What church or denomination do you most respect?

[MoreCoffee]

I'll use broad categories so that I do not exceed the poll limit of 10 options.

1. Catholic
2. Orthodox
3. Anglican
4. Lutheran
5. Baptist
6. Methodist
7. Restoration movement
8. Pentecostal
9. Charismatic
10. Other

 

[psalms 91]

I go to a pentecostal church and also a Methodist

 

[Josiah]

I admire the Lutheran church for their theology.

I admire a lot of denominations for their ministry. For example, the Catholic Church has done EXCELLENT work in education, in medical and social care, and has a generally admirable record of standing up for biblical morality and ethics (the current strong, strong Pro-Life work is just one example).

 

[visionary]

They all have respectable attributes.. I can't put one better than the other because they are individual qualities.

 

[MoreCoffee]

They all have respectable attributes.. I can't put one better than the other because they are individual qualities.

None more than any other?

 

[visionary]

Nope.... .. there is only so much and finite mind can grasp about the infinite God... There are churches that declare there is nothing of God outside their box, so you have to go in to meet God. ... finite mind... Is there good people in these churches? Absolutely!! Is there truth in these churches? Absolutely? Do they have it all? NOPE!!! God has a purpose in saying He has seven churches. IT is to meet the needs of the people, from baby formula, to the mature meaty diet.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Nope.... .. there is only so much a finite mind can grasp about the infinite God... There are churches that declare there is nothing of God outside their box, so you have to go in to meet God. ... finite mind... Is there good people in these churches? Absolutely!! Is there truth in these churches? Absolutely? Do they have it all? NOPE!!! God has a purpose in saying He has seven churches. IT is to meet the needs of the people, from baby formula, to the mature meaty diet.

I do not think that God said he has seven churches. There were seven churches in the Roman Province of Asia mentioned in the Apocalypse of saint John the theologian. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Per'gamum and to Thyati'ra and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to La-odice'a." " (Revelation 1:10-11)

 

[psalms 91]

I also believe that the seven churchs represent seven different stages of the church with the last one, the ladocien the last age which I also belive we are in right now

 

[MoreCoffee]

I also believe that the seven churchs represent seven different stages of the church with the last one, the ladocien the last age which I also belive we are in right now

I see no stages or ages mentioned in the passage. The letters are addressed to churches in real cities of the ancient world. Some of those cities are still thriving communities, many are not. But at the time that saint John wrote they all had a Church in them - not a parish church but a city wide community of parishes under one pastor and his elders who assisted him in his shepherding work.

 

[psalms 91]

church, not parish and they had angels assigned as well

 

[MoreCoffee]

church, not parish and they had angels assigned as well

Angel is Greek for messenger.

 

[psalms 91]

Angel is Greek for messenger.

Yes, it is and could be taken either way but I will stick with angel

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes, it is and could be taken either way but I will stick with angel

I am more inclined to take it as pastor/messenger.

 

[Full O Beans]

Other: meaning, nondenominational, but with the Charismatic flavour, which means that that particular Body of Christ doesn't hinder the ministry of Holy Spirit.

 

[visionary]

I see no stages or ages mentioned in the passage. The letters are addressed to churches in real cities of the ancient world. Some of those cities are still thriving communities, many are not. But at the time that saint John wrote they all had a Church in them - not a parish church but a city wide community of parishes under one pastor and his elders who assisted him in his shepherding work.

These are not the entire list of churches in those days... so there has to be more to the story than this.

They were chosen because of their names and meanings, they were chosen because of their characteristic, both good and bad, they were chosen to represent the churches through the ages...

 

[MoreCoffee]

These are not the entire list of churches in those days... so there has to be more to the story than this.

They were chosen because of their names and meanings, they were chosen because of their characteristic, both good and bad, they were chosen to represent the churches through the ages...

The may well have been all of the churches in the province of Asia over which saint John had authority.

 

[visionary]

The may well have been all of the churches in the province of Asia over which saint John had authority.

James the Just was over them, Paul was a missionary, and John was the Pastor.

 

[MoreCoffee]

James the Just was over them, Paul was a missionary, and John was the Pastor.

James was dead by the time the Apocalypse was written.

 

[visionary]

James was dead by the time the Apocalypse was written.

You are correct... it was Simeon, the second elder of Jerusalem counsel.

 

[MoreCoffee]

You are correct... it was Simeon, the second elder of Jerusalem counsel.

Simeon Peter was dead by the time the Apocalypse was written. Do you mean some other Simeon? Perhaps you're thinking of Simeon the son of Cleophas who was bishop from around 63 AD until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and then lived at Pella.