The Roman Catholic Church holds itself out as the one true and original church to which one must return if one is to be a “True Christian.” The Eastern Orthodox Church holds the same view about themselves, but that is a subject for a later discussion. So to keep everyone happy and joined as one true church, one would have to join both I suppose.
Let’s look at the Church of Rome, shall we? The one true and original church was established some time after 60AD. The beginning of the Anglican Church came when by Joseph of Ariamethia established the first church at Glastonbury, in Britannia, in 37 AD. So much for the original part.
True?
The Anglican Church motto is Scripture • Reason • Tradition. Article Six of the Articles of Religion states:
VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.
If you are having trouble deciphering that, what it says is if it not in the Bible you don’t have to believe it.
What is the Church of Rome’s motto? Not being really certain, one can only look at their actions and determine it is Dogma • Dogma • Dogma. The Church of Rome believes its dogma overrides Scripture. It discourages Bible reading because otherwise its adherents might ask why the Church says one thing and the Pope says another.
Examples?
Take the question of celibate priests and bishops. What does the Bible say? Let’s look at First Timothy Chapter Three
THIS is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
A True Church demands allegiance to God first. Where is Rome’s allegiance? To the “Church”, not the body of believers, but the Church of Rome. Example? Take a look at the handling of the various homosexual pedophile priests. When the Church found out, what did it do? Transfer them to another church jurisdiction and put them in charge of children’s programs.
This Anglican would be happy to have there be one Church of God. The Church of Rome is not the Church of God.
We can unify under our Lord when they return to Him. In the meantime, Hap to Pope, “NO!”
Just in case anyone missed the message, this Anglican is no longer acceptant of “Anglo Catholic” practices. We are a Protestant Catholic faith. We believe in the Bible. We accept the Protestant interpretation of the Book of Common Prayer to be as far towards Rome as we care to go. If you have any questions, ask yourself, “Is this supported by scripture?” Or, is it something invented by some guy with a backward collar to make himself feel more important.
