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Why has Pentecostalism grown so dramatically in Latin America?
And that's just the leader. Imagine the rest of the company. For eternity no less. Shoot me now. Oh wait, that wouldn't even work "up there".
Did you read that article? One of the main reasons people switched is due to one of the major lies of Pentecostal churches, that being faith healing.
So when did the "real Gospel" begin if the Catholics didn't get it right? let's note the Catholic Church was the first major version of Christianity. The many diverse versions of Protestantism came after Martin Luther.
And what makes a tradition correct? It's often intertwined with the culture and politics of the society. Look at the tradition of slavery in the Confederate South, and how slavery was morally justified by the Bible. Look at the tradition of the Catholic Church's belief that the Aristotle model of the universe was correct, and they had to silence Galileo who challenged it. Look at the tradition of creationism in conservative American sects as they opposed the teaching of evolution, see the Snopes trial. See the Dover, PA trial which resolved a religious view of intelligent design being introduced in schools.
I suggest it is all of Christianity given the estimated 44,000 sects under that umbrella of salvation. I know Methodists and Episcopals have had internal disputes and division over their liberal/tolerant side versus their conservative side, mostly over women as preachers and gays being accepted. It's tough for the more conservative folks because they are having to decide to follow Jesus or their tradition.
This tends to happen when the "truth" is not very tolerant and moral. The Baptists of the Confederate South lost the war and slaves, but they resisted giving up that tradition into the 21st century. The racism that remains there has seeped into the Republican party over time. The tradition has to adapt to modernity and evolved moral outlooks. The more rigid thinking will be less likely to feel comfortable adapting to change. The opposition to CRT and book banning show us conservatives are resisting this moral evolution.
It began with the Early church.. from the apostles teaching... like most things it got corrupted eventually by politics and non biblical practices. The reformers tried to bring it back to the common man, by making scripture accessible and getting rid of some of the non biblical practices like selling indulgences. Even Luther was still steeped in some Catholic falsehoods, but he understood it wasn't about counting beads or paying for somebody else's salvation.... Stuff the early church never did. There's plenty of true believers in the Catholic Church I'm sure , but it has a tendency to push people into works religion instead of to the cross.
Yes, that is the claim. It is not the reality.
It's biblical to pray over the sick.
Wrong again. It is a claim of your church. That puts the burden of proof upon them.
Thanks. That makes it easier to explain
Yes.
Great.
Sure.
Of course not. Doing good for the right reasons is great. But it doesn't save anyone.
This is a bad policy by God since it expected Christians to be naturally empathetic and always following Jesus. But Christians definitely see works as being optional. They see helping the needy BECAUSE they are in need as optional. Disagree? Then why does the USA have so much poverty? Why do so many Christians advocate for wealth and greed? There's even prosperity Gospel now that actively worships money and advances greed. How many televangelists have raked in millions selling bad faith to the gullible?
Well this is meaningless given there is no real-life benefit to anyone believers or not. We still see children suffer greatly from natural and man-made causes. At best this idea is an illusion and hope of some future better case scenario. Even with that the believer doesn't know for sure. This is just dogma that is accepted because it soothes the anxiety of real life and real responsibility.
You can still write a detailed explanation IF you just write the idea, and don't imply or claim it is true. If you don't make an assertion of your text being true or applicable to anyone else, then you will avoid trouble. Clarify by starting:
No it shows us we have a responsibility to others... that would not be so if we didn't believe in a loving God.
Going to the cross is simply humbly asking for salvation.
