"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," 105 A.D.)
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions
among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the
house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of
you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ
divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God
that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had
baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know
not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
effect." - 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
"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." - 2 Peter 2:1-2
"A man that is an heretic after the first and second
admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned
of himself." - Titus 3:10-11
"These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own
lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration
because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the
last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate
themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." - Jude 16-19
"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went
into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither
give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly
edifying which is in faith: [so do]. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a
pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned: From which some having
swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law;
understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." - 1 Timothy 1:3-7
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who
[is] above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:1-6
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some
that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other
gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." - Galatians
1:6-9
"[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies...." - Galatians 5:16-20
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye 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
"I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
make full proof of thy ministry." - 2 Timothy 4:1-5
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues." - 1 Corinthians 12:27-28
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even]
unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:18-20
"Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind." - Philippians 2:2
"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one
mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5-6
What the Catechism of the Catholic Church
says on "The Reformation:"
1400. "Ecclesial communities derived from the
Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, 'have not preserved the proper reality
of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the
sacrament of Holy Orders.' [UR 22 # 3.] It is for this reason that Eucharistic
intercommunion with these communities is not possible for the Catholic Church. However
these ecclesial communities, 'when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in
the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await
his coming in glory.' [UR 22 # 3.]"
"Falsehood is contrary to truth. Now a heretic is
one who devises or follows false or new opinions. Therefore heresy is opposed to the
truth, on which faith is founded; and consequently it is a species of unbelief.
Accordingly there are two ways in which a man may deviate from the rectitude of the
Christian faith. First, because he is unwilling to assent to Christ: and such a man has an
evil will, so to say, in respect of the very end. This belongs to the species of unbelief
in pagans and Jews. Secondly, because, though he intends to assent to Christ, yet he fails
in his choice of those things wherein he assents to Christ, because he chooses not what
Christ really taught, but the suggestions of his own mind. In obedience to Our Lord's
institution, the Church extends her charity to all, not only to friends, but also to foes
who persecute her, according to Mt. 5:44: 'Love your enemies; do good to them that hate
you.' Now it is part of charity that we should both wish and work our neighbor's good.
Again, good is twofold: one is spiritual, namely the health of the soul, which good is
chiefly the object of charity, since it is this chiefly that we should wish for one
another. Consequently, from this point of view, heretics who return after falling no
matter how often, are admitted by the Church to Penance whereby the way of salvation is
opened to them." - St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Theologica" 13th century
A.D.)
COMMENTS
St. Paul
begs the early Christians to be unified in mind and in
what they say. There can only be one "true" Christian Church. How can the Holy Spirit
guide the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church,
etc. if all of those denominations have doctrines and beliefs differing from each
other? There is only one interpretation of the Bible. Otherwise, people can and have
"read" literally anything into It.
The Reformation