The Topic I am attempting today it a heated and very controversial one so I will try to be delicate and informative in sharing my opinion. Feel free to comment and open up a discussion because I am always open to learn.
Now I was raised Catholic and I love my heritage and upbringing and the standards and values it has instilled in my person. That said, and I know I am being judgmental just by saying this, but in my opinion, I think Catholics can be the most judgmental and close minded people and I do not believe that is how we are to live our lives. That is just one example because I believe that we are ALL guilty of this offense, YES myself included at times! So often we look upon our beliefs, whatever they are, as better or more right than another when how is that even a fair diagnosis when we only believe what we believe as a product of our raise and by the privilege of God himself. I believe that our Father did establish one church just as I believe we all once spoke one universal language, but I DO NOT believe that that Original Church exists today, in the traditional way, but rather that we are all looking to find it and through it, our way closer to God. Disagree with me all you want but look at the changes constantly happening around us within our "Religion", look at what History has shown us and tell me that you really, genuinely, think any ONE church could actually still exist within the guidelines God mandated to the original disciples.I just want to encourage each of you to read and discern for yourself, keeping an open mind, and maybe find a little acceptance and maybe even a little humility as you look out on the rest of the world with a new perspective. Below are some verses that I think speak true and, through my eyes, support my beliefs. When I read these verses of scripture I see not one "CHURCH" but a body of people as in the WORLD, the WHOLE world all of its people, all sons and daughters of Christ, some of whom know not of Faith and God. So I say yet again, how can we judge ones beliefs over another?
Now I was raised Catholic and I love my heritage and upbringing and the standards and values it has instilled in my person. That said, and I know I am being judgmental just by saying this, but in my opinion, I think Catholics can be the most judgmental and close minded people and I do not believe that is how we are to live our lives. That is just one example because I believe that we are ALL guilty of this offense, YES myself included at times! So often we look upon our beliefs, whatever they are, as better or more right than another when how is that even a fair diagnosis when we only believe what we believe as a product of our raise and by the privilege of God himself. I believe that our Father did establish one church just as I believe we all once spoke one universal language, but I DO NOT believe that that Original Church exists today, in the traditional way, but rather that we are all looking to find it and through it, our way closer to God. Disagree with me all you want but look at the changes constantly happening around us within our "Religion", look at what History has shown us and tell me that you really, genuinely, think any ONE church could actually still exist within the guidelines God mandated to the original disciples.I just want to encourage each of you to read and discern for yourself, keeping an open mind, and maybe find a little acceptance and maybe even a little humility as you look out on the rest of the world with a new perspective. Below are some verses that I think speak true and, through my eyes, support my beliefs. When I read these verses of scripture I see not one "CHURCH" but a body of people as in the WORLD, the WHOLE world all of its people, all sons and daughters of Christ, some of whom know not of Faith and God. So I say yet again, how can we judge ones beliefs over another?
Romans 12:3-5
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
"So whether you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone
to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- even as I try
to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but
the good of many, so that they may be saved."
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
Colossians 3:14-16
"14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
"14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
1 Peter 2:9-10
"9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
"9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Final Note: Found this site informative and interesting... take a look... "Christians are individually described
"sheep", "disciple", "stone", "member", "soldier," etc. So, although
God describes his people individually as "sheep, disciple, stone," these
are not names. The word "Christian" is a name and the Bible says so!" -http://www.bible.ca/ntx-church-not-named.htm
Throughout the Bible, "The Church" is called many things, "the people" "the body" etc. but is it ever named? If there was ONE RIGHT and CORRECT way to worship and create a relationship between yourself and the Father would he not have put a name to it? He tells us how we are to live specifically in the 10 Commandments but never does he once tell us to be a certain "Religion" to be and to judge how others choose to grow in their faith. "if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God" (1 Peter 4:16) I am a Christian, seeking, learning, and growing and I claim no other title because no other title as been given to me.
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