Who Needs a Creed? (part 1 of 12)

NCR ^ | February 8, 2009 | Mark Shea

[Elsie]

Home sweet home? (Above)

[Utah Binger]

This is the Place

[colorcountry]

Home sweet home?

But only as long as you stay sweet.

[FatherofFive]

It is even sadder is people don’t even understand who the church is. It’s the body of believers!

This cannot be true, if you believe the Bible! The Church of the Bible is one, and teaches the Truth, guided by the Holy Spirit.

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:12-13

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1Tim 3:15

Here Christ says, and Paul reaffirms, that the Church will always teach the TRUTH. So which “body of believers” teaches the truth?

How would you make sense of the following?

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Mat 81:15-18

Where do you take your concerns? Makes no sense whatsoever without the visible Church Christ established with teaching authority, and the power to loose and bind. Christians can’t even agree on what the meaning of the word “is” is.

The Church of the apostles was definitely one: "There is one body and one spirit," Paul wrote, "just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all" (Eph. 4:4-5). Paul linked this unity to the Church's common Eucharistic bread: "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17). Jesus had promised at the outset that "there would be one flock, one shepherd" (John 10:16).

Think about it. Would Christ establish his Church – to teach the way, the truth – and allow thousands of interpretation as to what is the truth? If the Church doesn’t teach the Truth, Christ is a liar. If He would allow multiple versions of Truth, he’d be an idiot. I don’t believe He is either.

[Petronski]

2Tim.4:3

[3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Indeed! The evidence is on this thread.

Indeed!!! The evidence is right there in your post.

[Petronski]

It’s too bad they don’t know their Bible otherwise they wouldn’t be so confused. The Bible, God’s Word is sufficient as He claims it is:

2Tim.3:16

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

God doesn’t lie.
Man does.

What, you mean like claiming a verse says sufficient when plainly it does not?

I guess you have a point.

[Tennessee Nana]

The mormon articles of faith are a creed...

[FatherofFive]

I find it interesting how some people can't answer simple questions about their eternal salvation.

[Earthdweller]

"Quit playing immature games!"

Mark.