[Gamecock]

[Stentor]

A thread which will re-fight the battles of the 16th century. I’ve got a sock drawer to organize.

[Quester]

That is a favorite argument of Catholic apologists. They are convinced that the unity Christ prayed for in John 17:21 is an organizational solidarity that is incompatible with both denominationalism and independency. As far as the Roman Catholic Church is concerned, the only way true Christian unity will be fully and finally achieved is when "separated brethren"—non-Catholic Christians—reunite with Rome under the authority of the Pope.

Jesus' idea of christian unity ...

Luke 9:49 John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us."

50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you."

[wmfights]

Having bought the notion that the unity Christ prayed for starts with organizational unity, these unsuspecting proselytes naturally conclude that whichever church has the most convincing pedigree must be the only church capable of achieving the unity Christ sought, and so they join up.

It seems to me that the early Christian churches were united in their belief in The Gospel and faith in Jesus Christ. However, the leaders of the churches were selected by the congregation, usually from the congregation. The centralized hierarchy only emerged later.

Interesting post and topic.

[arthurus]

The dispute between Orthodox and Roman Catholics is an argument within the family over who is the legitimate head of the household. The Protestants have all moved into leaky tents in the yard or even across the street.

[xzins]

There are not 10’s of thousands of denominations. That would be at least 20,000 different denominations, and I challenge anyone to give me the list of them.

Incidentally, those with a congretional, independent local church polity are NOT different denominations. The Main Street Baptist Church of Topeka and the Holiness Baptist Church of Columbia are not 2 different denominations. They are “baptist.”

In fact, I wouldn’t really distinguish between many of the baptistic organizations.....the SBC and the CBC, for example. Both are baptist.

[FourtySeven]

In a series of posts over the next couple of weeks, I want to examine the topics of like-mindedness, disagreement, and divisiveness; the culpability of popes, feuding bishops, and differing denominations when it comes to causing schism; and the kind of unity Christ prayed for.

Ping me to that; that sounds interesting.

[WriteOn]

Meanwhile, the Eastern Orthodox Church claims the Church of Rome was being schismatic when Rome asserted papal supremacy. To this day, Orthodox Christians insist that Eastern Orthodoxy, not Roman Catholicism, is the Church Christ founded—and that would make Roman Catholicism schismatic in the same sense Rome accuses Protestants of being schismatic. One typical Orthodox Web site says, "The Orthodox Church is the Christian Church. The Orthodox Church is not a sect or a denomination. We are the family of Christian communities established by the Apostles and disciples Jesus sent out to proclaim the Good News to the world, and by their successors through the ages."

At best, that is misconstrued.

[azhenfud]

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."