Your fatal mistake was to challenge me.
"Fatal"??? Are you going to kill the poor guy over this? Pistols at dawn, perhaps?
. . .The insane things I read in Christian forums. . .
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Your fatal mistake was to challenge me.
"Fatal"??? Are you going to kill the poor guy over this? Pistols at dawn, perhaps?
. . .The insane things I read in Christian forums. . .
"Fatal", as in fatal to his bogus beliefs. Sheesh!Couldn't you get that?
Have you ever considered that you might just be a touch too dramatic?
There are 3 marks of a true church, as far as I can tell.
1) The word of God (especially the Gospel) is preached and taught;
(2) Baptism and the Lord's Supper (sacraments) are rightly administered
(3) Church discipline is faithfully exercised.
Are Quakers and the Salvation Army not true churches then? I say they are, if they hold to orthodox beliefs.
Many don't see Quakers being within orthodox Christianity, and fewer feel that way regarding the SA, but opinion means nothing. Do they preach the same gospel as Paul? That's the question, which, BTW, is mark #1 on my list.
Here are some marks of the early church (first century church):
1. Each local church was free and independent.
2. Offices were deacon and pastor (elder/presbyter/overseer/bishop/pastor as synonymous, as NT confirms).
3. Baptism was for believers only and by immersion, or pouring if immersion could not be had (see The Didache).
4. The Lord's Supper was a meal.
5. Atonement view was Ransom/Christus Victor
During the Apostolic age the "primacy" was not Rome but Jerusalem (everyone looked to Jerusalem). But the Church also began as a very Jewish institution and the seat of Jewish power was in Jerusalem.As the Christian Church developed in the early years (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd centuries) that is exactly what happened. Everyone looked to the Bishop of Rome (see the Early Church Fathers) for guidance and instruction in religious matters.
You said you would respond and elaborate, so okay, let's see your list.
Your fatal mistake was to challenge me. You Romanist cultists think no one is knowledgeable of the early church and the ECF except you. Be careful next time whom you challenge. I have studied the early church in-depth for 42 years. Go do the same, sonny boy, and then maybe you will have at least the rudimentary knowledge to begin to debate with me -- but I doubt it.
The article was stupid. I hope everyone does read it. No names, no dates.
During the last years of the first century and beginning years of the second, the Ephesians church (lead by John and then his student Polycarp) was the general authority after the diaspora of 70AD.
Along with Polycarp was Justin Martyr.
These are three well known ECF that never looked to some papist authority.
One recognizable aspect of the EC was that all believers were considered priests.
Another was that authority to run the church was vested in the hands of the assembly.
The assembly chose who would be their “bishop” not some papist in Rome.
The teaching of the Apostles, and the teaching of the OT also!What would you say are the marks/beliefs/practices of the early churches? When the discussion gets going, I'll give my list.
I have studied the early church in-depth for 42 years.
Can we hear an AMEN for what Justin teaches?