Thanks for the comments.

Lori,

The Bible and the Early Church Fathers clearly show that the day of worship was moved to the first day or Sunday to commerate the resurrection of Jesus. We clearly get the idea that the sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath in the New Testament.

It is very striking that Paul indicates that the sabbath was a foreshadowing of things to come. That foreshadowing was Jesus’s fullfillment of the old testament in his resurrection. This all makes perfect sense when you take into account the worship now occuring on the Lord’s day or the first day which is Sunday.

We clearly have first and early second century eyewitnesses of the Apostles that give witness to the change in Ignatius and the Didache. The evidence clearly shows a change was made by the early Christians with the authority that they were given by Jesus Christ. This evidence shows what the Lord’s Day referred to. The Bible speaks of these practices occuring on the first day.

Paul clearly says that they gather to break bread on the first day of the week. The Didache says that they break bread on the Lord’s day. You can put two and two together that this refers to the First day which is the Lord’s day.

Ignatius clearly indicates that they do not sabbath but rather celebrate on the Lords day.

I take these eyewitness accounts and the Tradition of the Church over modern revisionist’s versions as proof of what the Lord’s day referred to.

God Bless,

Chris

God gave us this earth to enjoy, not destroy. And yes, I do think, when I get to heaven, I will be able to order a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, and of course grits. After all God is Great, and that means he is from South Carolina.

He also has a sense of humor or he would have done away with me a LONG time ago.

Dennis

http://www.Dennisrogers.us

Thank you for your comment. I am sad that you have been effected in such a personal way by the very selfish and sinful action of adultery. I do pray for you and your marriage. Hopefully with the Grace of God you will pull through this trying time.

The situation at my work place has calmed down and unfortunately I believe a marriage is on its way to being ended. The two individuals who were involved in the cheating were moved away from each other because of the potential for problems.

God Bless You

Christopher

I find it very interesting that you do not believe in God but you seem to be very interested on the state of affairs with the Catholic Church.

Many Catholics such as myself would rather have a Church that is faithful to the time tested teachings of the Church than a Church that has fallen away from it teachings. Whether it is dominated by Africa or South America does not really matter as long as the Church remains faithful to its teaching.

The image portrayal of Jesus or Mary is not the primary point of our religion. Jesus came for all mankind as our savior. How we portray Him is not really all that relevant.

God Bless

Christopher

Saints do not equal gods or godesses. There is one God and only one God.

Candles and insense were used in the Jewish religion in which Christianity/Catholicism was derived just as an altar was.

Sorry the connection just does not add up.

There is one thing that your relgion does not have. It does not have Jesus Christ who became man and lived on earth and who was a historical figure and who died for the sins of mankind. Without him you cannont be saved.

His sacrifice is what the Catholic Church re-presents on its altars as the prophesy of Malachi said would happen.
Malachi 1:11:

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

May God bless u guys!

It won’t be long before western culture type images of the catholic church change. In a few years I believe the sacred heart of jesus picture (which jesus look like a california surfer with the middle parted long brown hair with blond highlights) the images of him and mary will take on the image of darker smaller people with big lips and big noses similar to african natives who will soon be the pitch people for the catholic church. I could never understand why its so important for catholics to have jesus look like an american from malibu beach and mary with her long blond hair and white features, when in reality (if there was a mary/jesus) why they are not depicted in what their culture of the times would have them look like. Small jewish people with dark hair, dark skin, big nose big lips. (But western culture country catholics don’t want them to look like that, we want them to look like us) (LOL) Other western culture traditions will also change such as the ideoligy pictures/statues of the saints, they will reflect the images of people from this far away continent.

Big changes coming in the catholic church whether you want it or not. The church will respond and go where the action is. The future of the church is not in the USA or any other current western culture countries. Its Africa and South America. You will either adapt or fall by the wayside. Thats reality!

First of all I do not think you read my entire post. All Saints day was celebrated on different days of the year until it was moved to November 1. Samhain was practiced in Ireland. Catholicism was not practiced in only Ireland. The day Halloween has not all that much to do with Samhain.

Jews had altars and are not considered pagan so there goes another theory of yours.

If you read my post you can see that even if the Church converted days to Christian Feasts which some were done this way, this does not mean that they are somehow pagan.

The Jews also had feasts that were on or near days of Pagan feasts. Pagans do not have a monopoly on days of the year or ends of seasons.

I do pray you read on the persecutions that Christians went through at the hands of Pagan Rome.

Here is a link about some of the myths

http://www.wyrdwords.vispa.com/halloween/history/index.html

http://www.featherlessbiped.com/halloween/hallows.htm

Christopher

And I have no idea where you get your very incorrect idea that Samhain is/was celebrated in April…unless you are speaking of southern hemispheres, and even then that would be May, the time when northern hemisphere Catholics celebrate May Day in honor of Mary (see, I know what I am talking about) and northern hemisphere Pagans celebrate Beltane — in honor of the Lady and the fertility of the land. I was raised Catholic, and trust me - it is totally a co-opted version of Paganism.

Let’s see…

We have altars. You have altars.

We have candles. You have candles.

We have Gods and Goddesses. You have saints.

Incense? We have incense.

The Catholic/Christian version of our very sacred Sabbats were invented — yes, I said “invented” — to make it easier to convert the “poor misguided Pagans” (with a capital yes) and divert the better part of their monies to the Catholic Church to support their (un)holy wars.

Now. You go do “your” research, mkay?

um… ……

Thanks

Chris

It is certainly not my intention to argue over a word for no reason or to create controversy or to play semantics. I believe there is an important reason that this word be understood from a biblical perspective.

Obviously we have coined numerous words and phrases used to describe our belief systems that are not necessarily used biblically, but if they serve the purpose and do not contradict scripture all is well and good.

I will stand on my views of what I stated concerning use of this word biblically and I believe it is an accurate statement based on scriptural usage as well as the generally accepted usage of the word during the time the epistles were “originally” written and what was going on culturally as the translations came about. The key word here is “originally” written since they were translated over and over as the pagan Greek culture became incorporated into the Hebrew and it is believed that is where the word crept into the manuscripts

There is obviously controversy concerning this word, but it is believed this word was not used in the original manuscripts. I am not a theologian and so I will not go there at this time and I only speak and read English. There are studies by individuals who know more on this topic than you or I. They have an in-depth knowledge of the language, cultures (Jewish and Greek), process of translations, and who make a lot of sense regarding use of this word.

As for the epistles of Clement, when they were written, how they were edited (which they were) and translated etc., I do not have an in-depth knowledge of. My concern is not so much whether the word Christian is used biblically but how and why. And some will disagree with your comment on Peter’s usage. When it comes to biblical matters I do not consider popular belief or longevity of a belief based on translations a “guarantee” for accuracy.

I won’t restate the things I said in my last comment, but along those lines I believe the writers of the biblical epistles REALLY defined believers of that time as either “born again” or as “followers” rather than Christians.

Here is where importance of the use of this word is vital. There is dissension among the ranks as to what defines a “true Christian” based on 1) what it means to be saved, 2) whether salvation can be lost, and 3) that it refers to placing oneself as an equal to Christ.

Some people believe you can be saved (have eternal life) and not good perform works and produce fruit faithfully, or even significantly. Others believe if you do not significantly and faithfully perform good works and produce fruit you cannot possible really be saved. Some believe once saved you can never lose it no matter what you’re failures or sins are. Some believe you can be saved but not be an active “follower” of Christ in the sense that you are not walking the walk. Some believe that once saved you can lose salvation though living a sinful lifestyle. Yet others believe we are to be Christ-like and that the term Christian is a vain and prideful attempt to equalize ourselves with Christ (perfect) rather than someone who is still imperfect yet spiritually redeemed.

I don’t know if that made any sense to you at all but in my opinion it is very important to understand the biblical intent and usage of this word. I will not attempt to address the issues I stated above about salvation, I am just giving an example of the varying opinions surrounding the term “Christian” and explaining why it is important to understand how the word became used in scripture.