Free Republic

I live in Billings,I saw the article. Trust me, the only reason they are posting this is because they see the collapse, they will be the first to endorse the next Democrat for president regardless if it was a clone of Obama. The Billings Gazette is just below the Missoula papers as far as partisian reporting goes.

Best response of all...homerun!

Now that is something to be scared of. -20 or -30 thats tolerable.

-54 is reason to close everything down.

Okay, I have held back, but since you brought it up, I am a “Montanan” and I truly find this whole thread hilarious.

Find a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, (WELS). I cannot speak for others but we are Bible based and growing, albeit slowly.

Some of the European dishwashers are definitely superior due to the fact that they heat much higher than American dishwashers. Without the phosphates higher heat temps are required to actually clean.

The only surprising thing about this story is that the Boston Globe wrote it???

Thus I am careful not to "paint all with the same brush," but rather continue to be amazed at how God has His people in many different churches. All the best as you serve Him.

Great advice!

We believe that baptism is a means of grace through which the Holy Spirit works faith, offers and conveys the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation (Titus 3:5-7, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21). We believe that infants are to be baptized because they are included in Christ's command to baptize all nations (Matthew 28:19). They are sinful and need to be born again (Psalm 51:5, John 3:5-6). Babies also can believe.

Luke 18:15-17 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

From the promises that are attached to baptism in the Bible, we know and believe that the Holy Spirit uses this sacrament to work faith in human hearts.

Baptism is not a free pass to heaven, many who have been baptized have rejected this gift.

Circumcision was a covenant between God and the nation of Israel in the OT.

Scriptures are silent on the issue, although the verses you post can be read to support infant baptism.

the only way we can know for sure whether infant baptism is correct or not is to follow the teaching authority of the Church.

If scripture supports infant baptism, why would I need the approval of the Catholic Church? It seems Gods' Word trumps all authority.

There is probably much that you and I would agree with, but we part on whose authority we follow, you give all authority to the church (Catholic), I give all authority to The Church, Jesus Christ and his believers.

God Bless

I am not Catholic, but here is an explanation from WELS that clearly points infant baptism as scriptural.

We baptize babies because they are included in the Great Commission, which is a general command, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, also see Mark 16:15-16).

Scripture does not exclude infants from baptism, rather it indicates that they need to be baptized because they are conceived and born in sin, and they need to be born again to enter the kingdom of God (Psalm 51:5, John 3:5-6). Through Baptism the Holy Spirit works to create or strengthen faith and brings the gifts of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation (Titus 3:4-7, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38-39). We should never deprive children of baptism, “the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

On the day of Pentecost when Peter told the gathered crowd, “Repent and be baptized.” He also said, “The promise is for you and your children” (Acts 2:38-39). Children were included in the command and promise Peter spoke. St. Paul draws a parallel between Old Testament circumcision and Baptism (Colossians 2:11-12). Babies in the Old Testament were to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth.

What you fail to understand is that truth matters. Christians are called to rebuke false teachings out of concern for the spiritual health of others.

You hit a homerun with that one. It's not a loving attitude to accept false teachings which lead to the destruction of the soul.

"When life is all about YOU people invariably get snubbed."

you summed it up best

....How about rural Montana?

Hey, Montana doesn't want him!!!

You made the statement that "The Lord Jesus Christ is centric for all mankind".

Absolute truth in those words, as is the entire Bible centered on Jesus Christ. All of mankind, regardless of nationality, gender or race has one path to salvation: each and every individuals faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. No other path exists and there are no exemptions.

Dispensationalism is a false belief. Please take a moment and go to the link below which briefly explains and biblically shows how this can be a very dangerous path away from our Savior Jesus Christ.

http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/february-2008/take-no-detours?page=0,0

God Bless

"There is not a lot specifically about Veronica in the scriptures,

The above is exactly what the author wrote, leading one to believe this story originates within the Bible. There is nothing even remotely mentioned in the Bible regarding this.

As for the New Testament coming from tradition, that is blatantly false:

2 Timothy 3:16 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:19-21 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Here’s the story - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15362a.htm

Went to the link, found no evidence of "Veronica" even remotely coming from the Bible. Quite the contrary, it seems to corroborate that there are several versions of this story.

No offense to others, but sounds like a complete myth.

"There is not a lot specifically about Veronica in the scriptures, but tradition tells the story of how she wiped the face of Jesus with a cloth while he was carrying the cross," said Father David Boettner with the Diocese of Knoxville. "His image, the image of the face of Jesus, appeared in that cloth.

Where in scripture is there ANYTHING about Veronica, specifically or otherwise? Just asking because this sounds like a myth.

Yes, the Lutheran Confessions do teach that the pope is the antichrist. He has claimed a position of supreme leadership in the church by divine right; he has deceived millions with his false teaching on justification, the central article of the Christian faith; he has anathematized the true teaching of the gospel; and historically he has claimed power in both civil and ecclesiastical realms. (See, in the Lutheran Confessions, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise on the Power and the Primacy of the Pope for further explanation.) To the extent that the current popes still do the things described in the 1500s, they continue to fit the bill.

As a member of WELS, I agree completely with the above. Other WELS members here have stated they have never heard this in their congregations, but this is an issue that has been discussed in both the WELS congregations I have been a member of. I cannot remember it being discussed in a sermon, but most definitely in bible study classes.

It has always been taught that despite this, there are true believers in the Catholic church. This doctrine has never been taught as a hate issue. Just as we pray for non-believers, we also pray for Catholics to understand Grace is a gift from God, not earned by good works. Christ has done it all, there is no need for a vicar, we only need our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Having more relatives in my family that are Catholics than are not, this has never been an issue because they understand I bear no ill will against them, I only pray for their salvation.