Which churches are growing?

[Reynolds]

The word "Trinity" (Greek: "trias") is never mentioned in Scripture. The earliest Christian concept of the Trinity is attested by Theophilus, bishop of Antioch 180 AD), the church that discipled Paul. Theophilus embraces a "Trinity" of "God, God's Word (= Christ), and God's Wisdom." God's Wisdom is personified in the OT (e g. Proverbs 8). but the Holy Spirit is not. and no, you don't find the Trinity in the OT; you find God and the Spirit individually mentioned, but that is not the same as the Trinity. Nor will you find any academic commentary that recognizes OT allusions to "the Son of God" as allusions to Christ. So if you want to morph the baptismal reference to "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" in Matthew 28:19, you need the inspiration of later Catholic tradition to do that.

Read the question I responded to carefully. Read my response carefully. Did I say the word "Trinity" appeared in The Bible?

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Sometimes fundamentalists seem to assume this sort of greeting by St. Peter at the Pearly Gates:
Peter: "Before you can enter Heaven, you need to pass a 4 hour doctrine exam. The exam with cover soteriology [doctrine of salvation] , doctrine of Scripture, and the basis of your church affiliation." I can imagine some simple godly Catholic grandmother sighing and saying, "I was never good at book learning. Which way do I go to get to Hell?"

Protestant doctrine is very simple: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.' So long as your godly granny is trusting in Christ to save her, she will have nothing to worry about.
However, if she is trusting in her baptism, or her attendance at 'mass' or confession, or the virgin Mary, or some saint or other, or praying the rosary, or any other Roman Catholic nonsense, she may well be sighing, because, 'There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12).

 

[Yeshua1]

Since you lack the integrity or curiosity to watch the posted video of a Catholic vs. evangelical dialogue on the salvation doctrine, then read my OP to my thread "The Biblical Basis of Catholic Distinctives" which champions the Catholic perspective on the Gospel and refutes your perspective.

Again, Rome has since the Council of Trent denied the inspired Pauline Justification that was achieved for the redeemed by the death of Christ, so until Rome agrees with the reformation on what the real gospel is, still teaching another false One!
I am not saying will not listen, but agree with Luther that I stand on the scriptures alone, and cannot move away from that!

 

[Yeshua1]

Nobody is hell bound if they are believers

So long as what they believed in was the true Gospel as given to us in the scriptures!

 

[Yeshua1]

DZ.

As a Calvinist, why do you care? You believe God will save whom He will despite Rome.

i see the lord saving sinners in Rome, but am concerned that we are non Catholics seem to be on the slippery slope according to Rome full acceptance a true Church, teaching same gospel we are!

 

[Yeshua1]

And that would include non denomination. Seriously do you believe he would have to see all the Protestant denominations, Baptists, Fundimentalists, Catholics, Orthodox, Quakers, Mennonites etc all vying to be the Right Christian religion? He would have been shocked

We are all still one in Christ, and part of the one Body of Christ, as all saved are part of that!

 

[Yeshua1]

Sometimes fundamentalists seem to assume this sort of greeting by St. Peter at the Pearly Gates:
Peter: "Before you can enter Heaven, you need to pass a 4 hour doctrine exam. The exam with cover soteriology [doctrine of salvation] , doctrine of Scripture, and the basis of your church affiliation." I can imagine some simple godly Catholic grandmother sighing and saying, "I was never good at book learning. Which way do I go to get to Hell?"

No, rather we would see itas "God: Whatright do you stand here in heaven, was it due to water baptism, sacramental graces, church membership etc?" our reply"Nothing but the blood of Jesus shed for our sins!"

 

[Yeshua1]

The word "Trinity" (Greek: "trias") is never mentioned in Scripture. The earliest Christian concept of the Trinity is attested by Theophilus, bishop of Antioch 180 AD), the church that discipled Paul. Theophilus embraces a "Trinity" of "God, God's Word (= Christ), and God's Wisdom." God's Wisdom is personified in the OT (e g. Proverbs 8). but the Holy Spirit is not. and no, you don't find the Trinity in the OT; you find God and the Spirit individually mentioned, but that is not the same as the Trinity. Nor will you find any academic commentary that recognizes OT allusions to "the Son of God" as allusions to Christ. So if you want to morph the baptismal reference to "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" in Matthew 28:19, you need the inspiration of later Catholic tradition to do that.

The Church of Rome did not create the scriptures, nor does it have authority to interpret them either, as that is the work of the Holy Spirit Himself!

 

[Yeshua1]

Protestant doctrine is very simple: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.' So long as your godly granny is trusting in Christ to save her, she will have nothing to worry about.
However, if she is trusting in her baptism, or her attendance at 'mass' or confession, or the virgin Mary, or some saint or other, or praying the rosary, or any other Roman Catholic nonsense, she may well be sighing, because, 'There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12).

The true Gospel saves all Catholics whom the Lord has enabled to hear and see it and believe unto Jesus, the Gospel as Rome teaches it can not save them!

 

[Deadworm]

Again, Rome has since the Council of Trent denied the inspired Pauline Justification that was achieved for the redeemed by the death of Christ, so until Rome agrees with the reformation on what the real gospel is, still teaching another false One!

Decisively refuted in my thread "The Biblical Basis of Some Catholic Distinctives!" The Catholic doctrine of grace is more biblically sound than its Baptist counterpart.

 

[Yeshua1]

Decisively refuted in my thread "The Biblical Basis of Some Catholic Distinctives!" The Catholic doctrine of grace is more biblically sound than its Baptist counterpart.

Even though it denies Pauline Justification, which was given by Inspiration from the Holy Spirit unto us?

 

[Reynolds]

i see the lord saving sinners in Rome, but am concerned that we are non Catholics seem to be on the slippery slope according to Rome full acceptance a true Church, teaching same gospel we are!

I honestly have no idea what you just said!

 

[Yeshua1]

I honestly have no idea what you just said!

I am very concerned that we as baptists could one day end up signing an agreement between us and Church of Rome, just as the Lutherans did, that affirm we both now agree on what the Gospel is!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I am very concerned that we as baptists could one day end up signing an agreement between us and Church of Rome, just as the Lutherans did, that affirm we both now agree on what the Gospel is!

Really... that ain’t agonna happen.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I’d be conserned about this

http://gochristfellowship.com/blog/four-reasons-kids-walk-away-from-church-when-they-grow-up/

 

[Yeshua1]

Really... that ain’t agonna happen.

I think that was what Martin Luther said concerning his church and Rome!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I think that was what Martin Luther said concerning his church and Rome!

Luther is dead. And his churches have split off into so many fractions and every one of them are a mess

This OP was supposed to be about what churches are growing. Well while Lutherans are suckin wind, the RC churches are growing..... why is that?

 

[Yeshua1]

Luther is dead. And his churches have split off into so many fractions and every one of them are a mess

This OP was supposed to be about what churches are growing. Well while Lutherans are suckin wind, the RC churches are growing..... why is that?

They grow by physical births, and just growing is NO sign of god being in it, as the JW/Mormons/certain charismatics also are glowing really fast!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

They grow by physical births, and just growing is NO sign of god being in it, as the JW/Mormons/certain charismatics also are glowing really fast!

I will tell you why I believe they are growing... from my own experiences. Father Joe, our parish priest when I was growing up used to hit the pavement every week with a list of names of visitations. I would be home from school and doing my homework at the kitchen table and he would show up. He would have a coffee or tea with mom and always asked after us (mom was a young widow with a cerebral palsy daughter and 2 younger boys to take care of). Mom sometimes had to admit that she was having a hard time putting food on the table. A few days the women’s Knights of Columbus came buy with food. That and presents for Christmas yada yada... stuff that helped us live through the lean days. I also told you how they helped my wife with her alcoholism, how they reach out to the homeless and destitute etc. I can’t tell you how much charity I’ve seen these people met out. Mostly because they are not afraid to look into people’s eyes and see Christ, touch the flesh of one another and understand what God is calling us into.

I will never forget that these Catholics invited my wife, a Presbyterian, to join in on a retreat at an monistary for the weekend. I had to pick her up and I was fearful because I had my toddler son with me and it was snowing. Thank God it was the weekend so there was minimal traffic. I get there, walk into the cafeteria and They are all eating and they see me and insist that my son and I stay for lunch....yea me, my toddler son and 25 recovering alcoholic women in a Catholic retreat house LOL.... and it was delightful.

So how can I say this w/o sounding consending... the Catholics spend a lot of their time and energy administering to people in the here and now... and I’m not just talking about food, clothing, shelter but it’s more, it’s spiritual, it’s love. In turn the creatures receiving the love with confidence and comfort. It’s like your safe, warm, loved and home

 

[Yeshua1]

I will tell you why I believe they are growing... from my own experiences. Father Joe, our parish priest when I was growing up used to hit the pavement every week with a list of names of visitations. I would be home from school and doing my homework at the kitchen table and he would show up. He would have a coffee or tea with mom and always asked after us (mom was a young widow with a cerebral palsy daughter and 2 younger boys to take care of). Mom sometimes had to admit that she was having a hard time putting food on the table. A few days the women’s Knights of Columbus came buy with food. That and presents for Christmas yada yada... stuff that helped us live through the lean days. I also told you how they helped my wife with her alcoholism, how they reach out to the homeless and destitute etc. I can’t tell you how much charity I’ve seen these people met out. Mostly because they are not afraid to look into people’s eyes and see Christ, touch the flesh of one another and understand what God is calling us into.

I will never forget that these Catholics invited my wife, a Presbyterian, to join in on a retreat at an monistary for the weekend. I had to pick her up and I was fearful because I had my toddler son with me and it was snowing. Thank God it was the weekend so there was minimal traffic. I get there, walk into the cafeteria and They are all eating and they see me and insist that my son and I stay for lunch....yea me, my toddler son and 25 recovering alcoholic women in a Catholic retreat house LOL.... and it was delightful.

So how can I say this w/o sounding consending... the Catholics spend a lot of their time and energy administering to people in the here and now... and I’m not just talking about food, clothing, shelter but it’s more, it’s spiritual, it’s love. In turn the creatures receiving the love with confidence and comfort. It’s like your safe, warm, loved and home

Which is very commendable, but they would be the same as the Shriners, who raise money for children, give sick kids free medical, and yet can do NOTHING for what really counts, their salvation!