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The Gospel

The Gospel

This is a public room. Anyone can join to post and comment.

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Samuel Bostock

Members

Anthony K Valley
David Carter
Jasmin Smith
Larry Huffman
Lisa L. Seifert
Mark Trapp
Patricia Hanrahan
Ruth Ferguson
Shey
Tyler Gillies
The Gospel
A room for Christians to share social media with one another
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Mark Trapp posted a message
“Does ecumenism make sense from a non Roman Catholic standpoint? There's been a big movement to bring several churches back into communion, but what happens to their hierarchies?”
August 26 at 4:36 pm - Link
Could you explain what you mean by ecumenism and communion? - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Copy and paste job from the other thread, but for the sake of completeness: Ecumenism is a movement within several branches of Christianity that holds that it is of upmost importance to heal the wounds between the faiths and come all back into the same communion, as one of the core tenets of several of the denominations is that there is only one Catholic Church. - Mark Trapp
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This is more or less been the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church since the beginning, but since Vatican II, it's been one of the core issues Rome has been working on. Since then, several churches have been brought back into communion with the Latin rite, and depending on who you talk to, we're pretty close to bridging the gaps between the Anglican churches (been separated for 500 years) and the Eastern Orthodox Churches (separated for 1300 years). If that happens... man that'll be big. Supposedly the biggest barrier for that is lax liturgical practices I mentioned in the other thread. - Mark Trapp
By communion, I mean full recognition that we're in the same faith: being out of communion means you can't receive the Eucharist: as a Roman Catholic, I can't receive the Eucharist from an Anglican priest, and vice-versa. - Mark Trapp
I can't speak for Anglicans, but at some churches I've been to they allow you to receive the bread and wine as long as you've been baptised as a Christian. - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Anglicans do allow all Christians to partake communion. - Evan Brown
There are two ways to look at ecumenism - one is to look at denominations from the same theological tradition coming together (i.e. the ones that make of today's United Methodist Church). The one of more interest is when denominations with divergent theological beliefs come together - I think the United Church of Christ exemplifies this latter trend. - Ontario Emperor
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Ruth Ferguson posted a link
Our Daily Bread - Pass It On
September 2 at 4:33 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
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Shey posted a link
YouTube - Dead Man Raised by Famed Doctor's Prayer
YouTube - Dead Man Raised by Famed Doctor's Prayer
August 7 at 2:34 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
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Mark Trapp posted a link
Dead Sea Scrolls go from parchment to the Internet
Dead Sea Scrolls go from parchment to the Internet
August 27 at 10:28 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
From CNN: "Over the next two years, the Israel Antiquities Authority will digitally photograph and scan every bit of crumbling parchment and papyrus that makes up the scrolls, which include the oldest written record of the Bible's Old Testament. The images eventually will be posted on the Internet for anyone to see." - Mark Trapp via Bookmarklet
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Mark Trapp posted a link
Falling for God
August 27 at 8:42 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
From Church Marketing Sucks: "Westchester Church decided to do something crazy--go skydiving. This church had a message to communicate: We are not boring; we are not safe; we chase lions. What better way to communicate who you are than to jump out of a plane from thousands of feet in the air?" - Mark Trapp via Bookmarklet
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Shey posted a link
“What are your thoughts on hell? Does it exist? Who goes there?”
August 7 at 1:13 pm - via Reshare - Link
From a Biblical perspective, this sums up what I believe: http://www.prevailmagazine.org... - Shey
That's pretty close to what Catholics believe, too: "To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called 'hell.'" and "The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, 'eternal fire.' The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs." - Mark Trapp
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Except the part where folks burn forever and ever and ever. We believe they burn up and are done -- the "second death". - Shey
The final few questions are easily answered, regarding the objections to the eternal punishment: the sinner is infinitely impenitent, and never atones (nor will he ever) for his transgressions. The sinner is cast into hell if and only if he absolutely deserves it, and continues for eternity his hatred towards God. This infinite malice demands infinite punishment to satisfy justice, and thus God warrants it because God is infinitely just. - Mark Trapp
I don't understand the second death. Do people who are not eternally against God go to hell, as well? - Mark Trapp
To understand the second death, you have to look at Heaven/Hell differently -- this is a whole other discussion. Basically, I take to heart 1 Cor 15, this may be one of the most important chapters of the Bible, it's not to be taken lightly, read it and understand Paul's warning.... - Shey
Now on to Revelation 20, where it describes the First Resurrection and the Second Death. The First Resurrection are the saints of God, His holy people. The rest are judged based on the Book of Life, and the punishment for those that rejected him is death by the lake of fire. It's called the second death because we all have to die once, then we are resurrected in either the First or Second resurrections (some speculate there is a Third -- I'm not convinced). - Shey
Bascially, we beleive those that have not had a chance to know about God will receive their chance in the second resurrection -- if they deny Him then, their fate will be sealed and they accept the second death. - Shey
As far as I can tell, the modern Roman Catholic perspective is that everyone is saved in the end, whether they worshiped god or not. That's what Jesus died for so that all our sins would be forgiven. - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
And what's interesting is that there is no concept of hell in Judaism. - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Alex: not exactly. Roman Catholics (and all Christians) believe Christ died for our sins so that whomever believes in Him will have eternal life. The catch is you are only saved through Christ: if you reject that word, you won't be saved. Christ's death was to open the door for the rest of us, but it does not auto-save everyone. You still need faith in the Lord, and for Roman Catholics, you need to do good deeds. - Mark Trapp
Mark: I've been to a few different Catholic churches in the last 8 months and that's not how it's preached nowadays at least by the priests that I've seen, although the one in Las Vegas is certainly more strict on dogma than others. And they certainly aren't pushing the need to do good deeds to get into Heaven. Of course this doesn't speak to the Catholic church in general (this is based on several masses in 4 different churches) so your mileage may vary... - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
To explain it a little better: prior to Jesus, there were things for which people could not be forgiven. If you did something really, really bad, that was with you forever. Christ's sacrifice was so huge that it covers all sins: no sin, no matter how major it is, is unforgivable. All you have to do is ask God for forgiveness, and he'll forgive you. But you have to ask. - Mark Trapp
But from what I've seen the Catholic church, at least on the west coast, has really softened up its message to be one more of inclusion, than exclusion. And I think this has been done really as a way to evolve with today's modern multi-ethnic/cultural society. - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Haha, it's actually a big issue in the faith right now. Benedict has been instituting liturgical reforms because a lot of bishops and priests have been way too lenient after Vatican II. There's an ecumenical movement, and it's not like it's especially hard to be forgiven, but several dioceses are so far out of alignment with Rome that they're almost their own denomination. One of the big things that's stopping communion with Anglicanism is the lax liturgical practices in America. The crackdown started about a year or so ago, but it'll ramp up more and more over the next few years. - Mark Trapp
But yeah it was in stark contrast to a nearby Lutheran church where the whole sermon was about how those not believing in Jesus and those not bringing others to Jesus would not be going to Heaven. Of course being an agnostic, I wanted my hour back. We went there looking for a church that both my fiance and I could be happy going to regularly when we start raising a family. - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
I certainly don't want my kids looking over their shoulders growing up wondering who in their classroom is getting into heaven, or looking at me wondering the same thing. - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Yeah, a lot of faiths aren't really open to ecumenism. By nihil obstat, John Paul II said there's a possibility for other ways to be saved, but the Church is a guaranteed way. The big thing is to ask God for help/forgiveness. To think you can do it on your own is the worst. Jesus says there are only two main commandments: love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you love yourself. After that it's just details. - Mark Trapp
For more on ecumenism see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E... - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Sounds like it's basically a way for churches to join together? Am I reading that right? - AlexScoble(Robert'sBro)
Right, it is of upmost importance to heal the wounds between the faiths and come all back into the same communion, as one of the core tenets of several of the denominations is that there is only one Catholic Church. This is more or less been the doctrine since the beginning, but since Vatican II, it's been one of the core issues Rome has been working on. Since then, several churches have been brought back into communion with the Latin rite, and depending on who you talk to, we're pretty close to bridging the gaps between the Anglican churches (been separated for 500 years) and the Eastern Orthodox Churches (separated for 1300 years). If that happens... man that'll be big. Supposedly the biggest barrier for that is lax liturgical practices I mentioned before. - Mark Trapp
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Anthony K Valley posted a link
Commentary: Our tragedy and God's love for orphans - CNN.com
Commentary: Our tragedy and God's love for orphans - CNN.com
August 7 at 5:57 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
"Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter, Maria Sue, was killed in an accident in May in the driveway of the family's home. Chapman, a Grammy winner, will talk about the family's grief and faith on Larry King Live on Thursday, 9pm ET" - Anthony K Valley via Bookmarklet
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Anthony K Valley posted a link
“CHRISTIAN” GOSPEL ARTIST JOEL HEMPHILL: “JESUS IS NOT GOD.”
July 21 at 6:13 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
"Can you be a Christian and deny the Deity of the Savior you profess to believe in? Yep. And further you can even be inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame as was Joel Hemphill in 2007" - Anthony K Valley via Bookmarklet
"If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.'" (John 14:7-10) So I guess either the gospels are all wrong (big mea culpa on that one) or Jesus was a bald-faced liar. - Mark Trapp
Wow, it's unfortunate to see that this belief is becoming more and more popular - Shey
how do people like this justify themselves? Even the loosest def'n of being a Christian involves accepting Jesus as God. And then for him to be honoured by the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame is despicable! - Jasmin Smith
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Anthony K Valley posted a link
Churches feel left out of August DNC plans : DNC 2008 : The Rocky Mountain News
July 21 at 5:59 am - via Bookmarklet - Link
Denver: "Downtown churches and religious groups are bracing for the good, the bad and possibly the ugly when the Democratic National Convention comes to town." - Anthony K Valley via Bookmarklet
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Clean Christian Jokes posted a link
Church Advertisements: Have...
July 15 at 6:20 pm - via Bookmarklet - Link
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Samuel Bostock posted a message
“It seems like I can now add feeds to this room. Any suggestions on what to add?”
June 17 at 1:44 am - Link
http://www.prevailmagazine.org - Shey
http://twitter.com/esvdaily - Ontario Emperor
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Larry Huffman posted a link
When Grace Comes Home: How the Doctrines of Grace Change Your Life
June 25 at 3:27 am - via Reshare - Link
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Samuel Bostock posted a link
Continuing the Law and Gospel theme, Monergism recently updated their links in this category
May 29 at 3:26 pm - Link
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Samuel Bostock posted a link
Here's a link to Thomas Schreiner's page at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Lots of helpful scholarly and general articles, especially on Paul and the Law.
May 23 at 4:19 am - Link
Thanks for the link. Schreiner has recorded two good Q&A's with Reclaiming the Mind Ministries (http://is.gd/mJp) on believers' baptism and justification. - Larry Huffman
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Samuel Bostock posted a message
“welcome to 'The Gospel' room on FriendFeed! I guess we can post links to helpful Christian materials and social media here.”
May 23 at 4:14 am - Link
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