Thank you KFC for writing yet another excellent and insightful commentary. I enjoyed reading every word.



I researched Laodicea and learned that 9 different cities were called Laodicea; this one in Phrygia to which St.John is giving a stern admonition, in Pisidia and on the northern seacoast of Syria.

Laodicea in Phyrgia Pacatiana, also known as Laodicea near Lycus, was founded by Antiochus II and named after his wife.



I've seen the earthquake as being in 60AD. What's interesting to note is this was in Nero's time.

As we know, Christianity came to Laodicea in Apostolic times. The Church at Laodicea caused St.Paul anxiety (Col. 2:1) and he suggests to them that they exchange his letter for the one he sent to the Laodiceans 4:16.





"Amen" is a most interesting word. Here Christ introduces Himself with the personified Hebrew affirmative, "Amen" Is.65:16. A similiar description is applied to Christ in 2Cor. 1:20. Here a divine name is applied to Christ.

Sometimes we say the word "Amen" to mean so be it or as an assertion of truth. Now we know how that certainly connects with Christ.

The words that follow "faithful and true witness" spell out the full meaning of the "Amen" title. Christ and His word are abolutely dependable.

"who is the beginning of God's creation" tells us that Christ is also the prime source of the entire Creation for "all things were made through Him" St.Jn 1:3. Therefore He, along with the Father and the Holy SPirit (BLessed Trinity) is the creator of heaven and earth. From this we understand that all created things remained linked Col. 1:16.

This is the key and connection. If they, the Christians of Laodicea as well as we today, are seeking the world find in Him the only correct approach to it, and to the world itself in its most original form.

Right. This is a severe indictment of spiritual lukewarmness. They are nothing half, nothing whole, a limping on 2 sides 3Kings 18:21. They are not against God and not against the world St.Matt. 6:24; 12:30. In this way one gets on with everyone all the time. But this false compromise which they attempt between being a Christian and being worldly makes them abhorrent to their Master sort of like a drink of lukewarm water one is tempted to spit out.



Yes, well said, KFC. That God spits them out shows His repugnance for mediocrity, that is being in the middle. Spiritual lukewarmness and mediocrity are very closely related and neither is the route the CHristian life should take. St.Josemaria Escriva advised meditating on this verse with this in mind, "Virtue is to be found in the middle, so the saying goes warning us against extremism. But do not make the mistake of turning that advice into a euphemism to disguise your own comfort, calculation, lukewarmness, easy-goingness, lack of idealism and mediocrity.

Indecisive Christianity is in Christ's judgment more tasteless than genuine paganism, a Christian without character has less worth in His eyes than a pagan of strong character. Truth and faithfulness are of His essence. The one who wishes to belong to Him must imitate Him not some of the time, but in every instance all of the time.

Lukewarmness needs to be nipped in the bud. We tend to move away from virtue little by little through prolonged mental laziness. That's the way bad habits and vice gain ground without anyone's noticing it and eventually leads to a collapse. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov.16:18.

With 5 adjectives He makes clear the condition of this Church at Laodicea.

This should certainly be a wake up call when we are living in times of plenty and things are going good; the living is easy.
The prosperity Laodicea enjoyed may have contributed to the laxity and lukewarmness the Church is accused of here. Israel tended to take the same direction when living was easy. the people became forgetful of Yahweh and adopt an easy going lifestyle.

The city was flourishing, rich in earthly goods, and the Chruch wasn't being persecuted in any way making them feel prosperous and content. They must have been proud as well as lukewarm. So socially, the Christians of the Laodicea were integrated with the world and precisely for this reason, they are neither a vexation nor a witness StMatt.5:13. Becasue they are blinded, they no longer see the duty they have to the world. Self deluded, they've come to putting up a good show before men and they think before God. They do not realize how precarious their spiritual situation was.

Again, this is something we must take to heart today which you point out so well.

The Laodiceans had fallen victim to self-conceit something the wealthy are inclined to feel and which moved our Lord to say that rich people enter heaven only with difficulty. He often pointed out the dangers of becoming attached to material things. When we become proud in our prosperity, we sometimes don't see the need for divine grace.

Thought you of all people may be interested in this video, on my site, about living forever- is it possible?

Thank you for stopping by. I enjoy putting it all down, it helps me to remember as I type it all out.





Yes, this letter to this church is very applicable to today. Many churches out there today stand in danger of receiving this same condemnation.

In fact, there is a thought out there that each of these seven churches represent a period of time thru history. Ephesus, the first church, would be representing the beginning of Christianity. They were full of excitement, but after so many years of the Lord not returning, their patience and excitement started to wane. They were in danger of losing their first love. Smyrna would represent the very persecuted church during the end of the first century going into the fourth century leading up to Constantine's edict of Milan.

On and one it goes until we reach these last two, Philadelphia and lastly Laodicea both representing the end times concurrently. One without any condemnation (the true church) and the other the blind, poor and naked (false church) which in our terms today would be those who adhere by the traditional Christian faith and those who don't and instead trying to modernize the church. Some say it's the liberal vs the conservative. Whatever term you may use there is a diff between these two that we can easily see today.



What video? Do you have a link? Living forever is possible only for those who have been dead, buried, risen, hidden and glorified with Christ.

AMEN.

We know this Church is in trouble of complacency stemming from material wealth. Here, our Lord tells them they can obtain the genuine gold from Him.

Only clothed with righteousness which grace confers will they stand properly before God. Note the 3 images where the Lord offers and illustrates His necessary help.

This passage is so important becasue here the Lord offers His grace which is what we've talked about on other threads...and as we will see... people have the freedom (free will) to accept or reject.




Here is the biggy...the direct call to repent. The Lord begs like one standing outside the locked door to be once more let in.

Same thing with our lives. Here with the Laodicean Christians as with us today, He lovingly deals with those whom He loves by chastising and discipline. We know that indulgent and compliant love never helps anyone. Here our Lord shows us how to be a good parent and friend and neighbor.

That the Lord will chasten them is a sobering thought, especially since later, the Book of Apocalpse will discuss tribulation. While by your next article, you see a secret rapture to save them from hardship, I don't.


I find two references to having a meal with them. The meal the Lord intends to have when He gains entrance once more will put a new seal on the betrayed friendship.

Here, Christ is inviting Catholic Christians to eat with Him. To Catholics, this is an invitation to share the Holy Eucharist.




God shows His love through chastening and all us Christians are in it expected to persevere in faith, hope and charity until the end. God will give us all we need to do so. He's faithful, loving and merciful.

These were real churches with real people struggling against complacancy, materialism, immorality, heresy, and persecution---just like any age when you think about it.

and as on the other thread I disagree with this statement. Our choice or freedom left to ourselves would ALWAYS be to turn from God...not towards him. That's our sin nature inherited from Adam.

Can you show me scripture on this?



no, I don't see the rapture for the Laodician church at all.

They have rejected Christ. The raptured believers are those who are patiently waiting for his return. The Laodician believers are too busy enjoying life to be worrying about the coming of Christ. They are not needy enough to care.



yes I agree and it's much more the norm here in the states.

Lula posts:




KFC POSTS:




Often times you go to parent/child relationships to show a biblical teaching and here is where we could apply that as well.

The Laodiceans had fallen victim, to that self-conceit, laxity and complaceny that wealth all too often brings. they had become proud in their prosperity and did not see the need for diving grace which is worth more than all the wealth in the world.

They are in trouble and Jesus offers them help, but the dire warning comes from God's love, not His anger. It is His affection that that He reproves and corrects His people. "The Lord reproves whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." Prov. 3:12.

"It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his son does not discipline? If you were left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." Heb.12:7-8.

"Be zealous"-----stop being lukewarm and enter the fervor of charity, have an ardent zeal for the glory of God.

Here's Christ willing to help, knocking on the locked door, telling them to stop being lukewarm, disciplining them with love, and will they accept His grace, listen to Him and let Him in?

They have freedom to accept it or reject it.

The scriptures you pick out do not apply to the church of Laodicea. The scriptures you point out is a father disciplining his children as you say. Yes. But they don't apply here. The church at Laodicia are NOT interested. They have no relationship with God.

There is no context here of discipline here in Laodicea. Nor is there any context of a father/son relationship as Proverbs speaks of.

In Hebrews the writer discusses why Christians are disciplined. One has nothing to do with the other. The church at Laodicea are NOT Christians. They have no relationship with Jesus. Instead they are turning elswhere for comfort...their material wealth for one thing.

The church at Laodicea are unbelievers playing church. Remember Christ is NOT in the church but is OUTSIDE the church. He's not invited in.

I read it differently than you. I read the Laodicean Chruch as full of sinners who God is lovingly, patiently calling back to His fold.

V. 18 clearly shows that and v. 21 tells them that if they overcome (their sin) He will have them sit at the right hand of God.

V.15-16 says He WILL spew them out...that word will is future tense. If on judgment day, He finds them lukewarm, then,in stead of His right hand, they are put on His left and downwards they go.

I see it as individual...if one opens the door..if one overcomes.....a relationship will be had.

Now, to get the definition of an overcomer is interesting...go to 1 John 5:4-5

"For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMES the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but He that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

It goes back to election again. It also reminds us that Abraham believed and it was counted for him for righteousness way back in Genesis 15:6.

I love how everything gets tied together.

But as far as if these Laodiceans are believers who are in sin or unbelievers it's an inhouse debate. In other words Christians are on both sides of this issue when they read this passage.

I say unbelieving church because of the fact that Christ stands outside the church.

So many believe they are worshipping the Savour when in fact through generation teaching they are in fact doing exactly as we are warned not to be doing worshipping false gods..Christianity is a breeding ground for luciferic spawn,for christianity is a blended religon,a universal religon created to enslave believers like the system of the pharisees and sadduccees to ensnare believers and keep them blinded from the full embodiment of the truth....
Pastor Terry

Jeremiah3131, these are some strange ideas you share...what's your idea of worshipping the Savior?

My idea of worship is the Way the Messiah told us to worship,by keeping torah and the commandments that tells us and warns us of what is right and wrong,and the whole christian system is full of fence setting.....
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Adonay Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

25 Yet ye say, The way of Yahweh is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

26 When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of Yahweh is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Adonay Yahweh. Return ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Adonay Yahweh: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.

Where is Catholisism mentioned as the House of Promise,no where thats where...
Ezekiel 20:3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Adonay Yahweh: Is it to inquire of me that ye are come? As I live, saith the Adonay Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you.

4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;

5 and say unto them, Thus saith the Adonay Yahweh: In the day when I chose Israel, and sware unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I sware unto them, saying, I am Yahweh your Elohim;

6 in that day I sware unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

7 And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Yahweh your Elohim.

8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10 So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh that sanctifieth them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Moreover also I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them, and I destroyed them not, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

18 And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I am Yahweh your Elohim: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;

20 and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Yahweh your Elohim.

21 But the children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 Moreover I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

24 because they had not executed mine ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances wherein they should not live;

26 and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.

27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Adonay Yahweh: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land, which I sware to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.

29 Then I said unto them, What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Adonay Yahweh: Do ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play ye the harlot after their abominations?

31 and when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, do ye pollute yourselves with all your idols unto this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Adonay Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you;

32 and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, in that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33 As I live, saith the Adonay Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:

34 and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;

35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, saith the Adonay Yahweh.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

38 and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am Yahweh.

39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Adonay Yahweh: Go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Adonay Yahweh, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

42 And ye shall know that I am Yahweh, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I sware to give unto your fathers.

43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have polluted yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44 And ye shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Adonay Yahweh.

45 And the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying,

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;

47 and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Yahweh: Thus saith the Adonay Yahweh, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.

48 And all flesh shall see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Adonay Yahweh! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?

Want to try Revelation?
2:5 Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of Elohim.

2:9 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

2:13 I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

16 Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

2:19 I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.

20 But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.

22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the assemblies shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

24 But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

25 Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:

27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:

28 and I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies

3:2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my Elohim.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

3:8 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.

9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.

12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my Elohim, and the name of the city of my Elohim, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my Elohim, and mine own new name.

3:14 And to the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amein, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of Elohim:

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies.

Now ponder on why so many warnings of following false doctrines,wake up and smell the roses,why so many warnings,why so many pleas to come back to what is established through the Torah,the Prophets,and Yahshua and His order/disciples who became 12 Apostles of the Way/Torah.

In 135 a.d. the wolves started to take over,times were hard for alot of those who attended the syngogues messianic and Judite alike tension started to creep in,but it took 312 to kick off the opening of Lucifers church and the death decree unto those who still followed Yahshua's teachings.

Lulu go read the stories,John Hess a Catholic Bishop going to the stake singing a name he was taught but his testimony is what will save him,or the countless others who stood up to the Catholic system,but the Catholic system would not let go so truces were made,the denominations could practice whatever flavor of christianity they wanted to as long as they kept the major catholic teachings and decrees...

I wish more would actually study for the truth is terrifying..
Pastor Terry