Total posts: 8,050
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
True debate is about finding the truth, not making oneself out to be right.
So when you see Christians saying to eachother, "yes it could be that too", this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
I welcome any Christian to dispute me about my claims of The Orthodox Catholic Church being the true church.
We have been around since the beginning. No protestant church can claim this.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
All I can say is come and see for yourself.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
I gave you one example. It was not intended to be exhaustive.
What are you trying to say?
Created:
Posted in:
In a very real way, the church is the incarnation of Christ itself, clothed in the flesh of the Theotokos.
Created:
Posted in:
If I were to say anything addressed to the Christians of this forum, it would be walk in a manner worthy of your vocation.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
No one else is telling you where to go if you want to learn more.
I am.
Everyone else is at best is handing you a bible and/or telling you to figure it out yourself.
I am directing people to the apostolic church.
But also, see above post
Created:
Posted in:
I don't think BrotherDThomas being extreme has anything to do with it.
I think it has more to do with the fact that his intent appears to be subversive.
Also, it doesn't appear he recognizes anyone as a Christian but himself.
I could go around saying that Christians who are not with the church are not real Christians. Some people even believe this, for sure! But if this was the case, we would not honor baptisms done in the proper trinitarian way by the heterodox churches. In acknowledging that a heterodox baptism is made orthodox on someone's chrismation into the church, we acknowledge that the grace of God is still present outside the visible church.
The visible church? It's over there, it is The Orthodox Catholic Church. Now that you see where the church is, know that I can't really tell you where it isn't.
Who am I to say the old man in the baptist/methodist/etc. church wasn't a real Christian? He works out his own salvation with fear and trembling, is charitable to all, takes care of the poor, and is humble. That man is more of an orthodox Christian than someone who is in the true church who has no love for anyone other than himself.
God knows what we have to work with. Sincere faith and charity from a pure heart, that is true religion. Jesus Christ is Lord and savior whether or not you understand how this works. Whether or not you even know His name.
Really, that's some good news.
But if you are an idolater and a lover of the self, the good news for you is that there is still time to repent before it is too late.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
Yet he has "other" listed as his religion on his profile.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Alec
The scripture says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake."
Simply being disliked is not an indication of righteousness.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@zedvictor4
I'll take the authority of the church as being legitimate enough of a basis.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
You bring a legitimate point about Christians not really debating eachother around here.
We have one thing in common. We preach Christ.
Let me explain through an interaction between Jesus and one of his disciples...
"And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is on our part.
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."
Even if someone is preaching Christ for the wrong reasons, St Paul gives us an e ample of the right attitude when he wrote...
"Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."
So what? We all preach Christ. In a great way, we are on the same team.
What do I do in particular? I introduce you to his mother.
You want to learn real Christianity? Go where Christ's mother is. The Orthodox Catholic Church.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
True repentance involves a change in direction.
Go in peace, and sin no more.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
It's not funny.
And no is blaming you for anything.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
Don't be an idiot.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
Yeah, see, somehow The atheists who tried to wipe out our church in The Soviet Union, killing DOZENS OF MILLIONS makes it not so funny.
There are real consequences to promoting ignorance. Alienating us only serves to make it more socially acceptable to treat us unjustly.
Created:
Posted in:
If anyone really believes they sawed the lady in half and then put her back together without a scratch...
...that's the magic, dood.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
That is exactly what I have been saying.
I don't honor your assuming of my motives either.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
Surely you accept that there is an art of deception.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@SirAnonymous
Simple answers often obscure important nuances.
The important thing to catch here is that God knows the hearts of all men. If someone does not know the name of Jesus, but forsakes idolatry and walks in The Way of Truth, they may be in Christ without knowing it.
Likewise, there are even those who deny God in ignorance who may be closer to God than those who confess Him with their lips.
It is always a heart issue.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
Which one of you is the true Christian, though?
ErrnlVW doesn't identify as a Christian. He seems pretty new age to me personally.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@SirAnonymous
Those who did not find the church in this life may be united to it in the afterlife. God knows the hearts of all men.
Does that better answer your question?
The good Samaritan belonged to the wrong church, so to speak, but Jesus points to him as an example of righteousness.
What we believe is a great deal more nuanced than, "If you don't go to the right churcj, you going to hell".
That said, because heresy is so prevalent in protestant churches, it is much better to learn the faith from the historical church. It is a living church with unbroken continuity.
It is my belief that the true fulfillment of the reformation in the west is reunion with the church Rome broke away from.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@EtrnlVw
Mopac and many others will be shocked if they ever squeak into the Christian Heaven, the variety of people, garments, colors of all types and cultures of all kinds who are in love with Jesus and abide in those teachings will set any snot nosed religious attitudes back a few notches. They won't be all Catholic lol, they won't all be carrying golden crosses and sprinkling holy water on each other walking around pompously judging other believers...there will be a wide spread array of all kinds of folks from all walks of life. The first thing they will probably notice is that the quality of these people go well beyond just what religious organization they happened to follow on Earth.Religious beliefs and organizations don't make "true" Christians, it is the quality of heart and love of God. The willingness to sacrifice all aspects of themselves just to have a little bit more God within them and in their life.
I think you are the one who would be surprised to find that what I believe doesn't in anyway resemble your caricature of it.
I have for years told Christians that they might be surprised at who they might find in heaven.
The fact of the matter is, you don't really understand us. It does however look as though you have already judged us.
We agree that it is the heart that makes an orthodox Christian, because the Orthodox Church is not an institution with sacraments, but a sacrement with institutions.
What can we claim? That we preserve the true apostolic faith in its complete form.
You judge based on appearances.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
You ought to take your act on the road. I feel like you're doing a Andy Kaufnman performance art routine, with how consistently you're able to pull off the "Here's something that I think sounds deep but is literally zero information at all" schtick. Is everyone in your church like this? Blathering faux-wise bromides and using capital letters? Are you currently wearing a cassock?
What we believe is really simple. Really simple and consistent. To really understand, you have to put the faith into practice. Living it reveals it.
I will probably be wearing a cassock during lent. If I don't come back here, you'll know why.
A ton of beautiful souls, but no Christians or Jews or Muslims because I choose to chill with the regular good people atheists. Sounds pretty great, but definitely would not include Jesus, because that's not Christian heaven. Christian heaven is basically you forget who you are, you forget your family, and you sing praises of Jesus all the time for all eternity, you don't want anything at all. THAT planet sounds terrible, I think we can agree.I'm wondering where all the Christians who like to attack those who don't believe in anything are, because they ought to be here disagreeing with you. LIke Mopac. Mopac, you think this guy's right or wrong about the planets heaven, existing in another universe that also has planets, and hindus go to their own heaven there?Some balls commenting on who's a true Christian or not, as it turns out.
That isn't what we believe.
EtrnlVw obviously doesn't represent the orthodox position. I don't believe it is necessary to point that out. EtrnlVw and I already know we don't agree on everything, and that doesn't bother me personally.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
The financially poor.
The reason in that case Judas' objection was unwarranted was because the woman had already sacrificed her perfume, so to speak, and it wouldn't be right to dishonor that.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
One of the major themes that pervades The New Testament is that the letter kills, and the spirit gives life.
To abide in The Eternal Way of Truth is to abide in Christ.
God knows those who are his.
That being the case, what are we saying? The Truth is eternal. To abide in Truth is to abide in Life. The same Light of heaven is the fire of hell, just as falsehood is exposed for what it is by the light of Truth.
I
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
Sorry Stephen, there is One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
To say otherwise is subversive to the faith itself.
You know, taking the teachings of heretics as being just as valid as the apostles and the apostolic church.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@SirAnonymous
Do you think it's possible for someone who isn't part of the Orthodox Church to be saved?
I'd rather get on the ark than risk riding out the flood on driftwood personally.
Created:
-->
@EtrnlVw
That there I said was a poetic way Saint Gregory the Theologian described the soul. He's got a lot of good stuff.
Animals are not made in the image of God, that is, they lack noetic faculties. That said, we do believe The Holy Spirit enlivens all things.
Animals are not made in the image of God, that is, they lack noetic faculties. That said, we do believe The Holy Spirit enlivens all things.
Created:
-->
@ludofl3x
The psyche is the subject of these areas of study. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding the subject.
Do animals have souls? I don't know. I don't see why they couldn't. They clearly do not possess they same noetic faculties that human beings do.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@zedvictor4
Jesus lived an abstinent and chaste life. Claims to the contrary have no legitimate basis.
Created:
-->
@ludofl3x
The Greek word that gets translated into soul is "psychē.
If the soul doesn't exist, psychology and psychiatry have no basis to them as legitimate areas of study.
The breathe of God is life.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
The poor in spirit in the context of this verse are those who recognize everything they have received is from God, and without God they are nothing.
Created:
"The soul is the breath of God that endures being mixed with what is of the dust."
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
Depends entirely on the context.
Truly, a heart far from God with all the world's wealth suffers the worst of poverty. In the end, such a soul has nothing.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
It only matters what The Orthodox Catholic Church believes.
Those outside the church belong to heterodox churches.
It is a lot simpler than people make it out to be. The identifying of heresy with Christianity only serves the person who is intent on undermining Christianity.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
It is not a sin to be rich.
It is a sin to make an idol of your riches.
The Church has an ancient monastic tradition filled with plenty of examples of those who for the sake of perfection gave up everything they had. Monasticism is still alive today in the church.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
To you, "Yahweh" is a meaningless pronouncement of syllables that you attach to a created god.
The name is an ancient way of saying, "The Ultimate Reality".
The Existing One.
Truly, The Eternally Existing One.
There is no comparison between The Uncreated God and the created gods of men.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Stephen
I don't accept what you are saying is valid at all. Without The Holy Spirit, you can not rightly interpret scripture.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Discipulus_Didicit
I don't honor your assuming of my motives.
My intention is not to confuse or cause strife.
Witchcraft you can pretty much equate with magical arts.
Created:
Posted in:
Good enough of a reason to always work out YOUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling.
The truth that is hard for many to accept is that we can't save anyone.
Yet I believe Saint Seraphim of Sarov, speaks the mind of The Church in saying, "Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved."
Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@BrotherDThomas
It isn't Christ who is perverse, rather, it is us who are perverse. If we confess our sins and repent, our sins will be blotted out. If we think we act in secret, The Lord will discover our secret parts.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@BrotherDThomas
You can't hide anything from God. Everything you think is secret is laid bare for God to see. You can't fool God.
Created:
Posted in:
Only in a world where a man can claim to be a woman and be respected as such could there ever be confusion about whether or not Thomas is a Christian.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@TheDredPriateRoberts
Good religion is about how to conduct oneself in a manner that is pure and honest. To walk in The Way of Truth.
It has very little to do with speculation about uncertain things. In fact, it is not necessary to be an educated person at all to abide in The Way.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Deb-8-a-bull
Rebellion against God is as the sin of witchcraft.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@BrotherDThomas
You can't hide anything from God, Thomas.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ludofl3x
Real only in the sense that perceptions of illusions are real perceptions.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@BrotherDThomas
There is nothing to address, it is your thinking that is perverse, not God.
What you say has nothing to do with what is being communicated in the text besides. Instead of relying on your own interpretation, I would advise submitting to the teachings of the Church.
Created: