The
Regrettable
Reformation!
More correctly,
it is called "The Protestant Revolt" since it did not "Reform"
anything.
"Unless
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
Surely, the reformers had to have been aware of this verse. Why then, did
they all ignore it?
The very founder of the "Reformation",
Martin Luther, was the "regrettable" one, as he surveyed the
damage that his rebellion against authority had caused. His writings show
that he lamented his deed when he penned the following remarks...
"This one will not hear of Baptism, and that one denies the sacrament,
another puts a world between this and the last day: some teach that Christ
is not God, some say this, some say that: there are as many sects and creeds
as there are heads. No yokel is so rude but when he has dreams and fancies,
he thinks himself inspired by the Holy Ghost and must be a prophet."
De Wette III, 61. quoted in O'Hare, THE FACTS ABOUT LUTHER, 208.
"Noblemen, townsmen, peasants, all classes understand the Evangelium
better than I or St. Paul; they are now wise and think themselves more
learned than all the ministers."
Walch XIV, 1360. quoted in O'Hare, Ibid, 209.
"We concede -- as we must -- that so much of what they (the Catholic
Church) say is true: that the papacy has God's word and the office of the
apostles, and that we have received Holy Scriptures, Baptism, the Sacrament,
and the pulpit from them. What would we know of these if it were not for
them?"
Sermon on the gospel of St. John, chaps. 14 - 16 (1537), in vol. 24 of
LUTHER'S WORKS,
St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia, 1961, 304.
All of this and much more was written by the founder
of the Reformation, just a short time after, when he noted the chaos he
had created. By this time, Munzer had run in this direction (in 1521, the
same year that Luther broke away), Zwingli, had run in that direction,
Calvin in yet another direction, all of them scattering the sheep and taking
their flocks with them. Luther had let the cat out of the bag and he was
helpless to put it back in. He had started something that he was powerless
to stop.
Regretful, he certainly was as:
"Once you open the door to error, you cannot close it."
How true! Luther had become the victim by not heeding the consequences
of this simple proverb.
"Unless the Lord build the house, they labor
in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
The fruits of the Reformation...
There is a steady increase in the acceleration rate of the endless splitting
of the Body of Christ by non-Catholic ecclesial communities, despite this
command directly from the lips of Jesus Christ...
"...and there shall be one fold and one shepherd."
John 10:16
We are commanded by Scripture to be of one mind, in one spirit,
and with one mouth to glorify GOD.
Romans 15:5-6, Philippians 1:27, 2:2
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you all say the same thing; and that there be no dissensions among
you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one judgment."
1Corinthians 1:10
In 1600, due to the Protestant reformation, there were more than 100 splits
into various sects. By 1900, there were around 1000. By 1981 there were
more than 20,700. Today there are over 33,800* splits in the Body of Christ
and all, save one, were founded by mere human creatures.
Non-Catholic ecclesial communities have increased in number by about 65%
in only twenty years.
*World Christian Encyclopedia, April 2001, a Protestant publication.
It is to be noted that some sects prefer not to be called Protestant, since
they were not involved in the Reformation. However, they no doubt owe their
very existence to the Reformation, for without it, their communities probably
would not exist today. The first word in Protest-ant is "Protest".
Therefore anyone who claims to be Christian and who is not active in the
Catholic Church is a protest-ant against the Catholic Church, so this file
applies to all non-Catholic Christians as well, regardless of what they
wish to call themselves.
This writing is about the division of the Body of Christ by non-Catholics,
whether they be Protestant or anyone else.
How can the descendants of the reformers explain why there are more than
33,800 folds instead of the one fold commanded by Jesus Christ? Where is
the oneness? Where is the unity in one mind? Why are there so many dissensions?
How can the reformation be from GOD when there is so much confusion and
outright disobedience to His Holy Word from its members?
"GOD is not the author of confusion..."
1Corinthians 14:33 (King James)
This is yet another verse proponents of the reformation tend to ignore.
If GOD is not the author of 33,800+ confused splits in His Body, then who
is? It is caused by the disobedience of his creatures.
"Has Christ been divided up?"
1Corinthians 1:13
"Unless the Lord build the house, they
labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
"Obey your superiors and be subject to them, for
they keep watch as having to render an account of your souls; so that you
may do this with joy, and not with grief, for that would not be expedient
for you."
Hebrews 13:17
Do you think Martin Luther and the other reformers agonized over this verse,
or did they purposely, just simply ignore it? Surely, they knew it was
there. Show me the Scriptural verse which gives the authority to disobey
superiors? Isn't this exactly what the reformers did? Didn't they display
flagrant disobedience in defiance of what Holy Scripture teaches? Show
me the verse which authorizes anyone to break from the Church which Jesus
Christ founded and to form his or her own church?
If the authority does not come from GOD, then there is no authority whatsoever.
"Let no one lead you astray with empty words; for because of these
things the wrath of GOD comes upon the children of disobedience. Do not,
then, become partakers with them."
Ephesians 5:6-7
"The Scribes and Pharisees have sat on
the chair of Moses. ALL things, therefore, that they command you, observe
and do. But do not act according to their works; for they talk but do nothing."
Matthew 23:2-3
This is a command to be obedient regardless of individual feelings, and
it comes from Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ warned us that there would be scandals in
His Church.
"Woe
to the world because of scandals! For it must
needs be that scandals come, but woe to the
man through whom scandal does come!"
Matthew 18:7
And He said to His disciples,
"It is impossible that scandals should
not come; but woe to him through whom they come."
Luke 17:1
These are the words of Jesus
Christ Himself. Did he say the Church is the source, or the cause of the
scandals? No, He said a person is. Remember, the Catholic Church is not
a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners.
Hmmm, I seem to recall a certain man named Judas, chosen by Jesus Christ
Himself. This man was responsible for the scourging, crucifixion, and death
of the creator of the universe. It was the worst possible scandal ever
conceived and perpetrated by.....none other than a man.
The Catholic Church itself is indefectible. Scripture says it is, and we
know it since it has an indefectible founder.
See Ephesians 5:25-27
We do not leave Peter and the rest of the Apostles because of the works
of Judas.
Throughout the Bible, the leaders of GOD's chosen people
openly sinned, yet GOD's community, or congregation, survived as one fold
and one shepherd...
Abram lied (Genesis 12:13), yet he went on to become Abraham, the father
of a multitude of nations, Genesis 17:4.
Sarah lied to GOD (Genesis 18:15) yet she was the mother of nations and
kings descended from her (Genesis 17:16) and she gave birth to Isaac (Genesis
21:1-3), and GOD's chosen people survived.
Isaac lied (Genesis 26:7-11), yet his flock survived intact.
Jacob lied and deceived (Genesis 27:24), however, GOD's chosen people survived.
Moses was disobedient to GOD and thus was not allowed to lead the community
to the promised land (Numbers 20:1-12). The community, however, survived.
Aaron was made high priest (Exodus 28:1-3), yet later led the people into
grave sin by making an idol of a golden calf, and he worshiped it (Exodus
32:21-35). However he was back as the high priest in Exodus 40:13, and
the community survived.
David committed murder and adultery (2Samuel 11:1-27), but yet the community
survived.
Solomon practiced idolatry and had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and had
great wealth,
1Kings 11:1-43. See Deuteronomy 17:17 where kings shall not have a great
number of wives, nor accumulate great wealth, yet Solomon's community survived.
Peter lied to Jesus (possibly unknowingly in Matthew 26:35), and openly
denied him three times
(Matthew 26:69-75), yet he went on to become the first Bishop of Rome,
and the first Pope, and he wrote two infallible books which we use to this
very day, and the Church still survived as one flock with one shepherd.
One Apostle denied Christ (Matthew 26:69-75), one betrayed him (Matthew
26:25), one doubted him (John 20:25), and all ran away from him (Matthew
26:56). That covers all of the original twelve, right? Yet the Church which
Jesus Christ founded, survived as one fold with one shepherd, and all of
the Apostles save for one, became saints.
Saul persecuted the Church mercilessly and imprisoned many Christians and
even approved of the murder of at least one in Acts 7:58-59 to Acts 8:1-2.
Yet the Church remained one and true to Peter, and Saul became Paul, one
of the greatest Apostles.
As you can see, the authority of the Church
is not dependent upon the works of any of its members.
The Church is greater than any of its members. It is greater than any Pope
or Bishop, or Church Father or Saint. It is greater than Luther, or Calvin,
or Munzer, or Zwingli, and of any or all of those who broke away to form
their own churches.
Why is the Church greater than any of its members?
It is because it is the Mystical Body of Christ, and He is the head. The
last time I checked, it was the head that tells the body what to do and
not the other way around. Isn't that still true?
Each member is merely one out of many branches of the vine. Fruitless branches
can be pruned, yet the vine lives.
If a member is cut off it is likened to the parable of the vine-dresser:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is
the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he will take away;
and every branch that bears fruit he will cleanse, that it may bear more
fruit."
John 15:1-2
Did you notice who does the pruning?
Nowhere in Scripture is authority given for anyone to start another church
other than the ONE which Jesus Christ founded. However, there are many
verses which warn against forsaking GOD given authority regarding His Congregation
(O.T.) or Church (N.T.) which He bestowed upon prophets such as Moses (Exodus
3-40), and on the Apostles (John 20:21-23), and to their successors (Hebrews
13:7-8,17).
Read of the rebellion of Korah (Core in some Bibles) against the GOD given
authority of Moses in Numbers 16. See how Moses pleaded with him and his
followers to end their revolt which was from within Moses' own tribe of
Levites. The rebellious were adamant in their "No" to him in
verse 14.
Pay special attention to what happened to Korah, and to his followers in
Numbers 16:25-35.
It isn't pretty.
Yet again does history repeat itself:
Read the parallel story of Martin Luther, at
the beginning of the reformation where he displayed the same obstinacy
toward the GOD given Papal authority, as Korah had
done to the GOD given authority of Moses some 3000 years earlier.
"I know that after my departure fierce
wolves will get in among you, and will not spare the flock. AND FROM AMONG
YOUR OWN SELVES MEN WILL RISE SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, TO DRAW AWAY THE
DISCIPLES AFTER THEM."
Acts 20:29-30
How do these verses apply to the reformers?
Well, Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli were Catholic priests.
So they were, "from among your own selves
men will rise",
and they did, "speak perverse things"
(Hebrews 13:17 also, remember?),
and they did, "draw away the disciples
after them".
Pretty good fit, wouldn't you say? Didn't Saint Luke hit the nail on the
head in Acts 20:29-30?
"What
is it that has been? The same thing that shall be. What is it that has
been done? The same thing that shall be done. Nothing under the sun is
new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new; for it has already
gone before in the ages that were before us. There is no remembrance of
former things; nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come,
shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end."
Ecclesiastes 1:10-11
Those who fail to profit from the mistakes of others in history are doomed
to repeat them.
"To him shall be the obedience of nations."
Genesis 49:10
"But the sure foundation of GOD stands firm..."
2Timothy 2:19
"The Lord knows how to deliver the GOD-fearing from temptation and
to reserve the wicked for torment on the day of Judgment, but especially
those who follow the flesh in unclean lust
AND DESPISE AUTHORITY."
2Peter 2:9-10
"Unless
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
Here is a small sampling of the 33,800+ non-Catholic denominations,
and the dates of founding:
1521, Martin Luther started the Lutherans when he broke away from the one
true Church that had already existed for 15 centuries. Prior to this time,
the false doctrine of "Sola Scriptura",
or "Bible only", had not existed, and neither had the false man
made doctrine of "Individual Interpretation" of Holy Scripture.
1521, Thomas Munzer started Anabaptists by breaking from Lutheranism in
the same year.
1534, King Henry VIII started the Church of England. (Anglican)
1536, John Calvin, teaching predestination, formed the Calvinists.
1560, John Knox, who studied under Luther, started Presbyterians.
1582, Congregationalists started by Rob Brown, as a branch from Puritanism.
1609, John Smyth formed the Baptists. They have severely splintered since
then.
1739, John Wesley started the Methodists, in a split from Anglicanism.
1774, Theophilus Lindley started Unitarians.
1789, Samuel Seabury started Episcopalians.
1793-1809, Churches of Christ had four separate founders.
1830, Joseph Smith founded the Mormons in Palmyra New York.
1860, William Miller, a farmer, started the Adventists.
1863, Ellen Gould White started the Seventh-Day Adventists.
1865, William Booth started the Salvation Army.
1875, New Age was started by Helena Blavatsky. *COL 2:8
1879, Mary Baker Eddy started Christian Scientists.
1879, Charles Russell started the Jehovah's Witnesses.
1895, French Abbe, Alfred Loisy and English Jesuit, George Tyrrell started
Modernism.
1900-1920, conservative Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists,
formed a consortium, and started Fundamentalism.
1901, Pentecostalism was started in the United States. It has since split
into many independents.
1914, Felix Manalo started Iglesia ni Cristo.
1930, Independent Churches of America (IFCA), was formed by a consortium
of churches.
1952, L. Ron Hubbard started the Church of Scientology.
1965, Chuck Smith began Calvary Chapel.
1968, Disciples of Christ, started as a splinter of Churches of Christ.
1974, Ken Gullickson started the Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
20th century. Assemblies of GOD, and other splinter Pentecostal groups,
are some of hundreds of new sects founded by mere men.
Did GOD examine and approve the plans for all, or for even one, of these
splits in His Body?
"You shall not do as we are now
doing; here, everyone does what seems right to himself..."
Deuteronomy 12:8, Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25
Isn't this the mindset of a lot of people today?
"I will do my own thing."
"What 'feels good' for me is right for me."
"It does not matter which Church I belong to."
A persons personal
opinion has no bearing whatsoever on doctrinal truth.
"Has
Christ been divided up?"
1Corinthians 1:13
If there were only one Church then Christ would not be divided, right?
"He who is not with me is against me,
and he who does not gather with me scatters."
Matthew 12:30
"And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city
or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan casts out
Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?""
Matthew 12:25-26
Isn't this exactly what is happening to non-Catholic
ecclesial communities? They are imploding due to these never ending splits.
The splinters are getting smaller and smaller, and eventually if this keeps
up, each member theoretically will be his own ecclesial community.
Did any of these people receive authority from GOD to form their own ecclesial
communities?
Did any of these people receive authority from Holy Scripture to form their
own ecclesial communities?
"Behold I am against the prophets, said
the Lord, who use their tongues, and say: The Lord said it. Behold I am
against the prophets that have lying dreams, said the Lord, and tell them,
and cause my people to err by their lying, and by their wonders, when I
sent them not, nor commanded them, who have not profited this people at
all, said the Lord."
Jeremiah 23:31-32
"But there were false prophets also among
the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily
shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow
their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
spoken of."
2Peter 2:1-2
"But these men deride whatever they
do not know; and the things they know by instinct like the dumb beasts,
become for them a source of destruction."
2Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10
How many non-Catholics have derided Catholic beliefs without even trying
to understand them?
"These are grumbling murmurers walking
according to their lusts. And haughty in speech, they cultivate people
for the sake of gain. But as for you, beloved, be mindful of the words
that have been spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who kept saying to you that at the end of time there will come scoffers,
walking impiously according to their lusts. These are they who set themselves
apart, sensual men, not having the Spirit."
Jude 1:16-19
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark
them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
you have learned: and avoid them. For they that are such serve not
our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
Romans 16:17-18
"Unless
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
Did the Lord build any of the houses listed above?
"But when he, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will
teach you all the truth."
John 16:13
Most non-Catholic sects declare that the Holy Spirit is "teaching"
them the truth. However, there can be only one truth. Since the advent
of Sola Scriptura and individual interpretation of Scripture, how can the
Holy Spirit be in each of the thousands of sects, teaching all of them
opposing viewpoints? It is to be noted that all of the following denominations
teach from the same Bible, so why the differences in teaching?
1.
How can the Holy Spirit tell the Lutherans the Eucharist is the true presence
of Christ, and then tell the Baptists it is only a symbol?
2. How can the
Holy Spirit tell the Methodists it is alright to have female ministers,
and then tell the Baptists it is unbiblical?
3. How can the
Holy Spirit tell the Seventh-Day Adventists that Saturday is the day of
worship, and then tell the Presbyterians the day of worship is Sunday and
not Saturday?
4. How can the
Holy Spirit tell the Lutherans that the Blessed Virgin Mary was and remains
always virgin, and then tell the Baptists she had other children?
5. How can the
Holy Spirit tell the Baptists, "once saved always saved", and
then tell the Church of Christ that Sola Fides is unscriptural?
6. How can the
Holy Spirit tell Episcopalians to baptize infants and then tell Pentecostals
infant baptism is invalid?
7. How can the
Holy Spirit tell Mormons that the Holy Trinity is three separate persons,
and then tell Methodists the Trinity is three persons in one GOD?
I could make a much longer list than I have posted here because every theological
doctrine, except for the existence of GOD, which is taught by one non-Catholic
church is denied by another. What does this show us, other than utter chaos
and flummox, in the aftermath of the reformation?
Who, in all of these non-Catholic ecclesial communities, has the authority
to adjudicate the many doctrinal disputes which have arisen between them?
Can anyone answer this one?
Doesn't this seem to be reminiscent of the Tower
of Babel story in Genesis 11:1-9, which brought
with it similar consequences?
"Fear not, for I am with thee: turn not
aside, for I am your GOD. I have strengthened thee, and have helped thee,
and the right hand of My Just One hath upheld thee. Behold all that fight
against thee shall be confounded (split into
33,800 pieces maybe?) and ashamed, they shall
be as nothing, and the men shall perish that strive against thee."
Isaias 41:10-11
"And they shall fight against thee, and
shall not prevail, for I am with thee, said the Lord, to deliver thee."
Jeremiah 1:19
"They shall go about seeking the Word
of the Lord, and shall not find it."
Amos 8:12
"He who is not with me is against me,
and he who does not gather with me scatters."
Matthew 12:30
What does this verse mean? It says that Jesus is the gatherer (John 10:16),
and that those who are against him are the scatterers. Who are the scatterers
here?
Aren't they the founders of the 33,800 sects, the ones who have split and
scattered the flock?
"Woe to the pastors that destroy and
scatter the sheep of my pasture, said the Lord."
Jeremiah 23:1
Who is the "author of confusion"
and who is not?
Did you remember 1Corinthians 14:33?
Do those who say "The Holy Spirit prompted me", realize that
it is one of three spirits which is actually doing the "prompting"?
They are:
1. The Holy Spirit.
2. The human spirit within each one of us.
3. An evil, or demonic spirit.
These spirits must be discerned, as we are obliged by Holy Scripture to
test all spirits.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to see whether they are of GOD; because many false
prophets have gone forth into the world."
1John 4:1
The testing can be easily done, as we have the Word of GOD with which to
discern the spirits.
If the prompting is contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture, then most
assuredly, it is NOT
coming from the Holy Spirit. That leaves us with only two choices, neither
of which is from GOD.
"And every
spirit that severs Jesus, is not of GOD,
but is of antichrist
of whom you have heard that he is coming,
and now is already in the world."
1John 4:3.
I would say this verse is completely ignored by those who sever Jesus by
forming their own ecclesial communities wouldn't you? Doesn't this prove
that they do not follow Holy Scripture? Doesn't it sound more like 'cultivating
people for the sake of gain' as shown in Jude
1:16 earlier in this file?
In Saint Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians 1:22-23, when he mentions the
"Body", he refers to the Body of Christ, His one and only Church.
"And all things he made subject under
his feet, and him he gave as head over all the Church, which indeed is
his body, the completion of him who fills all with all."
In Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul said, "One Body (meaning ONE Church only),
One Spirit,...One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One GOD and Father of all..."
Were the ecclesial communities listed earlier, founded by mere men or women,
creatures of GOD?
Did any of these persons have GOD given Biblical authority to found a church?
Bible verse please?
Is forsaking John 10:16, and John 17:20-23, contrary to the teaching of
Holy Scripture? Yes, yes!
Is forsaking Romans 15:5-6, or 1Corinthians 1:10, or Philippians 1:27,
or Ephesians 4:1-6, contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture? Yes, yes,
yes, and yes, you bet it is!
We can deduce with confidence, that if the spirit we just tested is not
the Holy Spirit,
then it can only be one of our two remaining choices, both of which are
spirits of the false prophet.
Following are some quotes from the Fathers of the Early
Church.
I would suggest that you should read this file
before continuing.
"Owing to the sudden and repeated calamities and misfortunes which
have befallen us, we must acknowledge that we have been somewhat tardy
in turning our attention to the matters in dispute among you, beloved;
and especially that abominable and unholy sedition, alien and foreign to
the elect of GOD, which a few rash and self-willed persons have inflamed
to such madness that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be
loved by all men, has been greatly defamed."
Saint Clement of Rome, the fourth Bishop of Rome
(88-97 A.D.)...
The Address to the Letter to the Corinthians, 97 A.D..
"Accept our councel and you will have nothing to regret."
Letter to the Corinthians 58:2, 97 A.D.
"Do not err, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism
in the Church,
he shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
St. Ignatius of Antioch...
Epistle to the Philadelphians, chapter III. 105 A.D.
"It is of necessity, then, that these aformentioned heretics, because
they are blind to the truth, walk in various and devious paths; and on
this account the vestiges of their doctrine are scattered about without
agreement or connection."
Saint Irenaeus...
Against Heresies, 5,20,1, J257, 180 A.D.
"There is not enough time in the day for me to recite even the names
of all the various sects of heretics."
Saint Ambrose of Milan...
The Mystery of the Lord's Incarnation, 5,35, 382 A.D.
"Heretics bring sentence upon themselves since they by their own choice
withdraw from the Church, a withdrawal which, since they are aware of it,
constitutes damnation."
Saint Jerome...
Commentaries on the Epistle to Titus, 3,10, J1371a, 386 A.D.
"Let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic
Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles,
and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if
anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called
a Christian."
St. Athanasius...
Letter to Serapion of Thmuis, 359 A.D..
"It is therefore, the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship.
This is the fountain of truth; this, the domicile of faith; this the temple
of GOD. Whoever does not enter there or whoever does not go out from here,
he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation... Because, however,
all the various groups of heretics are confident that they are the Christians,
and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, let it be known: that is
the true Church, in which there is confession and penance, and which takes
a salubrious care of sins and wounds to which the weak flesh is subject."
Lactantius...
The Divine Institutions, 304 A.D..
"The Church, instituted by the Lord and confirmed by the Apostles,
is one for all men; but the frantic folly of the diverse impious acts sects
has cut them off from her. It cannot be denied that this tearing asunder
of the faith has arisen from the defect of poor intelligence, which twists
what is read to conform to its opinion, instead of adjusting its opinion
to the meaning of what is read. However, while individual parties fight
among themselves, the Church stands revealed not only by her own doctrines,
but by those also of her adversaries. And although they are all arranged
against her, she confutes the most wicked error which they all share, by
the very fact that she is alone and One. All the heretics, therefore, come
against the Church; but while all the heretics can conquer each other,
they can win nothing for themselves. For their victory is the triumph of
the Church over all of them. One heresy struggles against that teaching
of another, which the faith of the Church has already condemned in the
other heresy, - for there is nothing which the heretics hold in common,
and the result is that they affirm our faith while fighting among themselves."
Saint Hilary of Poitiers...
The Trinity, 7:4, 356 A.D.
"We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her
Church which is Catholic, and which is called Catholic not only by her
members but even by all her enemies. For when heretics or the adherents
of schisms talk about her, not among themselves but with strangers, willy-nilly
they call her nothing else but Catholic. For they would not be understood
unless they distinguish her by this name which the whole world employs
in her regard."
Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo...
The True Religion, 7,12, 397 A.D.
"What the soul is to man's body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of
Christ, which is the Church. The Holy Spirit does in the whole Church what
the soul does in all members of one body. But see what you must beware
of, see what you must take note of, see what you must fear. It happens
that in the human body, or rather, off the body, some member, whether hand,
finger, or foot, may be cut away. And if a member be cut off, does the
soul go with it? When the member was in the body, it lived; and off, its
life is lost. So too, a Christian man is Catholic while he lives in the
body; cut off, he is made a heretic; the Spirit does not follow an amputated
member."
Saint Augustine of Hippo...
Sermons, 267, 4, 391-430 A.D.
"Nothing under the sun is new."
Remember Ecclesiastes 1:10?
"Unless
the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
What Saint Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)
had to say:
The Unity of the Catholic Church (251 A.D.)
Chapter 7, the Seamless Tunic
This sacrament of unity, this
bond of concord inseparably connected is shown, when in the Gospel the
tunic of the Lord Jesus Christ is not at all divided and is not torn, but
by those who cast lots for the garment of Christ, who rather might have
put on Christ, a sound garment is received, and an undamaged and undivided
tunic is possessed. Divine Scripture speaks and says: 'Now of the tunic,
since it was woven throughout from the upper part without seam, they said
to one another: "Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it,
whose it shall be (John 19:24)." ' He bore the unity that came down
from the upper part, that is, that came down from heaven and the Father,
which could not all be torn by him who received and possessed it, but he
obtained it whole once for all and a firmness inseparably solid. He
cannot possess the garment of Christ who tears and divides the Church of
Christ. Then on the other hand when at
the death of Solomon his kingdom and people were torn asunder, Ahias the
prophet met King Jeroboam in the field and tore his garment into twelve
pieces (1King 11:29), saying: 'Take to thee ten pieces, for thus saith
the Lord: "Behold I rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and
will give thee ten scepters, but two scepters shall remain to him for the
sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem the city which I
have chosen, that I may place my name there." When the twelve tribes
of Israel were torn asunder, the prophet Ahias rent his garment. But because
the people of Christ cannot be torn asunder, His tunic woven and united
throughout was not divided by those who possessed it. Undivided, joined,
connected it shows the coherent concord of us who have put on Christ. By
the sacrament and sign of His garment, He has declared the unity of the
Church.
"Unless
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
"For
other foundation
no one can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus."
1Corinthians 3:11
Some other
interesting remarks made by Martin Luther...
About The Blessed Virgin Mary...
"The great thing is none other than that she became the Mother of
God; in which process so many and such great gifts were bestowed upon her
that no one is able to comprehend them. Thereupon follows all honor, all
blessedness, and the fact that in the whole race of men only one person
is above all the rest, one to whom no one else is equal. For that reason
her dignity is crowded into a single phrase when we call her the Mother
of God; no one can say greater things of her or to her, even if he had
as many tongues as leaves and blades of grass, as the stars in heaven and
sands on the seashore. It must also be meditated in the heart what it means
to be the Mother of God."
Die Erklarung des Magnificat - 1521.
The first Protestant loved and honored the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother
of GOD, as did the other reformers. Why have the heirs of Protestantism
drifted away from the teaching of their founders?
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