Posted on 12/10/2014 6:32:20 AM PST by marshmallow
"Christian unity" is one of those terms that stir up a whole spectrum of—sometimes emotional—opinions.
On the one hand, we know that Jesus prayed to the Father concerning future believers "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17:21a, NIV).
On the other hand, charismatics know it is almost pointless to discuss the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12, 14) with Baptists or most anyone else from a mainline denomination. And Protestants of just about any stripe get riled up when they hear Catholics talking about papal infallibility or their adoration of the Virgin Mary.
It's on this latter point that Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and successful author, has waded into a hornet's nest of controversy by telling a Catholic News Service interviewer that Protestants and Catholics "have far more in common than what divides us" and that Catholics do not "worship Mary like she's another god."
Regarding Warren's view that Catholics do not worship Mary, Matt Slick, writing on the website of the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, goes into great detail with material from Roman Catholic sources that say Mary is "the all holy one," is to be prayed to, worshipped, that she "brings us the gifts of eternal life" and she "made atonement for the sins of man."
If that's not putting her in the place of Christ as a god-like figure to be worshipped, then what is it?
"We believe in Trinity, the Bible, the resurrection, and that salvation is through Jesus Christ. These are the big issues," Warren says. "But the most important thing is if you love Jesus, we're on the same team."
To Warren's point about being on the same team, Slick.....
(Excerpt) Read more at charismanews.com ...
Most certainly does not...It means persons or an object sharing something equally...
The term used for Stephen is plērēs charitos, meaning "full of grace at that moment."
The term used for Mary is kecharitomene!, meaning "one who's always been filled with grace."
I was asked where in Scripture the Catholic Church has interpreted Mary as being born without Original Sin. I'm pointing out where.
Refers to inhabitants of Sheol.
On to the New Testament:
"Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit, [19] In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison: [20] Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe..."
"And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints"
No, that’s not what it says. It says she interceded by willingly agreeing to abide by God’s Will. And, thanks to her willingness, Christ was brought into this world.
IF you are a Believer, you are not a servant, beggar, friend, or even a sinner saved by grace. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus, and if led by the Spirit, a child of God, and joint-heir with Jesus. Grab hold of the revelation of who you are in Christ in God's Word!
Just to add to the verses cited by CynicalBear.
This is your present reality, if you believe in God's Love, and trust His Word.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (KJV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
In those few verses, which are confirmed elsewhere, you see the folly of religion. There is nothing you can do. God did it all. And its a wonderful thing!
Romans 8:10-16 (KJV)
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Note carefully who and where you are in Christ. Also note its not about religion in the Body of Christ, but relationship with your Heavenly Father. Would you run to your uncles or neighbors to have them ask your father on your behalf? Or would you boldly go straight to your Father who is LOVE? In my family, I went straight to my father. Imagine how an earthly father might feel if his children felt the need to have others intercede for them because of fear, or doubt, or uncertainty of their father's love for them. God loves you and does not play favorites. Trust in His Love! Believe His Word!
John 15:7-8 (KJV)
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15 was spoken to servants before Jesus calls them friends later in that chapter. Now if a friend can have this kind of authority with God's Word abiding in them, HOW MUCH MORE success would a child of God have with that same Word living in them?
Trust God's Word. Have confidence in who you are in Christ.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Note the last line, diligently seek HIM. Its your faith, your complete trust in the Living Word, that pleases God because that connects you to all that He has promised!
Colossians 2:6-10 (KJV)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Flee from tradition and the reasoning of men. Believe God's Word - you are complete in HIM.
All of Ephesians is germane, but this passage is a good conclusion. Do you think Paul's prayers were answered? Why not receive this as Truth for yourself?
Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Nothing you typed NEEDED to be refuted; as anyone could see that boast and bragging were all you had left in your arsenal.
I predict that Vlad and cohorts will NOT laugh.
Flew over your head.
Apologists Concerned About Rick Warren’s Alignment With ‘Holy Father’
12/11/2014, 12:34:08 PM · 421 of 462
Resettozero to free_life
Mary will be greatly distressed when she rises from the dead at the Resurrection and discovers that men had built a world-wide religion incorporating a pagan goddess that utilizes Mary’s name and drank her Son’s literal blood and ate His literal body.
Yes, Berean CAN be formed from the letters in your screenname.
May your Mary always wear that blue outfit...
Nope. Just stating the facts.
“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
What?
No Stupid, Deceived, Possessed, Enslaved???
Good luck with that second one!
I think Catholics are walking a fine line on that one.
“Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces” by Father William G. Most
Closely related to the Catholic teaching on Mary’s cooperation in the redemption is the teaching that, with through and under her Son, she is Mediatrix of all graces.
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marya4.htm
There is NO logic in this statement.
You just a whippersnapper then! ;^)
This makes everything dependent upon Mary. God could have accomplished His purpose with someone else had Mary said no.
In this new proposed dogma this places the action upon Mary and removes it from God.
Us old coots have the time available to jibber jabber all day long on FR.
The young ones have to actually WORK for a living.
I wonder how much influence our little verbal sparring matches have upon them.
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