I donāt think that is the contention. But clearly the RC church drifted from the faith when they were selling indulgences and torturing people during the Inquisition? Or is that all in line with Christ?
Discussion
Correct, the Roman church had fallen to heresy and schism centuries before the reformation.
I see. We agree on that. So which flavor of Orthodox are you? And why should I have confidence that your flavor is the right one? I looked into Orthodoxy and found some things about it compelling, but when I found out that there were multiple schisms in the Orthodox Church and that they try to brush this under the rug, it all started to go sideways.
Please enlighten me on the different āflavorsā of Orthodoxy
Surely you are aware, are you not?
Here are the branches of Eastern Christianity:
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Church
Assyrian Church of the East
Eastern Catholic Church
And all of these have subdivisions too.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the Eastern Orthodox Church. Really simple. Yes, the Oriental Orthodox Church is schismatic. The other 2 donāt even claim to be Orthodox, Orthodox doesnāt mean eastern
So why do you believe Eastern is correct and Oriental is wrong? And what if you pick the wrong one? Does Christās blood still redeem you or only if you are part of the One True Church?
The Oriental Church split off after the council of Chalcedon (mid 5th century).
The council confirmed that Christ has two natures- divine and human but the Oriental Church disagreed (monophysites) and has not been in communion with the Orthodox Church since.
Yes, I read up on this schism and it seemed like splitting hairs over something that is not worth breaking fellowship.
Ultimately, whenever I engage in this sort of discussion I end up with Paulās words ringing in my ears:
āNow I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you allĀ speak the same thing, andĀ thatĀ there be noĀ divisions among you, butĀ thatĀ you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.Ā For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of ChloeāsĀ household,Ā that there areĀ contentions among you.Ā Now I say this, that each of you says, āI am of Paul,ā or āI am of Apollos,ā or āI am of Cephas,ā or āI am of Christ.āĀ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,Ā lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.Ā Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.Ā For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.ā - 1 Cor. 1:10-17