The Catholic Church is flawed, yes. Is the PAOC? How about the AOG, Baptist, Lutheran, Evangelical, PCCNA, Anglican, Presbyterian, Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren, Church of God and many many others, are they too not also "flawed"? YES YES YES they all have flaws...
Alas at their core, ie the FUNDAMENTAL key Tenets of Faith, they are all (Catholics, PAOC’s, AOG’s, Baptists, Lutherans, Evangelicals, PCCNA’s, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Mennonites, Mennonite Brethren, Church of God and many many others) CHRISTIAN, as in they ALL teach / believe in:
i. Virgin birth of Jesus (Yeshua Ha Mashiach)
ii. Jesus is the Son of God
iii. Jesus is God
iv. Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to the father
v. The INCARNATION of Jesus Christ (Word made Flesh)
vi. The Bodily Resurrection of Christ
vii. The Ascension of Christ
viii. The Holy Bible is the Inspired and Infallible Word of God (Christ)
ix. The Trinity
x. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah / Yeshuah Ha Mashiach
For more information on the above list, including detailed explanations and scriptural backings for these basic Tenets of Faith, please see this website.
I'd dare say that NONE of the tens of THOUSANDS of various and varying CHRISTIAN "denominations" (yes, even the so-called Non-Denominational Church(s), is/are, in fact, a "Denomination") has a proverbial ‘corner on the Christian Faith’.
Nor would I say that because of said "flaws" they should all be abandoned!
Although I might suggest that much of the interdenominational bickering, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder are PRECISELY why I have issues with “ORGANISED RELIGION”. What I might ask is: "what is it that constitutes / defines a Christian Church"? It is my belief of Christianity that the above is a rudimentary basic (ergo non-exhaustive, but nonetheless essential) list of Core Values / Principals or DOCTRINES which define a Christian, and therefore the Christian Church.... FAITH in Jesus Christ / Yeshua Hamashiach as both Lord and Saviour
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Recently someone I know made the following statement, "... I have a big problem with any organization that says "Catholics are not Christians,"…" I was quickly reminded of Isaiah 14:12-17, specifically verses 13 and 14, known simply as the FIVE I WILLS. Or otherwise thought of as the Pride of Satan.
“12 How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[a]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[a]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
16 Those who see you stare at you,
they ponder your fate:
“Is this the man who shook the earth
and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a wilderness,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?” .” {Emphasis mine}
they ponder your fate:
“Is this the man who shook the earth
and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a wilderness,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?” .” {Emphasis mine}
Any Christian Church or Christian that begins to take the stand that they have a "corner" on the market for genuine FAITH in (relationship with Jesus Christ) or similarly overtly BASHES another member of the many genuine Christian Churches (which does include Catholicism), I would strongly recommend they read Isaiah 14! We can oh so easily fall into prideful boasts that “our Church has THE truth” and clearly JESUS CHRIST’S Church has THE TRUTH.
Further, for those who seem so bent on BASHING Catholicism, I would ask that you consider John 8:7 for just as Jesus Christ said, “…and (Jesus) said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ” I would likewise challenge any member of ANY of the many and various member Churches which make up Christ's body of BELIEVERS... who is without sin, ANY sin...
Please be the FIRST to start casting stones upon Catholicism...
We are called, in fact COMMANDED, as Christians to “… go and make disciples of all nations …” and “…go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Matt 28:19 and Mark 16:15 Sadly what I fear that the people of this dying world, who oh so desperately need Jesus love and salvation see, when Christians argue and behave this way is precisely what Paul warned us about in 2 Corinthians 12:20. (“… I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.”) Perhaps we should also consider James 1:26? (“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”) Satan’s single most effective tool against God’s (Christ’s) Church is divisiveness, backbiting and quarrelling amongst Christians…
OurMission
We are called, in fact COMMANDED, as Christians to “… go and make disciples of all nations …” and “…go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Matt 28:19 and Mark 16:15 Sadly what I fear that the people of this dying world, who oh so desperately need Jesus love and salvation see, when Christians argue and behave this way is precisely what Paul warned us about in 2 Corinthians 12:20. (“… I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.”) Perhaps we should also consider James 1:26? (“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”) Satan’s single most effective tool against God’s (Christ’s) Church is divisiveness, backbiting and quarrelling amongst Christians…
Our
United we stand a much greater chance of accomplishing such a task. God Bless and Shalom.
“Know Jesus, know peace whereas no Jesus, no peace”
How does one get to “know” Jesus? Simple, invite Him into your heart, as Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:20 NIV] How can we be assured that this Jesus stuff means anything, well because the Bible tells us so, as the Apostle Paul wrote:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” [Romans 10:9-10 NIV]
And for those of you who say to me, I can’t be bothered reading the Bible, “it’s confusing” or “it’s a waste of my time”, may I draw your attention to what the Bible says about wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” [Proverbs 9:10]
If nothing else, PLEASE read two chapters from the Bible – (don’t own one, sorry NO excuse, if you’re reading this, you can access this: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV) John 3 and John 14!
John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And John 14:6 says: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Well that’s it, that’s Da Bauz’s take on, The Church is flawed – this 3rd day of January 2012 © 2012, All Rights Reserved. wr (Da Bauz, Christian Zionist)
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