What makes these other churches think they are right and other's are wrong?

There is going to be a lot of Baptists pleasantly surprised by number of Catholics in heaven. Imagine all the Baptists who belong to Christ greeted by Mother Teresa and John Paul II, St. Peter, all the saints, me!

God Bless

 

There is a "denial of truth" and a "pride of ownership" factor present in every group, denomination, sect, cult, etc. It is essentially human pride! We all want to believe that we have chosen rightly, therefore we "own" what we have chosen, and that is "pride of ownership" because we have difficulty dealing with the concept that maybe, just maybe, we have believed wrongly.

Problem is, that pride of ownership is often accompanied with "denial of truth". We hear what we want to hear, accept that which we want to accept, without being like the Bereans, and searching the scriptures to see if it is the truth. Testing what we believe against all "the knowns", and that, is "denial of truth".

That which we "own" we brag on or proselytize others with.

Be a Berean!

 

I'm Baptist, and I've had Baptists tell me I'm wrong. So this ain't nuthin' new.

DOctrinal differences are items of faith, not items of fact. We are free to interpret the Bible as we feel we're called. Our doctrines and articles of faith (or, in our case, our distinctives) are based on those beliefs. But other Christians, too, are free to interpret the Bible as they feel called, and sometimes, that results in the "I'm right, you're wrong" arguement. Faith is faith because it is based on belief and trust, not on fact. If it were based on fact, it wouldn't be faith, wouldn't it? But in the absence of faith, differences in belief are inhierent. We should endeavor to cast aside the "I'm right, you're wrong" argmenent and replace it with a "this is what I believe" discussion.

Indeed, which is one of the reasons we're told in the Bible to not judge a person's salvation.

 

There is going to be a lot of Baptists pleasantly surprised by number of Catholics in heaven. Imagine all the Baptists who belong to Christ greeted by Mother Teresa and John Paul II, St. Peter, all the saints, me!

God Bless </font>[/QUOTE]See you there, Kathryn!

(Not being presumptuous, just making a firm statement of intention! )

 

If you pay attention on this board - you will notice that the Catholics think the non-Catholics are wrong... and the non-Catholics think the Catholics are wrong.

Thinking that the other guy is "wrong" or "less correct" on some doctrinal point is actually "healthy" because it means that you are trying to follow the best light you have - not simply drifting in what you yourself view as a "wrong" theology.

However in the case of some groups - like the JWs they believe that "outside of the church there is no salvation" (hmmm wonder where they go that??).

That is - they believe that the JW church is the one and ONLY church that will be going to heaven.

However that is not the view of the Adventists. They accept that members of all churches go to heaven if they have accepted Christ as their Saviour.

In Christ,

Bob

 

I don't think that's overtly the case here. There are some die hard anti-prostestant Catholics, and there are some dies hard anti-Catholic Baptists here, but most of the folks are savvy enough to post what they believe without taking or giving offense to anyone else's belief.

 

There is going to be a lot of Baptists pleasantly surprised by number of Catholics in heaven.

Well, considering the fact that the Church is essentially a heavenly reality and that to be a faithful Catholic is to be fully united to the Bride of Christ, everyone in heaven will be Catholic. The Baptists, I believe, will be unpleasantly surprised that they will have to become fully Catholic when they go to Heaven. That's where Purgatory will play a big part.

 

I find your statement funny too, but I don't think for the same reason.

 

In scripture there is only one correct interpretation and often many applications from that same text. So our effort should be directed at studying well enough to understand the historical background so we can arrive at the correct interpretation. If we understand the historical background the rest is usually quite easy.

 

I can't believe people still think they can study their way to the Truth. Oh well, good luck! But I pity the poor and the unschooled -- guess they don't have a chance. Too bad Christ didn't plan things well enough to leave an infallible teaching authority for all the non-PhDs of the world.

 

John:
I am a member of the church of Christ. However, I cannot speak to here say, but will only speak using the Bible as my guide. I will not use my subjective thoughts as "gospel",or some emotional appeal what my Mom and Dad has said, or any creed book. This is usually the way most have received their beliefs. It may be right is some cases. However, may times it is wrong. When one holds a spirtual position, he is advised to do so based on the word of God.
The Bible teaches that there is one church ( Acts 2:47 Col. 1:18, I Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1;22,23, I Tim. 3:15, Eph. 5:25,26).The church is the saved ( Acts 2;47). It is comprised of Christians( Is. 62:2, Acts 11:26). The saved are In Christ ( Gal. 3:26). The saved In Christ enjoy all spiritual blessings ( Eph. 1:3). The saved IN Christ will obtain eternal glory ( II Tim. 2:10). The saved have been baptized INto Christ( Gal. 3:26-29, Romans 6:3-6). The faithful will be given the crown of life( Rev. 2:10).
The faithful obey him ( Hebrews 5:8,9). The faithful do his commandments ( Rev. 22:14). The faithful practice, and teach under the authority of Christ ( Mt. 28:18-20). They practice and teach all Jesus has commanded.
Therefore, if one is IN Christ, he is saved and In his church. If one is outside of Christ, he is lost and outside his church.

 

I've heard it said that the three greatest surprisees we will get when we die are:

1. Who made is in Heaven
2. Who is not
3. Where we are



Catholic Dad

 

Ah, yes, relativism. Sorry, there is one truth, not many competing truths with the same validity. We should be seeking THE truth, not settle for our own opinions. I believe the folks during the time of the judges tried this "I believe" game and it did not work too well.

In Christ,
Neal

 

The church that Jesus established is the one, holy, catholic, apostolic church. The pillar and foundation of truth...the church of the living God...a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Different Christian faiths accept parts of the truth, but the fullness is within the Church with the keys of the Kingdom and the Holy Spirit leading it to all truth just as Jesus Christ promised, built on the foundation of the apostles with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. The deposit of faith preserved and protected from error by the Holy Spirit just as promised.

God Bless

 

Not so. For example, we Baptists require that members be baptised, and may not be baptized until they are saved, and we look to certain biblical texts to do so. Other churches extend baptism to the children of believers, and look to certain biblical texts to do so. Some churches, while they encourage baptism, do not require baptism as a requirement for membership at all. Adhering to one beief does not negate the other. While we can disagree with infant baptism, it does not negate another church's right to practice it if they have biblical support. We simply interpret scripture differently.

Similar interpretation can be found for Saturday vs Sunday worship, open vs closed communion, and even the practice of things like circumcision of members (many messianic Jewish Christians still require it) or cremation (some churches forbid it, others don't care).

Now, I would agree with you that, on matters like salvation, divinity of Christ, and sin, there can be no room for relatavism. But application of interpretation elsewhere is certainly acceptible, and even supported in the Baptist Distinctive calling for local autonomy, which implies that one church cannot tell another church how to apply or interpret the Bible so long as such application and interpretation does not interfere with any of the Distinctives.

 

Ah, yes, relativism. Sorry, there is one truth, not many competing truths with the same validity. We should be seeking THE truth, not settle for our own opinions. I believe the folks during the time of the judges tried this "I believe" game and it did not work too well.

In Christ,
Neal </font>[/QUOTE]There may be only one truth, but there are many "paths" to that truth. Regardless of what one group declares that truth to be to them, another group will declare that same truth differently. The path to truth determines what one "sees" the truth to be. If you come to the truth face on, you see a different truth than if you approach from the rear, or from the side or from the top or bottom.

For that reason, regardless of how you personally see the truth, you must examine the truth from all perspectives in order to "know" the whole truth. It is by our examination of the truth, that God reveals the whole truth to us.

Hence, we have BBS discussion groups!

 

Relativity can be defined as what is the "way"

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

eventually we find that all truth is exactly alike. the standards, and even the methodologies to get everyone to their final destination are the same. its Gods way and not mans.

yet today, theres one truth standard, and billions of wrong man made methods.
refine this to a more simpler form.

its our will against Jesus Christ will.

we can go into any man made church today and find those who follow the true shepherd and those who desire to be the theif and robber.

Me2

 

I don't think that's overtly the case here. There are some die hard anti-prostestant Catholics, and there are some dies hard anti-Catholic Baptists here, but most of the folks are savvy enough to post what they believe without taking or giving offense to anyone else's belief. </font>[/QUOTE]Take a look at the "OFFENSE" thread started by Thess for case-closed on this point.

In Christ,

Bob

 

That is all true - would that the RCC could see her way to join that church.

In Christ,

Bob