Posts by John – Page 40 – The Gospel First

‘catholicity’ – Institutional, Incarnational, or Impossible

‘catholicity ‘(small ‘c’) is used in at least two ways among non-Roman Catholics: 1) the spiritual unity of the universal church, i.e. the unity of all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ; 2) the continuity of a particular church group with the apostolic church. Wikipedia offers this explanation of the second definition of catholicity:

The Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and some Methodists believe that their churches are catholic in the sense that they are in continuity with the original universal church founded by the Apostles. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches all believe that their church is the only original and universal church. In “Catholic Christendom” (including the Anglican Communion), bishops are considered the highest order of ministers within the Christian religion, as shepherds of unity in communion with the whole church and one another (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicity). Continue reading “‘catholicity’ – Institutional, Incarnational, or Impossible”

Does it really matter what you believe about God?

All ‘faiths’ are not equal. All ‘faiths’ have an equal right to exist, but not all ‘faiths’ are equal, and not all ‘faiths’ are true. And, if they are not true, they are a lie. There I said it!!

Immediately someone will respond and say that I am a bigot for making that statement, but I think even they know I am simply saying what is obvious to all thinking people. Yes, the modern depraved mind seeks to escape the dilemma of deciding which ‘faith’ is true by redefining truth as “true to me” or “true to you” or “culturally formed truth.” But again, in most other areas, the thinking person realizes how silly it is to speak of truth as something that is purely relative. If it is ‘true to me’ without regard to any correspondence to reality, then it is really an illusion. Illusions may at times be comfortable but eventually a disconnect from reality leads to danger.

Is it really safe to build your life and destiny on something that is simply ‘true to you’? If it’s ‘true to you’, but not true to the God ‘who is truth’, can it really be true at all? Continue reading “All ‘Faiths’ are Not Equal”