Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hall@vice.ico.tek.com (Hal Lillywhite) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Ground of the Church Message-ID: Date: 22 Oct 90 06:25:41 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or. Lines: 24 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article Thomas Moriarty writes: ... >There are many so-called churches established in Los Angeles. One, the Roman >Catholic Church, claims to be built upon Christ as its foundation. Another, the >Presbyterian Church, also claims that its foundation is none other than Christ. >The Baptists, Quakers, Methodists, Episcopals, Lutherans, Nazarenes, and many >other claim the same thing. In fact, there is not one so-called Christian >church which does not. They all claim Christ as their foundation, but they have >absolutely neglected the ground. This may be true but what your author neglects is that each of these denominations believes that what he calls "ground" is required by the foundation. The Catholics believe the Pope is chosen by Christ, the Baptists that Jesus requires baptism by immersion etc. In other words, rightly or wrongly they trace their beliefs to Christ. It reminds me of the story of the 2 clergymen arguing about who was right. Finally one said, "Well at least we're both serving God." The other replied, "Yes we are. You in your way and I in His." The disagreements among Christians are not over following Christ, they are over what Christ asks us to do to follow him.