In an ideal world, should The Church adapt to society or should society adapt to The Church?

 

We don't live in an ideal world. The Church is dominated by MAN made laws. A group of guys, 100's of years after Jesus died, decided that their decisions were inspired by God and for 1000's of years we have blindly adhered to them. Many of the traditions that we believe don't come from the Bible, and even those we do are suspect b/c many books were thrown out. Therefore, it's suspect. I'm on the side that says political power inspired those men more than spiritual inspiration did. Go through the history of the church, even through Mussolini's era in Italy and you will see that the papal state has always ruled for what would do best for the papal state financially.

 

Here's another quandary. I go to church religiously, sometimes twice a week. I act as I believe Jesus would want me to. Does it make my wedding and marriage less sacred b/c we are getting married outside??? I wouldn't think so, however, priests won't perform the service. Why??? What's the difference b/n indoors and out? God is in omnipresent, not located in some building.

Jumper Dad---It's all good!:thumb:

 

Question for everyone:

 

Which do you think should be the Pope's primary responsibility:

 

1) Appease all of other faiths?

2) Impart instruction to the Catholic membership?

 

What instruction did he give? I'm confused on how this has helped to guide my relationship with God and Jesus, besides give it an egocentric tilt.

I was extremely impressed with your keyboard until I realized that was just cut and paste.

Είστε βέβαιοι για αυτό;

The word "catholic" means universal. When all the man made prejudices and manipulations are stripped away, I think all honest Christians are basically very similar and I think they have the same task on this earth. The "lingo" may be different but the goal is the same.

 

I agree...at least that should be the case. Obviously, I disagree with the pope's belief/assertion that protestant denominations do not have the "means of salvation". I believe there are true Christians in all Christian denominations that preach the true Gospel. At it's core, I think the Catholic Church still holds the gospel as doctrine, I just think they've added a lot of unnecessary and sometimes unbiblical teachings under the guise of "tradition". That doesn't mean I think practicing Catholics don't have the means of salvation. I don't think that at all. I just disagree with some of their doctrine.

Question:

 

Do you believe that Catholics have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

 

Do you feel that Catholics worship a "man", in that they follow the leadership of the Pope?

 

I'm truly puzzled by some of the things you post, because sometimes I get the feeling there's more that you're NOT saying.

 

As far as that point goes, I get the feeling that there's more everyone is NOT saying for the sake of this thread.

As far as that point goes, I get the feeling that there's more everyone is NOT saying for the sake of this thread.

For the sake of their BGP membership is probably closer to the truth.

 

And yes, moderators get in trouble when they break the rules, just in case anyone was wondering.

 

Occasionally we get someone rockmom who hasn't a clue and we try to give them rockmom some benefit of the doubt. Try as we will, we just can't correct their rockmom wrong thinking about certain matters. But I don't want to mention any names rockmom.

I'm just having a little fun in this serious topic. I have the utmost respect for rockmom.

Είστε βέβαιοι για αυτό;

 

:sssh:

What instruction did he give? I'm confused on how this has helped to guide my relationship with God and Jesus, besides give it an egocentric tilt.

 

The instruction was in the Catholic Doctrine, the belief that the Catholic Church is the One, True Church.

 

I guess I completely missed the era where this wasn't the Catholic belief. I must have been asleep. :lol:

 

How is it egocentric to reinforce existing doctrine?

Είστε βέβαιοι για αυτό;

 

 

Easy for you to say. Regardless, I stand humbled in the presence of greatness.

 

BTW, you have seriously damaged my Spellcheck.

For the sake of their BGP membership is probably closer to the truth.

 

Yeah...I wish I'd have worded it that way instead...

 

Of course, I guess I was drawing on my personal feelings, so maybe I was more concerned with the thread being locked than losing my membership...I don't think I would take it that far.

As far as that point goes, I get the feeling that there's more everyone is NOT saying for the sake of this thread.

 

 

:thumb: Yeah, I gave up.

Can I answer?

 

Yes, many Catholics have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. (You can substitute almost any Christian denomination for "Catholic" and the answer will still be true."

 

Many Catholics worship the Pope, primarily because the don't understand the purpose of the Holy See. And frankly, I feel that the Vatican has never been very aggressive in clearing up that point.

 

I know that there are politics within the Vatican, but I really feel that the Pope is selected by a group of good Christian men, hoping to select he who is best for the Catholic Church.

 

I know a LOT of Catholics, HHSDad, and I do not know of ANY who worship the Pope. We respect and revere him as the holiest of men, but we do not worship him.

 

Other than that one point, I agree with you.

:thumb: Yeah, I gave up.

 

Tread lightly, my friend.

We don't live in an ideal world. The Church is dominated by MAN made laws. A group of guys, 100's of years after Jesus died, decided that their decisions were inspired by God and for 1000's of years we have blindly adhered to them. Many of the traditions that we believe don't come from the Bible, and even those we do are suspect b/c many books were thrown out. Therefore, it's suspect. I'm on the side that says political power inspired those men more than spiritual inspiration did. Go through the history of the church, even through Mussolini's era in Italy and you will see that the papal state has always ruled for what would do best for the papal state financially.

 

Here's another quandary. I go to church religiously, sometimes twice a week. I act as I believe Jesus would want me to. Does it make my wedding and marriage less sacred b/c we are getting married outside??? I wouldn't think so, however, priests won't perform the service. Why??? What's the difference b/n indoors and out? God is in omnipresent, not located in some building.

 

Mexitucky, there's so much in what you say that is similar to the way a child feels of his parents rules or guidelines. In a way, that's exactly what the Vatican is to the lay man...the parent so to speak. The guidance and the "rules enforcer". Because you don't personally agree doesn't mean the Church is wrong. And, you sometimes have to reconcile yourself that the Church is not an entity to bend to the will of what we want. They are here to enforce and uphold the will of God, and we must obey.

:thumb: Yeah, I gave up.

 

Y'all are making me feel bad! I thought we were having a great conversation!