Pope Says he Prays U.S.-Led Schism Can Be Thwarted

Reuters ^ | 9/10/19 | Philip Pullela

[Gamecock]

So which will be the "real" Catholic church? Seems like Francis has the legitimate claim to the Throne of St Peter, after all, he was legitimately selected.

But there is some competition out there!

There is Pope Michael:
Vatican In Exile

Pope Peter III in Spain

There are others, certainly one of them can meet the standards required of a Pope in the 21st Century.

[Gamecock]

My #141.

[ealgeone]

Now that’s an outfit in picture #2.

[Gamecock]

I wonder how many channels that hat pulls in?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

If religion is just another ideology. If one must believe in each and every one of the tenets of that ideology in the correct way with the correct understanding in order to be in good standing then we have arrived where we are now.

The vast majority of people who claim to be Christian are not ideologues. They just go to church for social reasons, to meet members of the opposite (or same?) sex, or because of brute familial inertia. We who know The Truth sneer at them. But we also sneer at all of our fellow ideologues whose idea of the One True Faith is even slightly different than our own.

God is infinite and ultimately unknowable by us mere finite mortals. Yet somehow we understand the most subtle nuances of his doctrine and so we have formed ideologies which we call religions around those doctrines.

So rather than unite as people who kinda sorta believe the same thing and try and energize the mass of "christians" toward stronger faith, we instead fight among ourselves over exactly what is the proper balance between faith and works, when the rapture will come (if ever), when baptisms should occur, etc.

Each of us is sure that ours is a religion given to us from God and not some crazy ideology like Marxism or Fascism. Yet we behave the same as the varying branches of neo-Marxism and neo-Fascism claiming that everyone else has fallen into error and is a danger to the cause.

Rather than fighting together from high ground against our satanic and apathetic foes, we will instead all die on our own little anthills certain of the truth of our particular doctrines that we know came from almighty God.

BTW, I'm right and all you other bastards are going to Hell. God, Himself, told me so.

[daniel1212]

So rather than unite as people who kinda sorta believe the same thing and try and energize the mass of "christians" toward stronger faith, we instead fight among ourselves over exactly what is the proper balance between faith and works, when the rapture will come (if ever), when baptisms should occur, etc. Such minimizing description in response to "What U. S. schism?" minimizes the importance of doctrine and misrepresents the conflict at hand.

On one hand, "the proper balance between faith and works" conflict here actually refers to the fundamental issue of whether the works themselves obtain/merit sinners a right standing before God or whether heart-purifying contrite faith does, and which is a subject of specific focus in the NT. If any system of justification by the merit of works could save one then the Law would be it:

I for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Galatians 3:21)

And if works of charity could justify then Cornelius would be saved on that account, but instead God showed grace in "purifying their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9) in the washing of regeneration.

For Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)

However, as has been shown , since salvific faith effects works then the latter justifies a person as being a believer, for it is effectual expressive faith that is counted for righteousness, (Rm. 4:5) while under grace God recompenses the obedient believer for what God Himself enabled and motivated, (Mt. 25:32-40) and is the only one who really deserves any credit. (1 Corinthians 4:7)

As for the rapture, while i believe that is the resurrection at the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation, we experience blessed fellowship with others who have been born of the Spirit thru faith, with a heart to worship and serve their/our Lord. Yet while for some this is much a matter of contention, unlike salvation by faith versus works, this is a peripheral issue as both believers will see that resurrection of the just. Glory and thanks be to God.