[/color]


[b]Separation of Church and State[/b]
God established both the church and the civil government, and He gave each its own distinct sphere of operation. The government's purposes are outlined in Romans 13:1-7 and the church's purposes in Matthew 28:19 and 20. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling the government.
Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29

[color=purple]True...[/color]

Edited March 16, 2004 by Brother Adam

[VeraMaria]

[url="http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/28/2533.html"]http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb...ic/28/2533.html[/url]

this should be interesting

[Brother Adam]

I still regularly read what is going on at the BB. They have once again pretty much reverted back to a "nice" mode. During this short period of time Catholics and Protestants are very nice to each other. Even the normally prideful anti-Catholics remain very civil. Eventually everyone will end up pitching fits again. At least, that is how it usually works.