The good thief is a very special case, dying next to Our Lord Himself. For the vast majority (all the other believers), the early church had definite rituals.
Fren, I feel like I'm in the twilight zone engaging in this conversation. You are very angry and that isn't necessary. You have never heard in common parlance the phrase "the good thief" referring to the one who asked Jesus to remember Him when He came into His kingdom? (Also known as St. Dismas). I can't help your general unawareness of this expression that is used in this way the world over. So no, I don't call him a good thief, the entire western world has called him that for centuries. Yes, of course, no one comes to the Father but through Jesus. No one is debating that. But Jesus in words and actions during His life on earth gave us the Sacraments. Baptism, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, His priests forgiving sins in His Name, etc. That doesn't limit God's saving power, God can certainly save those who reach out to Him with no knowledge of the Church Jesus founded. But Jesus in His infinite wisdom, chose to leave us these signs that make us live in Him more deeply. Who are we to question what the Lord decreed?
The good thief is a very special case, dying next to Our Lord Himself. For the vast majority (all the other believers), the early church had definite rituals.
Fren, I feel like I'm in the twilight zone engaging in this conversation. You are very angry and that isn't necessary. You have never heard in common parlance the phrase "the good thief" referring to the one who asked Jesus to remember Him when He came into His kingdom? (Also known as St. Dismas). I can't help your general unawareness of this expression that is used in this way the world over. So no, I don't call him a good thief, the entire western world has called him that for centuries. Yes, of course, no one comes to the Father but through Jesus. No one is debating that. But Jesus in words and actions during His life on earth gave us the Sacraments. Baptism, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, His priests forgiving sins in His Name, etc. That doesn't limit God's saving power, God can certainly save those who reach out to Him with no knowledge of the Church Jesus founded. But Jesus in His infinite wisdom, chose to leave us these signs that make us live in Him more deeply. Who are we to question what the Lord decreed?