Bible Question:
First let me say I am not attempting to defend the Catholic Church in any fashion, shape or form. My question. Since the Catholic Church grew out of the first century church and later was felt to be in need of reformation, what and when do you feel was the first error that entered the church? Was that error ever dealt with at a later time and what was the result? Second question Without going through all of Luther's points what was the biggest problem and when did it manifest itself within the church? |
Bible Answer: Those who love the Lord must love his church, for it is his body. We must care about every part of it, identify with it, rejoice with it and suffer with it, and help to heal it if we can. One feels uncomfortable criticizing the church at all, for she is the bride of Christ. The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom’s face. We look into his eyes, they eyes that are like a flame of fire, but yet are eyes of love. His eyes tell us that he knows everything, sees everything. He knows our works. He knew where we went astray from the beginning, and he has been calling us to himself, to the first works and to our first love. It does not seem warranted for us to think that one segment of the church is better than the other. The sad fact is that there are faults everywhere. The sadder fact is that God’s people refuse to repent, and things go from bad to worse. That is the way it will be. Iniquity will abound and the love of many will grow cold. What’s to be done. It is difficult to even give encouragement, for some are just too self-satisfied and proud to even listen. Nevertheless, the word of the lord still stands. Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain. There is still much that is good in every part of the church, and we may build on it. God help us so we know we are saved and actually a part of the church. And may God help us to preach the gospel so others can be saved. The Church’s one foundation / Is Jesus Christ her Lord,/She is His new creation / By water and the Word./ From heaven He came and sought her / To be His holy bride; / With His own blood He bought her / And for her life He died./ She is from every nation, / Yet one o’er all the earth; / Her charter of salvation, / One Lord, one faith, one birth… / The Church shall never perish! / Her dear Lord to defend, / To guide, sustain, and cherish, / Is with her to the end: … / Though with a scornful wonder / Men see her sore oppressed, / By schisms rent asunder, / By heresies distressed: / Yet saints their watch are keeping, / Their cry goes up, “How long?” / And soon the night of weeping / Shall be the morn of song! And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. |