Isn't it time for you all to repent of schism?

[MoreCoffee]

I've been there, and swam back across the Tiber. No, thank you.

Even the twice schismatic can repent and come home, the invitation is extended to you. Come home.

 

[Faith]

After five centuries of failed religious reform, perhaps it's time for those within Protestant denominations to reconsider the historical division from Catholicism. The invitation to reunite remains open.

?

 

[MoreCoffee]

?

Go on! repent of the schism

 

[Faith]

Well, I'm not Catholic (although my mothers side of the family was) so I have an outsiders perspective of things, but it seems that the current Pope has a very non Biblical view of the world in the current times and anyone openly disagreeing with it is tossed out.

There are just way too many teachings in the Catholic Church, all of them presumably infallible, that I can never see protestants agreeing with, and vice versa so I just can't see any unification short of the second coming of Christ to earth to rule it.

I think it's important to realize that we are two thousand years removed from Christ on Earth, two thousand years removed from the early Christians that knew or knew those who directly knew him so that there is undoubtedly a great deal of error and loss of knowledge that has crept into Christianity as a whole. We are warned about falling into false doctrine, and that it will dominate those who call themselves Christian in the latter days (presumable with those still following or trying to follow true doctrine being the unwanted minority).

This is, of course, all conjecture and we will have to wait to see what happens when it happens, something I think may be coming sooner rather than later.

May your day be blessed.

It’s my understanding that here are very, very few infallible teachings.

 

[Faith]

Go on! repent of the schism

I’m Catholic it still says I’m Lutheran on here
edit: I fixed it. I was raised Catholic then bounced around for awhile, then came back to the RCC.

 

[Faith]

Even the twice schismatic can repent and come home, the invitation is extended to you. Come home.

It’s nice to want people to become Catholic but everybody is entitled to their own beliefs. I think that as long as they believe in Jesus and confess (in our case, to a priest, they to Christ) it’s all good.

 

[MoreCoffee]

It’s nice to want people to become Catholic but everybody is entitled to their own beliefs. I think that as long as they believe in Jesus and confess (in our case, to a priest, they to Christ) it’s all good.

I know, I know. I am helping the site a little with an occasional controversial post. We ought to have more engagement. I thought a call to repentance might get some traction. I've been careful not to overstep any lines.

 

[Faith]

MoreCoffee are you a cradle Catholic or a convert? If you converted what were you before? It’s nice to see another Catholic here.

 

[MoreCoffee]

MoreCoffee are you a cradle Catholic or a convert? If you converted what were you before? It’s nice to see another Catholic here.

A convert from atheism but with Protestantism (Presbyterianism) in my background.

 

[Castle Church]

Even the twice schismatic can repent and come home, the invitation is extended to you. Come home.

Thanks for the invitation, but I am all set. I have personal issues that prevent "coming home" as well as theological disagreements that cannot be surmounted.

 

[BruceLeiter]

A very human Rock, saint Peter (Cephas, the rock) was not declared to be sinless by Jesus, nor was he promised unerring goodness in all his works and actions. After all, he did deny Jesus three times, as Jesus said he would, nevertheless the risen Lord, Jesus, restored him to office asking, "do you love me more than these" and twice more "do you love me" and each time receiving from Peter an affirmation of Peter's love to which Jesus said, "feed my lambs" and "feed my sheep" and again "feed my sheep". So, a man who sins like others is made by the Lord, Jesus Christ, a pastor to feed the sheep that are Christ's people, his special flock, the flock of God.

You say that he was restored to "office." He was restored to servant-leadership of believers' needs. He wasn't even the head of the early church; James appears to have been (Acts 19), since he made the final decision at the Jerusalem Council.

 

[MoreCoffee]

You say that he was restored to "office." He was restored to servant-leadership of believers' needs. He wasn't even the head of the early church; James appears to have been (Acts 19), since he made the final decision at the Jerusalem Council.

You've confused being Bishop of Jerusalem with being leader of the church. James was bishop in Jerusalem, so he hosted the first ecumenical council in Jerusalem. As host he opened the council, closed it, and had the privilege of asking for the decisions to be recorded. But Saint Peter spoke and the message he gave, which was confirmed by saint Paul, was the basis for the council's decisions.

 

[BruceLeiter]

You've confused being Bishop of Jerusalem with being leader of the church. James was bishop in Jerusalem, so he hosted the first ecumenical council in Jerusalem. As host he opened the council, closed it, and had the privilege of asking for the decisions to be recorded. But Saint Peter spoke and the message he gave, which was confirmed by saint Paul, was the basis for the council's decisions.

Where in Scripture do you find the idea that Peter was the leader of the whole church at that time? Or are you reading into the New Testament the Catholics' separate tradition apart from the Bible, with which I disagree?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Where in Scripture do you find the idea that Peter was the leader of the whole church at that time? Or are you reading into the New Testament the Catholics' separate tradition apart from the Bible, with which I disagree?

John chapter 21, Matthew chapter 16, and chapter 18, numerous lists of apostles naming Peter first and so forth. You write as if you do not know of these passages, why is that?

 

[Lamb]

John chapter 21, Matthew chapter 16, and chapter 18, numerous lists of apostles naming Peter first and so forth. You write as if you do not know of these passages, why is that?

It's funny because in Matthew chapter 16 Jesus also said this:

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me

 

[MoreCoffee]

It's funny because in Matthew chapter 16 Jesus also said this:

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me

How does that bear on the question, do you think?

 

[Lamb]

How does that bear on the question, do you think?

The question about Peter being the rock or the question of time to repent?

If it's the question about Peter being the rock, then it shows that Catholics are on the wrong path with that. Also think about Peter denying Jesus 3 times...that isn't very rock like, but a confession of faith is.

 

[MoreCoffee]

The question about Peter being the rock or the question of time to repent?

If it's the question about Peter being the rock, then it shows that Catholics are on the wrong path with that. Also think about Peter denying Jesus 3 times...that isn't very rock like, but a confession of faith is.

"Peter" means rock, and "Cephas" (Aramaic for rock) was the name Jesus bestowed upon Saint Peter, making him symbolically steadfast. Jesus was not mistaken. Despite Saint Peter's numerous and evident shortcomings, he emerged as a leader, acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, and was tasked by Jesus to tend to the lambs and sheep, symbolizing the followers of Christ. And he was also given the keys to the kingdom. Thus, regardless of his imperfections, he had the trust and confidence of the Lord Jesus Christ and was called to be the shepherd of God's people.

 

[BruceLeiter]

John chapter 21, Matthew chapter 16, and chapter 18, numerous lists of apostles naming Peter first and so forth. You write as if you do not know of these passages, why is that?

Just because he is listed first doesn't mean that he became the leader of the early church. Where do you find that specific information? You realize, don't you, that right after he confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, he condemned Jesus' plans to go to the cross and that Jesus said that Peter was speaking for Satan.

Peter did a lot of good as one of the disciples/apostles, but he was only one of the leaders of the early church with Jesus' brother James and the others. The church didn't have the hierarchy that the Roman Catholics have now at all. They were led by elders, not some authoritative leader.

 

[BruceLeiter]

"Peter" means rock, and "Cephas" (Aramaic for rock) was the name Jesus bestowed upon Saint Peter, making him symbolically steadfast. Jesus was not mistaken. Despite Saint Peter's numerous and evident shortcomings, he emerged as a leader, acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, and was tasked by Jesus to tend to the lambs and sheep, symbolizing the followers of Christ. And he was also given the keys to the kingdom. Thus, regardless of his imperfections, he had the trust and confidence of the Lord Jesus Christ and was called to be the shepherd of God's people.

Jesus was using Peter as an illustration of a rock by pointing at his confession of faith, not as a single ruler of the church.