The thess bashing thread

[belovedwolfofgod]

Karl Barth distinguished in Christianity between religion and faith. He was wrong if he was intending to make a complete seperation between them, seeing only faith as positive and religion as negative. Faith without religion is unreal; religion belongs to it, and Christian faith, of its very nature, must live as a religion.

--"Many Religions-One Covenant" by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

And to paraphrase the rest of what was written in the book, basically, until the unification of Christianity is effected, this non-denominational approach basically makes one a reed blown in the wind with no grounding except one's interpretation of the Bible. This is parallel to the New Age movement idea of "truth is relative." However, we must never get away from the idea that the truth can be known. However, interpreting a Bible doesnt really give you much. As many ealry christian writers write (like Ignatious of Antioch, Polycarp, Clement of Rome, the Didache, basically a large number of first century christian writers) that the person should stand in unity with their bishop as he is the pastoral leader. If the bishop is in need of correction, the other bishops will handle it. However, people, in interpreting the Bible on their own and following this interpretation, have gotten away from this. The unbroken Tradition that composed the Bible is that same Tradition that exists today and because of it we can still have faith in the Bible, but it requires faith in the promise of Jesus in the book of Matthew "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it[church]."

 

[Imagican]

Oh and Fulton, IMHO, this is very seldom taught by churches that lean on tradition rather than the Word of God. So, in reference to your question concerning denominations, I have stated over and over in my varied posts that there can be ONLY ONE TRUTH. If my statement is 'true', then there could ONLY be ONE denomination that is teaching this. Since each believes in something 'different', then I propose that men have altered the Word of God to suit themselves and created religions of 'thier OWN design'. This would make them ALL of none effect as far as 'truth' is concerned. Just MY opinion of course but it has a 'ring' of 'truth' to it when you realize that they follow MORE 'man-made' tradition than ANYTHING else.

Sigh, and here we have a one man denomination (Imagican) who thinks he alone is the one on this board who has it all firgured out. I didn't miss your rhetoric and nonsense while you were away imagican. Though there are others (who contradict you) that think they are God's gift to understanding scripture as well. You all have traditions boys (and girls). It's just that some on this board have a tradition that is older than the Bible itself and some have a tradition that is as old as the moment they thought of it and decided for themselves it was true and then tried to pass it on to others.

While I will readily admit that 'your' church IS older than the written words in MY Bible, it is NOT older than the 'written word' itself. They are indeed the ones that compiled what I hold in my hand and read. But this by NO MEANS offers ANY proof whatsoever that they 'understood' what is contained IN THESE WORDS.

Thess, you didn't miss me? Really? I missed you. he he he.

I find it refreshing and encouraging that you would 'hate' the words that I offer. For I am assured by Christ Himself that the world will HATE those that follow Him in truth.

I am NOT a 'one man show' by any stretch of the imagination. For I know that I am at LEAST a Church of Five. There is God, the Father, Jesus, The Son of God, my wife, my son and myself who ALL testify to what i offer.

You on the other hand have MILLIONS that testify to what you follow. And yet we were warned that when the masses 'flock' to find a 'new' or 'different' Jesus, this is IMPOSSIBLE, for there is ONLY ONE TRUE CHRIST.

Thess, I offer this as an indication of what I state here. For straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. Under this premiss it doesn't even offer that those that 'find it' will follow it so therefore there are obviously even fewer that find and follow the path that leadeth unto life. The shear numbers involved with 'your' religion would contradict these words of Christ.

I am not a denomination. I simply follow the Spirit where it leads and refuse to be led by ANY MAN. I am just the messenger Thess, so don't blame me, for to do so is your own folly.

What you offer is slavery to a false system of hope. I offer the freedom from such bondage and a true hope through Jesus Christ without the twisting and turning of God's Word. I know that this must most certainly hurt the feelings of those that have chosen bondage instead, but that is their choice. I choose a God that loves me and those that He has created and my only wish is to pass this information on to others.

You, on the other hand, have chosen to follow men that manipulate the scriptures in order to control those that they can convince to follow them. And look at their track record.................. Not a very pretty sight. Full of hate and malice towards their brothers and sisters.

I hope that since this IS the Thess bashing thread that there will be a certain 'leniency' offered. For you know that I would not be so bold as to offer these words in a 'normal' thread.

MEC

 

[Novum]

Christian 1: I believe, as the Holy Spirit is my witness, that statements A, B, and C are true.

Christian 2: Absolutely not. Statements A, B, and C are all wrong, and Jesus agrees with me, as you can see in scriptures D, E, F, and G.

C1: Blasphemer! Scriptures X, Y, and Z clearly show you to be wrong.

C2: Nonsense. I shall not be led astray by any man; as Jesus agrees with me, I still know A, B, and C to be wrong.

C1: But look here, in scriptures F, G, and H - it clearly shows Jesus to be on my side.

Christian 3: You're both wrong! It is clear in scriptures J, K, and L that Jesus agrees with me.

C1 & C2: Go away!

C3: I shall not be silenced by mere men! I know that the Holy Spirit has shown me that you are both wrong!

Forum mods: Sorry C3, but we have banned discussion on your theory as you describe it from scriptures J, K, and L.

Nonbelievers: How is it possible for Jesus to be agreeing with people who argue for mutually exclusive positions? Logically, it must be true that either at least one of these people is mistaken, or all of these people are wrong...

C1, C2, & C3: Shut up, Nonbeliever. You wouldn't understand, as you're spiritually dead.

 

[Fulton Sheen's Warrior]

+JMJ+

Christian 1: I believe, as the Holy Spirit is my witness, that statements A, B, and C are true.
Christian 2: Absolutely not. Statements A, B, and C are all wrong, and Jesus agrees with me, as you can see in scriptures D, E, F, and G.
C1: Blasphemer! Scriptures X, Y, and Z clearly show you to be wrong.
C2: Nonsense. I shall not be led astray by any man; as Jesus agrees with me, I still know A, B, and C to be wrong.
C1: But look here, in scriptures F, G, and H - it clearly shows Jesus to be on my side.
Christian 3: You're both wrong! It is clear in scriptures J, K, and L that Jesus agrees with me.
C1 & C2: Go away!
C3: I shall not be silenced by mere men! I know that the Holy Spirit has shown me that you are both wrong!
Forum mods: Sorry C3, but we have banned discussion on your theory as you describe it from scriptures J, K, and L.
Nonbelievers: How is it possible for Jesus to be agreeing with people who argue for mutually exclusive positions? Logically, it must be true that either at least one of these people is mistaken, or all of these people are wrong...

That's a good point Novum.

If only Christ founded a Church with a visible head....Like a visible shepherd on earth to feed his sheep...

 

[thessalonian]

IMag,

I find it refreshing and encouraging that you would 'hate' the words that I offer. For I am assured by Christ Himself that the world will HATE those that follow Him in truth.

You are of the dillusion that Christ's words apply to you and that I don't know of these verses.


I don't hate all that you offer. You have some truth mixed in with your multitude of error. :-D

Yes, you are a denomination. A "Christian" who claims to know better than the rest of Christianity, therefore asserting his own personal doctrines as if they are from the Holy Lips of Christ and people's salvation depends on them. Your your own Pope Imag. That is obvious to all but yourself.