By
c.pio
The Church despite organizational
division (ex. Baptists, Presbyterians, Evangelicals) are still spiritually
universal. The Evangelical Christian embraces the Baptist Christian as
part of God's family because they believe in basically Bible doctrine NO MORE
NO LESS. (Misapplying Acts 9:31’s Greek to Prove
Roman Catholicism’s “Legitimacy”: Fundamental Baptist Christians Apologetics
Blog Ministry)
A question rather than an answer. Most
Protestant churches use the term ekklesiakath holes (The Church throughout the whole) to refer to the belief that
all Christians are part of Universal Church as mention in Acts 9:31 regardless of denominational divisions.
This
unorthodoxy movement was rooted to one person whose name was Nicholas Ludwig
Graf von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) founder of "Church of God
in the Spirit", this group emphasized Religion
of the Heart base on personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Zinzendorf's
theology is very relational and profoundly Christ-centered. Rather than
focusing on doctrine or belief, it emphasizes the growth of the spiritual
relationship between the believer and the Savior. (Freeman,
Arthur J. (1998). An Ecumenical Theology of the Heart. Bethlehem,
PA: Moravian
Church in America. pp. 234–235.) It was a radically
ecumenical approach. He believed that each denomination had a unique perception
of Christ, and a unique gift to offer the world.
Liberal Movement
Going
back to posted quote (Fundamental Baptist Christians
Apologetics Blog Ministry) It suggests that whether be a Baptist,
Presbyterians, Evangelical or other Christian denominations (of course except
Catholic because they considered us not Christian), all these are the composite
member of the Universal Church of Christ. I beg to disagree, this Church (Acts 9:31) is not only universal they are ONE [John 10:16, Romans 12:5, 1
Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:4-6], they have same mind, thinking ONE thing and No
division – a complete Union
Philippians
2:2 - be
of same mind, united in heart, thinking one thing
1 Corinthians 1:10 - I urge you that there be no divisions among you
1 Corinthians 1:10 - I urge you that there be no divisions among you
Romans
16:17 -
avoid those who create dissensions
Romans 15:5 - God grant you to think in harmony with one another
Colossians 3:15 - the peace into which you were called in one body
Romans 15:5 - God grant you to think in harmony with one another
Colossians 3:15 - the peace into which you were called in one body
If
the Presbyterian for example are truly in communion with Universal Church
of Christ together with the Baptist, how could it be that they have different
interpretation on Christ’s word ‘This is
my body, this is my blood’?
For
example Presbyterian conception of the Eucharist is that it provides spiritual
nourishment and growth in grace. Christ is not present literally in the elements, but he is spiritually present then compare it to the Baptist church that the Eucharist is a ‘Death Cookie’ while other Baptist denomination sees Eucharist as a mere symbol, bread is bread and wine is wine nothing more nothing less. Are they having the same mind? Thinking one thing? No division?
nourishment and growth in grace. Christ is not present literally in the elements, but he is spiritually present then compare it to the Baptist church that the Eucharist is a ‘Death Cookie’ while other Baptist denomination sees Eucharist as a mere symbol, bread is bread and wine is wine nothing more nothing less. Are they having the same mind? Thinking one thing? No division?
Some
would say that’s a minor thing; the most
important is your relationship to Christ. This only makes them more
unbiblical, why do Apostles and Early Christians bothered to convey a Council
to address the issue on circumcision? Why don’t they simply say, oh regardless whether you are circumcised or
not as long as you have a relationship and believe in Christ, you are still a
Christians. Why do they have to raise the issue to the Apostles and to the
elders and wait the official promulgation? The answer is so simple; He (Christ)
founded ONE Church with ONE mind, United in heart and
thinking ONE thing. THEY ARE NOT ONLY UNIVERSAL BUT THEY ARE ALL ONE.
Ultra-Liberal
Movement
Christianity is not an impersonal religion but a personal relationship…
… that this precious and essential
personal relationship with Christ was denied to those who needed it by those
who claimed to represent Him! (The Berean call,
Christ or Church? By Dave Hunt)
The
Non-denomination Christians. no priest, no minister, no group, no denomination
to join with but only you and Christ thru Bible. This is the most radical
movement so far in a Zinzendorf's
theology.
But
contrary to what they believe, Christ said:
“Do not think that I have come to
abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them.”
It
is clear and specific; Christ came NOT to abolish the LAW or the PROPHETS. I do
not want to belabor much on what does Christ mean on LAW or the PROPHETS, just
simply open the book of Old testament and you will see the WAY how the Family
of God worship him in the Temple (eg. incense, burning of offerings etc.): LAW
is a DOCTRINE! PROPHETS is an individual with AUTHORITY! Bible is a product of DOCTRINE AND AUTHORITY.
Christ’s
Church is ONE living UNIVERSAL Community [1 Corinthians 12:12-27] ONE LAW and led by his
REPRESENTATIVE: a Family of God and not a lonely individual.
The True ONE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
The Church founded by Christ is
the Pillar and Bulwark of Truth. This Church is ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC
CHURCH.
Hierarchical
Matthew
16:13-20 -
Jesus built his Church on Peter, the rock (foretold in the OT: Isaiah 22:15-25)
Luke 22:29-30 - I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:32 - Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd (that Peter's faith may not fail)
John 10:16 - One shepherd to shepherd Christ's sheep
John 15:16 - Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
John 21:17-19 - Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd
John 20:21 - Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
Ephesians 4:11 - Church leaders are hierarchical
1 Timothy 3:1,8; 1 Timothy 5:17 - identifies roles of bishops, priests and deacons
Titus 1:5 - Commission for bishops to ordain priests
Luke 22:29-30 - I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:32 - Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd (that Peter's faith may not fail)
John 10:16 - One shepherd to shepherd Christ's sheep
John 15:16 - Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
John 21:17-19 - Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd
John 20:21 - Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
Ephesians 4:11 - Church leaders are hierarchical
1 Timothy 3:1,8; 1 Timothy 5:17 - identifies roles of bishops, priests and deacons
Titus 1:5 - Commission for bishops to ordain priests
…
Authoritative
Matthew
18:18 -
Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to legislate
Matthew 18:17 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to discipline
Matthew 28:18-20 - Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Luke 10:16 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to speak with Christ's voice
John 20:23 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to forgive sins
1 Corinthians 11:24 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to offer sacrifice (the Eucharist)
Matthew 18:17 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to discipline
Matthew 28:18-20 - Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Luke 10:16 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to speak with Christ's voice
John 20:23 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to forgive sins
1 Corinthians 11:24 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to offer sacrifice (the Eucharist)
…
and Infallible
Matthew
28:20 -
Jesus tells them: I am with you always
Luke 10:16 - speaks with Christ's own voice
John 14:26 - Holy Spirit is to teach and remind them of everything
John 16:13 - guided by the Holy Spirit into all Truth
Acts 15:28 - Apostles speak with the voice of the Holy Spirit
1 Timothy 3:15 - Church is called the "pillar and foundation of truth"
1 John 2:27 - anointing of the Holy Spirit remains in you
Luke 10:16 - speaks with Christ's own voice
John 14:26 - Holy Spirit is to teach and remind them of everything
John 16:13 - guided by the Holy Spirit into all Truth
Acts 15:28 - Apostles speak with the voice of the Holy Spirit
1 Timothy 3:15 - Church is called the "pillar and foundation of truth"
1 John 2:27 - anointing of the Holy Spirit remains in you
“And
I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the
gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Pope
Paul VI in his encyclical, Evangelii Nuntiandi, states:
"Let us be very careful not
to conceive of the universal Church as the simple sum, or ... the more or less
anomolous federation of essentially different particular churches. In the mind
of the Lord the Church is universal by vocation and mission, but when she puts
down her roots in a variety of cultural, social, and human terrains, she takes
on different external expressions and appearances in each part of the
world."
We Catholics has an
intimate personal relationship to our Lord, we eat his flesh and drink his
blood as he instructed us to do, and we share a meal together at the one
banquet table in the presence of Our Lord. But this personal
relationship does not give us an excuse to reject what he established; you
cannot love the King and reject his Kingdom nor call a doctor and smash all his
instruments.
Frankly, I never engage in debates with other non-Catholic believers, it is useless. Because, they do not know the rules of debate, for them, debating is synonymous with offending the opponent. All of us know that the “pillar of truth is the Church.” simple as it sounds in the CC one have all what is needed for salvation, and the salvation is at hand, depending on the attitude of the believer ( and absolutely, on the Grace of Christ). On the other hand, Protestants relay absolutely on Scripture alone, the problem arises because they feel free to accommodate their salvation according with their egos, because, there is no obedience to a superior authority only to the authority they have created in their minds… Therefore, as I have said above I prefer to stay away from the blindness of their egos.
ReplyDeletewell said sir :)
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Great post! I quoted you on my blog at http://universalchristian.blogspot.com/2012/06/founding-of-church-part-vii.html. It seems like we both fighting the good fight!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this article :)
ReplyDeleteLet us proclaim the Good News and defend the ONE HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH. Amen
God bless you