Comments on: The Secret of Appreciating Church

By: Patricia Burns

Patricia Burns — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:27:44 +0000

The original article was exactly what I needed – thank you!

By: james day

james day — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:31:59 +0000

Has anyone heard of the brothers and sisters in Indianapolis? http://www.squidoo.com/allathisfeet .Who is Lord, really?

By: Milton Stanley

Milton Stanley — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:38:40 +0000

And I should know the difference between a first and last name. Please accept my apologies, Dr. Baker.

P.S.: Your grammar is still incorrect.

By: Web Weekly « Three Passions

Web Weekly « Three Passions — Sun, 09 May 2010 23:25:15 +0000

[...] Things shares the secret to appreciating church – and it closely relates to being a church [...]

By: Links I Like

Links I Like — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:31:26 +0000

[...] The Secret of Appreciating Church “So, stop shopping for a church. Stop sampling. Don’t fall for all the hype of a Disneyworld experience with a Christian aura around it. Don’t chase after a superstar preacher. You can hear that on your iPod. Feel free to contribute to that ministry. But find a church where you can be part of a community of people who know each other and will help one another live the Christian life, sometimes as helpers and sometimes by being in need and providing an opportunity for others to help.” [...]

By: Saturday Links — DashHouse.com

Saturday Links — DashHouse.com — Sat, 08 May 2010 09:03:07 +0000

[...] The Secret of Appreciating Church [...]

By: Milton Stanley

Milton Stanley — Thu, 06 May 2010 10:27:29 +0000

Dr. Hunter, with two doctorates you ought to know that your reference to you and your wife in the sixth paragraph is in the objective case and should therefore read, “Ruth and me.” Peace.

By: Truth Unites... and Divides

Truth Unites... and Divides — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:42:46 +0000

Orthodoxdj: “My argument is about the life-giving power that the Church can offer is given in sacraments.”

Define and explain more about this “life-giving power” in the sacraments.

“Without them, we have no church.”

Let’s say a non-Catholic, not-EO “church” celebrates Communion and baptisms. Is that a “church” according to you, Orthodoxdj?

By: Orthodoxdj

Orthodoxdj — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:23:14 +0000

The people God foreknew is a reference to Israel. God, in Christ, has united Jews and Gentiles.

By: RS

RS — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:50:56 +0000

I agree with you, dj, about the Sacraments. In fact, I was saying “Sacraments” to myself a line or two before reaching the end of your comment. My comment was just a reminder that the two go together: Word and Sacrament

By: Orthodoxdj

Orthodoxdj — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:39:23 +0000

RS,

The Gospel is unique to the Church. That is clear. My argument is about the life-giving power that the Church can offer is given in sacraments. Without them, we have no church.

By: RS

RS — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:31:37 +0000

dj, some “principles for better living” the world can’t teach. Some are only found in God’s Word, which the Church receives, conserves, shares, teaches, and interprets. The Word is also unique to the Church.

By: Orthodoxdj

Orthodoxdj — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:56:54 +0000

Someone rightly pointed out that the world can offer everything most churches offer: money management classes, weight management programs, feeding the poor, principles for better living, etc. Since Christ instituted the Church, and given that we are commanded to attend, there must be something unique that only the Church can give: sacraments.

By: RS

RS — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:31:20 +0000

Gratias tibi ago.

I’m OK with sticking in possessives for articles when translating from Latin to English. Latin, of course, rarely uses articles; English very often does. Latin also rarely uses possessives, or at least classical Latin rarely does. When I went looking for an example from the Vulgate, I couldn’t find one. Regardless, we’re already “adding something” by adding an article to make the translation grammatical in English. Sometimes we’re actually adding less by using a possessive instead of an article, especially with relationships. We see this more in passages regarding children and siblings than parents. “His son” keeps any ambiguity in the original regarding brothers. “A son” will frequently imply there are brothers; “the son” will usually imply there are not.

Without the capitalization of “Ecclesiam” we’d have the same issue, and it carries theological significance. Is it, “…who has A church [as his] mother,” or “…who has THE church [as his] mother”? I think “…who has his church as his mother” might avoid this judgment-call.

By: Brad Williams

Brad Williams — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:54:46 +0000

And just for further pride stoking, I’m not sure why the source translated it “his Father” and “his Mother.” Looks like it should be “a Father” and “a mother.”

All that to say, the church is good and all Christians should be gathering with a local body. :)