[Soliton]

You win. Your church is right and all the other churches and non-Christian religions are wrong.

[Frumanchu]

Wow...that was easy! ;)

[jo kus]

Protestants have reacted strongly against the doctrine of apostolic succession. They have done so in a number of ways, historical and theological.

No doubt, since they broke from the one Church of Christ to begin with. Theologically, Protestantism is a new religion, not one taught by the Apostles.

Korah (Numbers 16) also had some "theological" reasons for breaking with "Church" heirarchy, as well... To a "democratically-inclined person who thinks everyone should come to God their own way", it seems to make sense. Apparently, God didn't seem to agree.

This presumes you believe the Bible is the Word of God, of course...

Regards

[xzins]

Scripture must be the rule. Apostolicity must be the standard. However, the “presbyterian” part says that this group is a “reformation” church. When one “reforms” a church, one is suggesting that there is a previous time in the church to be “reformed” in which that church was just fine. When did the church go so astray that it began needing reform? Martin Luther is evidence that certainly in his day the church was far astray. That was why reformation was needed. Had it needed reformation for 50 years, a hundred, 2 hundred, etc.?

One is also suggesting by the word “reformation,” that the good of the church hadn’t entirely disappeared. Martin Luther would himself be evidence of that. If he could find the gospel even in that time, then the gospel was findable in that church so desperately in need of reformation.

All of this also suggests that this entire group, both the reformers and the non-reformers, owed their existence to a long line of predecessors who stretched back to the time of Jesus and his apostles.

In short, aligning with the teaching of the Apostles is commendable. Simply descending from the Apostles is of not great value if a group does not align with the Apostles. To descend from them AND to teach their teaching is best.

This calls into question the ordination of those groups that are founded by a person who simply hangs out his own shingle proclaiming himself to be a Christian leader. Paul said to Titus, “5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.”

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

i may be wrong, but I believe that ‘hstorical Protestantism’ as discussed in the source does not include the Anglican Church.

[big'ol_freeper]

Feed the fetish.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

bump

[Salvation]

Do you REALLY think that the Presbyterian Church, orthodox or not, understands CAtholicism and is an expert on Catholicism?

NOT!