Slightly Confused... (church, protestant, faith, catholic, Christianity)

[kai]

how about these Catholics

• twenty-two Eastern Catholic Churches. The latter include the Ukrainian, Greek, Greek Melkite, Maronite, Ruthenian Byzantine, Coptic Catholic, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Chaldean, and Ethiopic Rites.

• The Eastern Orthodox Church also identifies itself as Catholic, as in the title of The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church. Among those who regard themselves as "Catholic", but not "Roman Catholic" , are Anglicans, and some small groups such as the Old Catholic Church, the Polish National Catholic Church, the Independent Catholic, the Ancient Catholic and Liberal Catholic Churches, as well as Lutherans (though the latter prefer the lower-case "c," and, like Anglicans, stress that they are both Protestant and Catholic).

slightly confused is an understatement , there are so many christian sects its unbelievable(pardon the pun)

wiki Catholic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Izdaari]

Like I said, they have factions, but they don't call them denominations.

I would agree with the Lutheran and Anglican view of being both Protestant and "small-c" catholic (meaning the universal church). But catholic and Catholic are two different things.

[Te Deum]

Originally Posted by Izdaari

It's perfectly fine to not be affiliated with a denomination. And in fact, we have a whole forum here dedicated to Non-denominational Protestants.

Do you really believe that Jesus did not found a Church? Do you think He desires to have 15,000 different groups all with conflicting Theology? I suggest you find the Church that has the historical roots to trace itself back to the time of Jesus.

[Izdaari]

Originally Posted by Te Deum

Do you really believe that Jesus did not found a Church? Do you think He desires to have 15,000 different groups all with conflicting Theology? I suggest you find the Church that has the historical roots to trace itself back to the time of Jesus.

I was not arguing for Prostestantism vs. Catholicism, but rather attempting as neutral an explanation as possible. Apparently I failed.

However, I respectfully submit that Jesus is not especially concerned that our theology be totally correct or uniform. Nor is He very worried that we worship Him in subtly different ways while remaining united on the essentials (those things that nearly all Christians (whether Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox or other) have agreed on since the beginning of the faith). What matters most is that we follow Him, love Him and love each other.

And that isn't meant as an argument in favor of Protestantism vs. Catholicism either. My point is instead that all those churches together are what comprise the "small-c" catholic (universal) church, and that similarity is far more important than our differences.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Izdaari

However, I respectfully submit that Jesus is not especially concerned that our theology be totally correct or uniform.

I disagree --respectfully, too, I hope. Take baptism (i.e. water baptism) for instance. If we really should be baptizing our little babies, it would seem to me that it would matter very much to Him that so many people aren't. If, on the other hand, He wants each individual to be able to choose for himself to be baptized, I would think that He's not too happy that so many are making this decision for their children. If it doesn't matter when a person is baptized, but if baptism at some point in a person's life is essential for salvation, I'm quite certain He is concerned about those who never are. It's not my intention to start a debate over which of these beliefs is correct (especially since this is not a debate forum), but simply to point out an example of one of many differences between the doctrines within Christianity that could be of pretty significant importance.

Nor is He very worried that we worship Him in subtly different ways while remaining united on the essentials (those things that nearly all Christians (whether Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox or other) have agreed on since the beginning of the faith). What matters most is that we follow Him, love Him and love each other.

I believe that all Christians (even those who are not part of "traditional" Christiantity) do accept Him as their Savior and try (at least in theory ) to follow Him. I also believe that the most effective way we can show our love for Him is to love one another.

And that isn't meant as an argument in favor of Protestantism vs. Catholicism either. My point is instead that all those churches together are what comprise the "small-c" catholic (universal) church, and that similarity is far more important than our differences.

Good point!

[Francine]

Originally Posted by Te Deum

Do you really believe that Jesus did not found a Church? Do you think He desires to have 15,000 different groups all with conflicting Theology?

Jesus founded a Church alright, but he didn't get all fired up about making sure everyone was in the same denomination:

Luke 9:[49] And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. [50] And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

[kai]

Originally Posted by Francine

Jesus founded a Church alright, but he didn't get all fired up about making sure everyone was in the same denomination:

Luke 9:[49] And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. [50] And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

i suspect he was speaking about a fellow jew at the time though ,

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Francine

Jesus founded a Church alright, but he didn't get all fired up about making sure everyone was in the same denomination:

Luke 9:[49] And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. [50] And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

Thanks for quoting one of my favorite scriptures! I use this one all the time when people tell me I'm not a Christian.

[Francine]

Originally Posted by kai

i suspect he was speaking about a fellow jew at the time though ,

Jews are a tribe, not a religious order. There are so many varieties of Judaism its not funny. The disciples were specifically talking about a man who practiced the New Way of Jesus, without the courtesy of actually walking around with Jesus like the Twelve did. To Jesus, it was a good sign his teachings were catching on.