The True Church

[Muffled]

Great post, "thedictator" is a very unwelcoming and unbecoming name. I'd add also living as the true church, not just teaching. Acts 2:42-47.

Maybe that is due to the fact that rules were made up to describe the true church as though that were something thyat Jesus wants.

I believe a lot of things could be on a list. Jesus has his own concepts in Revelation but only in reference to the churches named and not in general. I believe a true church will be one doing the will of God.

 

[sojourner]

Not implied, but inferred. Remember that? I know no one today who speaks for God like Jesus and the apostles. And where these so called spokespersons for God contradict the Bible, then what they say is no good.

What you "know" is immaterial.
Jesus contradicted the bible. They killed him for it. Would you do the same?

 

[Muffled]

rrosskopf said: "1. Bad translation. Should read "In the beginning was the spokesman, and the spokesman was with God, and the spokesman was a God." Jesus is not God Almighty."

I believe this is a reason the LDS is not a true church, lol.

I think that it also reveals why the list is deficient.

 

[sojourner]

One doesn't (cannot) repent until one has already come to the realization that one is reconciled.

Please, try to justify this man made concept with a scripture.

Glad to! Jesus said: "Repent, for the kingdom of God has come near." "Has come" is present perfect. It's already happened. We have already been reconciled to God through the Incarnation and the coming near of God's kingdom. Since that happened, now we can repent. Get it?

 

[Muffled]

God and faith in God are not contraindicated by any science, including evolution. Unfortunately, some myopic Christians have determined that evolution is a crisis for THEIR faith. I would suggest that this indicates that they have an extremely WEAK faith, especially if they are challenged by something not even mentioned in scripture.

I don't believe Christians are required to accept something that isn't true just because other people believe in it.

I believe it takes more faith to believe that everything was created but I suppose myopia only sees the easy road and that is a challenge to avoid.

 

[Katzpur]

1. Bad translation. Should read "In the beginning was the spokesman, and the spokesman was with God, and the spokesman was a God." Jesus is not God Almighty.

Jesus is not God the Father (or God Almighty or the Most High God) but I definitely don't think the indefinite article "a" is needed in this verse. "And the word was God" is entirely acceptable. Jesus refers to himself as "God" in the New Testament when He describes His agony in Gethsemane.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

We shouldn't be interpreting the Bible. We didn't write it. We should be seeking the original intent of what was written. It's the Holy Spirit's message through these men that counts, not ours.

We participate in the writing of the Bible as we are its readers. We should be interpreting the Bible according to original intent, our modern perspective and cultural identity, and our individual perspective. Otherwise it's simply dead material. The Holy Spirit must be felt in all of us for God's influence to be worthwhile.

 

[e.r.m.]

We participate in the writing of the Bible as we are its readers. We should be interpreting the Bible according to original intent, our modern perspective and cultural identity, and our individual perspective. Otherwise it's simply dead material. The Holy Spirit must be felt in all of us for God's influence to be worthwhile.

Absolutely not. The prophets did not do so 2 Peter 1:20-21, Jesus would not do so John 12:48-50. We don't have the right to. It's God's message, not our message. Once we have learned what THEY were writing, only then can we apply those teachings and lessons accurately to every day life as we know it. I'm not saying every passage of scripture is a profound mystery, some are pretty upfront, but the original intent is the only message.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Absolutely not. The prophets did not do so 2 Peter 1:20-21, Jesus would not do so John 12:48-50. We don't have the right to. It's God's message, not our message. Once we have learned what THEY were writing, only then can we apply those teachings and lessons accurately to every day life as we know it. I'm not saying every passage of scripture is a profound mystery, some are pretty upfront, but the original intent is the only message.

Literature is never simply a one-sided communication. Readers always bring the totality of themselves in the act of reading. Otherwise, the message is a dead thing. It suffers Nietzsche's death of dogmatic lip-service if it is not brought into the individual as a new, living, dynamic idea.

 

[e.r.m.]

Maybe that is due to the fact that rules were made up to describe the true church as though that were something thyat Jesus wants.

I believe a lot of things could be on a list. Jesus has his own concepts in Revelation but only in reference to the churches named and not in general. I believe a true church will be one doing the will of God.

Rules is a very subjective topic not really covered in the NT. They refer to rules as man made, so commands given by Christ would not qualify as rules.

 

[e.r.m.]

Literature is never simply a one-sided communication. Readers always bring the totality of themselves in the act of reading. Otherwise, the message is a dead thing. It suffers Nietzsche's death of dogmatic lip-service if it is not brought into the individual as a new, living, dynamic idea.

The message certainly must come alive in the reader, but that doesn't mean the root teaching changes meaning in the conveyance.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

There is a standard in God's word. The message is from them to us, not from us to ourselves.

 

[psychoslice]

For me personally there is only one true church, and that's within each one of us.

 

[sojourner]

For me personally there is only one true church, and that's within each one of us.

Since "church" comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning "assembly," the one true church resides in the spaces between us when we are in true relationship with each other.

 

[e.r.m.]

Since "church" comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning "assembly," the one true church resides in the spaces between us when we are in true relationship with each other.

This definition sounds better.

 

[Isaiah Torres]

So People are saved by Baptism? This is not so. Please tell me that you don't belive that.

baptism is assential for salvation yes

 

[Mr. Beebe]

baptism is assential for salvation yes

While we should be baptized, it is not always possible. God knows we are dust and limited. Psalm 103:14

The thief on the cross beside Jesus was not baptized, yet the Savior promised him salvation. But, if we are able, we are to be baptized as soon as possible. If baptism was essential for salvation, don't you think every church would be open for baptisms to take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? It is the Blood of Jesus that saves us. But make no mistake,, one should never put off baptism or refuse to do it. Telling Jesus "No" is not a good option. Don't tarry,,arise and be baptized!

 

[Katzpur]

1. Bad translation. Should read "In the beginning was the spokesman, and the spokesman was with God, and the spokesman was a God." Jesus is not God Almighty.

I've got to disagree with you on this point. While Jesus is obviously not the same individual as His own Father, He most definitely is "God." I believe that to say otherwise is misleading. This is actually made more clear in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price than it is in the Bible. Jesus Christ was not just "a God," but -- according to our scriptures, "God." After all, 2 Nephi 31:21 states quite clearly: "And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end."

 

[psychoslice]

Since "church" comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning "assembly," the one true church resides in the spaces between us when we are in true relationship with each other.

Well religion then, if we all keep following the herd, we will end up standing in cow ****.

 

[sojourner]

Well religion then, if we all keep following the herd, we will end up standing in cow ****.

Ultimately, the herd is what we are, and it's all we've got.

 

[psychoslice]

Ultimately, the herd is what we are, and it's all we've got.

Ha, but not when it comes to religion.