What does “ecumenical” mean in this context?
I was listening to Romans on my way to work today (over an hour commute). Got through chapter 12. It’s pretty darned clear about salvation and works. It even suggests that there is no free will regarding salvation, but that is a subject of another thread. :-)
Its all divisive and those playing the game at all should be viewed with suspicion.
THE APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
At the words that follow up and including "the Virgin Mary," all bow.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the Communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Maybe Protestants should worry about their own Protestant churches that are no longer following the "Bible" in their teachings and let God decide who is saved. Maybe we should just point out in scripture why we think something is wrong and walk away. Teach instead of let blind arrogance turn someone away from even listening to the word of God, that might actually have someone hear what God is saying.
Calling Catholics unsaved is just arrogant and off-putting if your real goal is to reaching people for God. If your goal is causing two sides to hate each other.....CONGRATULATIONS your goal is accomplished.
WV, I would let it be. The Roman Catholics were wrong to post the inflammatory “How can Protestants be saved” and this thread is just stoking the fires of masking the Gospel message.
After a prolonged war both sides forget who fired the first shot and just keep on shooting because the other guy is shooting. That is what happens here in the FRRF. I rarely see the Grace and Peace of the Gospel in these theological discussions. A new member may wonder what is going on here.
And for those confused on what I mean by “Gospel” we have it clearly defined in Luke 24 and 1 Corinthians 15. That is what Christ and His apostles left us.
All these long commentaries on one swimming to one side of the Tiber or the other. Our message should be clear. Be washed in the Blood of the Lamb.
Now we all have good discussions and debates on issues such as Scripture and tradition, the canon etc. All good theological discussion topics. But who is saved or not and what is the ‘church’ affiliation? All such deep convictions can easily be measured by the Words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His apostles. For no Pope, pastor, deacon or priest will stand before God’s Throne. We are either alone and wanting or have our Lord and Savior advocating for us.
Off soap box...