Posted on 04/04/2009 12:58:33 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
Q. In an earlier article, Bob asked you where he could find the apostolic succession from his minister to the original 12. Wouldn’t it have been better for him if you would just tell him that it is not possible for his minister to have that succession unless he was ordained by the Catholic Church? His church couldn’t be more than 500 years old. How could his church go back 2,000 years to the church that Christ set up on earth?
A: It’s an error to say only the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome has a history going all the way back to Christ through the 12 Apostles. For example, the Apostle Thomas traveled to India where he founded the Christian church that still thrives today, although it was separated from the rest of Christianity for almost 1,500 years and was never connected to Rome. Despite this separation, the Indian church claims it is apostolic since Doubting Thomas was one of the disciples chosen by Jesus to spread the message.
In addition, the Eastern Orthodox churches founded in Jerusalem; Antioch, Syria; Alexandria, Egypt; and Constantinople, which is today Istanbul, Turkey, were established through the work of the original Apostles, including Peter, who, according to the biblical Book of Acts, spent much of his time in the Jerusalem church under the authority of James, Jesus’ brother. Peter did not go to Rome until possibly 20 or 30 years after the Holy Spirit’s Pentecost visitation, which is recognized as the birthday of the Christian church.
When the Great Schism occurred in 1054, splitting the Roman church in the West from the Orthodox churches in the East, apostolic succession did not end in any of the five historic churches nor in their offspring, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, which was founded in the year 1000.
Many of the Reformation churches were founded by ordained Catholic priests in the apostolic succession, including Martin Luther, Menno Simons and John Knox. When King Henry VIII and the British Parliament removed the Church of England from the Catholic Church, many ordained bishops and priests also in the apostolic succession went with the Anglican Church. In each case, these individuals ordained more clergy, extending the unbroken line back to the original Apostles, according to the Protestants.
Protestants also argue the Reformation was necessary to return the Christian church to the practices of the ancient church. Some contend the Roman Catholic Church lost its way and the true church is found in a particular Protestant denomination.
Today, the Roman Catholic Church has accepted the ordination of some other churches, such as the Orthodox, and recognizes the ability of its members to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion from clergy in such churches. Additional attempts to reconcile the various Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches remain active today.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Thanks for posting this.
And it stands to reason then that many Independant Protestant churches have their roots in the same church and follow apostolic succession as well...
But we all knew that anyway...
If I’m grafted onto the Vine, I don’t worry too much about “succession.” My inheritance doesn’t come though any man or men.
Which they severed with their pridefully-confected errant traditions of men.
When the heretics who created protestantism rejected Christ in favor of self-pride and self-indulgence they lost all claim to apostolic succession.
Next error please.
The man who wrote this article is a fool.
He wrote:
“Many of the Reformation churches were founded by ordained Catholic priests in the apostolic succession, including Martin Luther, Menno Simons and John Knox.”
Do I even have to point out that Martin, Simons, and Knox were NEVER part of the Apostolic Succession in the strictest sense because they were never bishops and never ordained any?
“When King Henry VIII and the British Parliament removed the Church of England from the Catholic Church, many ordained bishops and priests also in the apostolic succession went with the Anglican Church.”
They did. And then they were removed from power, imprisoned, died, etc. Then, during Edward I’s reign they stoppoed properly consecrating bishops. Then, during Elizabeth I’s reign they simply stopped consecrating them at all for awhile. Hence, no valid orders.
“In each case, these individuals ordained more clergy, extending the unbroken line back to the original Apostles, according to the Protestants.”
Nah. Never happened among them.
If your pope officially declares Mary to be the 4th part and head of the Trinity, who is entitled to worship, do you follow your pope??? Or do you become a Protest-ant???
As opposed to "unofficially," right?
Nice smear.
I knew you wouldn’t dare answer the question...Martin Luther answered the question...
Nope, that wasn’t the intent at all...If I had not inserted the word ‘officially’, you would have claimed that pope make mistakes as well...But if your pope spoke ‘ex-cathedra’ you’d have to take one position or another...
Mind-reading is not permitted on the Religion Forum.
Martin Luther changed the language of Scripture, an act that merits damnation.
Every sin, including driving 22mph in a 20mph school zone unwittingly deserves damnation. Fortunately, every sin, past, present, and future has been judged at the Cross and forgiveness is available through faith alone in Christ alone.
Aye, there's the rub.
Can you find that in Scripture or the Catechism of the Catholic Church for me?
75. It is foolish to think that papal indulgences have so much power that they can absolve a man even if he has done the impossible and violated the mother of God.
If you are looking for a Protestant Reformer to validate your anti-Marian believes, Luther IS NOT the one to pick.
The same arrogant and prideful Luther who advised we “Sin Boldly.”
Lies like that have a father.
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