Replies

>And don't pretend there is, when there are six different congregations' churches within 2 blocks of each other. There is no unity; there is no agreement; there is no way for the initiate to know who to follow. And don't say, "we follow the bible," because you don't even have an agreed-apon hermeneutic.<

I find this argument a lot like the one the Jews make when they say "The Messiah was supposed to bring Peace and we still have war.

The presence of the holy spirit does not guarantee man will always listen just as being born does not guarantee you have the holy spirit.Each must make a personnel decision and then begin conforming his will to that of God.As long as we are at different points in that journey and God has a sense of humor their will be differences.But take heart he promises all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.Were you called?

I'm sorry, you missed my point... Let me try again...

I'm not saying that all Christians in the True Church would always be right about everything... certainly there are people in the Catholic Church who reject infallible doctrine.

My point is that Jesus makes a promise that his Church would be visible. A common protestant argument is that the True Church comprises of those people who have faith. But faith in what? How do I, or say a new Christian initaite, know which people comprise the true Church? How do I know which doctrines are true? How do I know how to live my life?

If you say, "read the bible for yourself," then I say, "the bible commands me to eat the flesh of the son of man. What does this mean?" Did Christ leave us with no guidance?

Well, for starters, he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. But preacher A says this and preacher B says that. Which one has the Holy Spirit? Part of me says I should throw my arms around that woman and take her for a wife, but part of me says I should go back and try to make ammends with my first wife. Which voice is the Holy Spirit?

The Catholic Church explains that the Holy Spirit guides the Church in unity. Although I must still seek spiritual discernment for myself, it can at least shield me from sin by clearly, unambiguously, and in unity teaching me how to discern, and how not to fall into sin.

If I go to a Protestant church, one will tell me divorce is unacceptable, one will tell me I should build a new Christian life; one will tell me I need to be baptized again, one will tell me the baptism I received as a kid suffices. I am lost, without a shpeherd.