I don't understand why you are stuck on this kind of checklist-style sectarianism so much. If you have the Holy Spirit within you, you would be able to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God in other people.
I didn't even know what a denomination was until long after I became a Christian. I am happy to read works by Catholics and Protestants alike as long as it is evident that the writer was (is) also a follower of God. It is difficult for people to speak convincingly about spiritual matters in a way that conveys God to other people, so this is not exactly the hardest thing to do.
Why should people have to adhere to a bureaucratic system to be saved? Aren't you underestimating the power, mercy, and divinity of God?
God creates order, certainly, but we also live in a fallen world. Every church has its problems (and has had them, since the days of the apostles), and the Roman Catholic church is no exception. Sectarianism existed back then, too, in the form of the Jews scorning the Greeks and compelling them to get circumcised or they couldn't be Christians.
I read a verse lately that perfectly encapsulates my thoughts on the subject you raised. Mark 9:38-42.
Great post. The thing that the catholic church fears the most is society realising that it is the personal connection to God (through Christ) that matters.
In fact, this kind of empowerment scared Rome so much that they had to kill Christ, as he was freeing people of self inflicted bondage.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. - Matthew 7:8
Why does a connection with God have to be through someone else? According to the Bible Jesus said he as a son of God as we are all sons of God and also said when you pray go into your closet ..not a church.
For a pope on a throne in red shoes and carried on a litter surrounded by men in frocks to call themselves followers of a man who did not want power or money or a throne..is absolutely ridiculous.
The Our Fathers prayers lays it out clearly for me:
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is In Heaven”. I believe God has given us the church & laws to institute his Kingdom. I also believe that “the Rapture” is a psyop meant to make Christian give up without putting up a fight.
Catholic monarchies, to me represent a high water mark point in Christian civilization of relative peace & cohesion. It dealt with Freemasons, occultists, witches & “Jews” that sacrificed Christian children (research Saint Simon of Trent/ Saint William of Norwich)
The fact that the institution brought peace & cohesion but has been relentlessly attacked for centuries has me believe that there is SOMETHING to this church.
The contrarian in me has me fight for the original church of Christ, the more it is attacked.
I mean, the scripture that Christians shall be brought up to heaven in 1 Thessalonians 4 clearly exists, but I don't find any basis in scripture that tells Christians to give up without a fight before that moment comes. Quite the opposite, in fact, I would imagine. So whatever the evangelicals say about how we should give up and not fight would (or could) be a psyop, but that's why it's important to follow the Holy Spirit.
Catholic monarchies were a... well, in some regards yes. In others not so much. I don't fault you for wanting such a thing to happen again, but the fall of Constantinople did also happen on the Catholic church's watch.
I too wish that more nations of the world could uphold Christ, and, as it were, become a new 'Christendom' like the days of yore, but it is difficult. I would not really ascribe this wholly to the Catholic church itself, however, but the common beliefs of the people.
As for the relentless attacks against the Catholic church - every real church undergoes such attacks, as does every Christian who wants to pursue God. It is a fact of life. It would be great if the Catholic church could be restored, but I don't actually know any Catholics who are very passionate about this in real life, though they evidently exist (I read about and of them all the time on the internet, and Archbishop Vigano is representative of the archetype). This doesn't mean that I don't respect Catholics at all, I just think that you should get your local church excited about God before you tell people halfway across the world from you that the way they conduct their worship service and the way they pray is wrong.
At the end of the day, the only thing we can do is try to reach out to the people immediately around us. As in the parable of the talents, we are given them by God (our Heavenly Father!) and He expects us to use them. That's how churches grow - organically.
I don't understand why you are stuck on this kind of checklist-style sectarianism so much. If you have the Holy Spirit within you, you would be able to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God in other people.
I didn't even know what a denomination was until long after I became a Christian. I am happy to read works by Catholics and Protestants alike as long as it is evident that the writer was (is) also a follower of God. It is difficult for people to speak convincingly about spiritual matters in a way that conveys God to other people, so this is not exactly the hardest thing to do.
Why should people have to adhere to a bureaucratic system to be saved? Aren't you underestimating the power, mercy, and divinity of God?
God creates order, certainly, but we also live in a fallen world. Every church has its problems (and has had them, since the days of the apostles), and the Roman Catholic church is no exception. Sectarianism existed back then, too, in the form of the Jews scorning the Greeks and compelling them to get circumcised or they couldn't be Christians.
I read a verse lately that perfectly encapsulates my thoughts on the subject you raised. Mark 9:38-42.
Great post. The thing that the catholic church fears the most is society realising that it is the personal connection to God (through Christ) that matters.
In fact, this kind of empowerment scared Rome so much that they had to kill Christ, as he was freeing people of self inflicted bondage.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. - Matthew 7:8
Why does a connection with God have to be through someone else? According to the Bible Jesus said he as a son of God as we are all sons of God and also said when you pray go into your closet ..not a church.
For a pope on a throne in red shoes and carried on a litter surrounded by men in frocks to call themselves followers of a man who did not want power or money or a throne..is absolutely ridiculous.
The Our Fathers prayers lays it out clearly for me: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is In Heaven”. I believe God has given us the church & laws to institute his Kingdom. I also believe that “the Rapture” is a psyop meant to make Christian give up without putting up a fight.
Catholic monarchies, to me represent a high water mark point in Christian civilization of relative peace & cohesion. It dealt with Freemasons, occultists, witches & “Jews” that sacrificed Christian children (research Saint Simon of Trent/ Saint William of Norwich)
The fact that the institution brought peace & cohesion but has been relentlessly attacked for centuries has me believe that there is SOMETHING to this church.
The contrarian in me has me fight for the original church of Christ, the more it is attacked.
I mean, the scripture that Christians shall be brought up to heaven in 1 Thessalonians 4 clearly exists, but I don't find any basis in scripture that tells Christians to give up without a fight before that moment comes. Quite the opposite, in fact, I would imagine. So whatever the evangelicals say about how we should give up and not fight would (or could) be a psyop, but that's why it's important to follow the Holy Spirit.
Catholic monarchies were a... well, in some regards yes. In others not so much. I don't fault you for wanting such a thing to happen again, but the fall of Constantinople did also happen on the Catholic church's watch.
I too wish that more nations of the world could uphold Christ, and, as it were, become a new 'Christendom' like the days of yore, but it is difficult. I would not really ascribe this wholly to the Catholic church itself, however, but the common beliefs of the people.
As for the relentless attacks against the Catholic church - every real church undergoes such attacks, as does every Christian who wants to pursue God. It is a fact of life. It would be great if the Catholic church could be restored, but I don't actually know any Catholics who are very passionate about this in real life, though they evidently exist (I read about and of them all the time on the internet, and Archbishop Vigano is representative of the archetype). This doesn't mean that I don't respect Catholics at all, I just think that you should get your local church excited about God before you tell people halfway across the world from you that the way they conduct their worship service and the way they pray is wrong.
At the end of the day, the only thing we can do is try to reach out to the people immediately around us. As in the parable of the talents, we are given them by God (our Heavenly Father!) and He expects us to use them. That's how churches grow - organically.