(macattakk2000) Joseph, the beliefs we share in the creed are identical accept that I do not acknowledge the Roman church as the one true church. John in his gospel has a thesis statement in chapter 20- “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
In Luke 12- Jesus promised “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
Paul in Romans 10 puts it another way _ “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him”
(Cristoiglesia) Indeed the Protestants and others do not agree that Jesus founded but one enduring Church. Yet the Bible, the Church fathers and history are devoid of Jesus founding any other. There is not even a shred of evidence to Jesus not wanting a unified Church built upon what is clearly stated in Scriptures. The passages you quote that were gleaned from Scriptures do not in any way detract from Christ’s desire for unity but reflect more on man’s desire to reject His will, as they are eisegetically used to support man’s desire rather than to reflect upon or illustrate God’s desire for unity.
However, it does illustrate other biblical teaching such as:
2 Timothy 4:3
King James Version (KJV) 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
You are using the teaching of the Bible to justify disobedience to Christ, His Church and the Bible by approaching the Bible revealing such prejudice. Nowhere does the Bible teach disunity or allude to Jesus desiring such division among His flock. In fact the verses you provide instead speak to the opposite conclusion than the conclusion that you have reached through eisegesis and instead points to the danger of this methodology used frequently by Protestants to give their own sects some semblance of veracity where there is not any evidence of veracity in the teaching of the Bible, Jesus or His Church. We know of Christ’s desire for unity and not division as you seem to claim when He prayed that we all be one:
John 17:21-24
King James Version (KJV)
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
May Christ’s own teaching get you on the right tract in understanding His will.
God bless!
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
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