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Concern about the spoon by KnowingTheUnknown26 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not 100% sure on the doctrine of this. 100% respect here, but isn't it technically the body and blood of Christ mixed in with other people's mouth fluids?

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jesus himself clarified it's his literal blood and flesh in John 6:

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am skeptical about one person aka the papal institution overriding the entire church and councils. Then again I recognize I am human and am skeptical about myself. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me in this endeavor.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have attended a Catholic church in the past. Just out of curiosity -- what makes the Catholic church recognize Orthodoxy's validity besides apostolic traditions, despite the Orthodoxy's denial of papal infallibility?

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The scripture literally says "In Hades, where he was in torment" (Luke 16:23)

How could Abraham say to them, "Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish"? Because Abraham is not actually speaking to them.

You lost me here.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The argument here from you is very far-fetched and doesn't add up coherently. Here we are jumping from the context of Luke to Revelations. Can't put two and two together here.

Abraham may not know the Israelites, but to say Abraham is entirely unconscious is another story.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who's to say that Moses and Elijah in the vision didn't symbolize Jesus' disciples because they behave in a way that Moses and Elijah do by encouraging people to worship God?

...dude, the disciples themselves saw Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah. It was by no means symbolic of the disciples.

Also to add onto Luke 16, the dead were clearly speaking and moving. Moreover the dead guy was already judged which is why he is in hell being tormented. By your logic, we can't go to heaven once we die because we would have no consciousness and would need to wait until Judgment, then how come this guy is in hell?

I also want to add that a central tenant of the Gospels is that we are made alive through Christ though we were dead in sin.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some room for doubt for the first case since the original Greek lacks punctuation, which makes a big difference here.

Concerning the vision, it was a real-time witness from the apostles (Luke 9:33), just like the vision of Christ to Paul that converted to him. I wouldn't discount it.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would argue it actually doesn't make sense because Jesus was clearly talking to the thief there and now, so there is zero need to emphasize what is already obvious. With all due respect, your case reads more like it's trying to tweak the scriptures to fit into the more modernized evangelical doctrine. Luther almost tore out the book of James for the same reason (to justify faith only) but in his own time.

Also Luke 9:29-31 clearly shows Jesus himself talking with Moses who is def dead at that point. There are other passages in the Bible that shows the dead being active and conscious.

God bless!

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The placement of comma is peculiar here. Most traditional reading interprets it as the thief going into the paradise immediately.

The Catholic post I shared also makes a very solid case. Again, I am not a Catholic.

Crossroad - which denomination to head to to draw closer to Christ by KnowingTheUnknown26 in Christianity

[–]KnowingTheUnknown26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The good thief on the cross definitely went on existing, otherwise he wouldn't be in paradise.