Thank you for this well written document!
Uh-Oh. Now you’ve gone and done it beep!
ANSWER: That religion is Protestantism, where every individual is his own final authority, his own pope, dogmatic council, and church of one, and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is decided or ever will be.
Today's Protestant may not realize it or admit it, but he is his own authority of one, there are no denominations, just individuals picking what they want to accept, and reading into the bible what he wants.
EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that so-called Protestants believe, is not even believed by the others WITHIN THEIR OWN DENOMINATION AND WITHIN THEIR OWN CHURCH BUILDING. NOTHING is decided among Protestants, NOT EVEN THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST!
There is no such conflict among Catholics. For a Catholic, religion is a matter of dogmatic certitude. A Catholic either believes the dogmas of the Faith or he is not a Catholic, but a heretic, and outside of the Church. That is the bottom line difference between any and all Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church!
The authority of the Church is not “along side of the Bible” but is based on it. This claim of the Church, which you may not accept, is longstanding. You may argue otherwise, but given that there is no neutral party to decide the matter, mere discussion must be conclusive, with everyone free to choose one side or the other, or neither.
Gee, lets set up a battleground between religions.
Why in the world would anyone post a ‘my religion is better than your religion’ post on a conservative website? There are many conservative Catholics but they are reticent bc of people like this.
Bait for the person who is supposed to be outing FR as anti-Catholic or openner to a legit debate about differences between Catholic and Protestant Christianity?
This line is troubling: “But Catholic authority requires Catholic priests to take vows of celibacy, which are contrary to human nature and create terrible stumbling blocks leading to sin (which is now being plastered shamefully all over the public media).”
That’s SRM leftist garbage. Incidence of child abuse are no higher for celibate priests than for ministers in Protestant churches (or any other large group for that matter). Then again, most don’t know that because the media has done such a good job equating “priest” with “child molester” and vice versa.
Or is this a reply to an earlier thread about Catholic vs Lutheran from the Catholic viewpoint? If so, I find it interesting - and telling - that the Catholic viewpoint included much praise of the strength of Lutheran faith. In contrast, this entire piece reads like an SRM hit piece on Palin complete with media-based distortions (see above).
Q. Dear Chevrolet, can you tell me the difference between Chevrolets and Fords?
Q. Dear Green Bay Packers, which team should I root for, the Packers or the Minnesota Vikings?
I’m not Presbyterian. I can tell you the distinctive found in most Baptist churches. You can feel the presence of GOD. You can see JESUS CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT at work in the lives of the church membership.
I find it very interesting that of the over 40 posts, only about 1.5 actually are a discussion about the article. Almost all others are just to launch attacks for what they perceive to be someone’s motives or beliefs without ever addressing the article. Really, only one does. The other quotes a line but uses it to launch a mini attack. Very telling. Very..
I think it speaks a lot of each individual as to what/who they choose to spend their energies defending —an organization, or the person of Christ Jesus and His Truth, He who is the Word made flesh.
Didn't Martin Luther "change things" when he put the little word "alone" after faith which has caused an enormous amount of bickering and confusion (however, he eliminated the Eucharistic power of Christ, so maybe ML's actions were based partly on that -- works became too tough without being "fed" by the literal Jesus -- so dump them?).Some questions Gamecock, what does the Presbyterian variety you claim as the One True Church teach about:
Divorce?
Contraception?
Women in the Ministry?
Homosexual conduct?
Homosexual ‘marriages’?
Haven’t time for the thread but this seems to me to be a very judicious and fair article — except for the part where it neglects to say that I’m right. My wife often neglects to do that too, so I”m figuring it’s part of the human condition.
It’s too bad we’re unable or unwilling to discuss articles like this without the fur flying.
Thanks for posting it.
Interesting. I did not know that the OPC was officially Zwinglian on the Lord's Supper. This does NOT discribe John Calvin's view, nor that of traditional Presbyterianism.
John Murray described the sacrament of holy Communion as the Holy Spirit removing all distance between us and the Lord Christ. John Calvin insisted the Holy Spirit lifted us up into Christ' presence in Heaven using the bread and wine. This is how certain Calvinists can maintain the doctrine of the "real presence" of Christ, even while calling it the "spiritual presence," not mere barren Zwinglian symbolism & memorial.
I think a Presbyterian who believes Zwingli on this really ought to become a non-denominational evangelical or a Baptist--who are definitely with Zwingli on the Lord's Supper.
As this article admits toward the end, the Presbyterian Church is not what it once was. It was the Reform Church in England and Scotland. Mainly in Scotland, as a matter of fact, since the Presbyterian Church in England (or Chapel, as the Anglicans referred to it) started to decay pretty early, and never really came back in any great numbers.
And in modern times, even the Presbyterian Church in Scotland is a pale shadow of its former self.
The Catholic Church has been going through hard times, too, but nothing like the Presbyterians, especially in England and America. Because the Catholic Church has a sheet anchor to windward, and can use it to recover, but the various Protestant churches lack anything of that kind, so they get pulled in whatever direction their Elders or Pastors choose to take them.
I notice that your ONLY interest seems to be bashing the Catholic Church. Too bad, because it would be more useful if Christians agreed to disagree on some points but agreed to work together to support causes on which we agree, such as right to life, family, and marriage.
I know, strict Calvinists don’t like to DO anything, because God will do it all. Au contraire, God wants us to roll up our sleeves and lend a hand, as far as we are able. Through his saving grace He enables us to to contribute at least a little to His providential plans.
Some questions Gamecock, what does the Presbyterian variety of belief teach about:
Divorce?
Contraception?
Women in the Ministry?
Homosexual conduct?
Homosexual ‘marriages’?
THANKS.
This is POTENTIALLY a more fruitful topic.
However, I shall be shocked if any authentic fruitful dialogue ensues.
Thanks, Dr. E for your ping.
I think I’m more than a little burned out from the recent . . . exchanges . . . to put it charitably . . . with the Vatican Affiliates/ Papal Submissives.
I may get back to this thread after a rest and I may not.
If there is a particular post that any of you would truly like my comment on, please feel free to ping me and say so.
Blessings . . . and GOOD ON YA for yet again trying to state Biblical Truths clearly in the face of so much shredded history, shredded Scripture and shredded pseudo-logic.
“The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof; and therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.... “
Please provide scriptural warrant for this statement.