Charles
Founder, Prison Fellowship ministry

Charles "Chuck" Colson

An attorney, syndicated columnist and author of 25 books, Colson served as special counsel to President Nixon. His daily radio commentary, BreakPoint, is broadcast nationwide.

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'Much Ado about Nothing'

The press coverage of Pope Benedict’s statements about the Catholic Church being the true church is much ado about nothing.

As co-chairman of the group called Evangelicals and Catholics Together—a 15-year dialogue involving theological issues that separate us—I was hardly surprised when the Pope restated what has been Vatican policy since the Reformation.

The Catholic Church defines the church in terms of apostolic succession and the Eucharist; the Reformation churches cannot make the same claim about apostolic succession, at least in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Nor do we as evangelicals see the Eucharist as Catholics do. These are issues that, as we all strive for unity, may one day be resolved. We are far from resolving them today, however. The doctrine of the church is one ECT has not taken up simply because the differences are so profound.

All good ecumenical discussions proceed not in dumbing down our differences but in exploring them always in service of the truth. As a Baptist, I believe that the Baptist understanding of ecclesiology is biblically correct, that it is the true expression of the Church. The Pope, of course, makes the statement that his view is the true expression of the Church. But we will keep seeking common ground.

As one committed to the pursuit of unity in service of the truth, I welcome honest expressions of our different views. So it’s hardly news.

By Charles "Chuck" Colson  |  July 20, 2007; 8:18 AM ET
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Peace Be unto all.

It is unfortunate that every one has forgotten about Cardinal Francis Arize from Nigeria.

He was the one person that was close to Pope John Paul ll. He was being groomed to be the next Pope.
He was looked upon as the most righteous and the best candidate and the one person that was close to Jesus in term of wisdom and virtue
His Excellency Cardinal Arize and all the titles such as The most Perfect should have been the ruling Pope of The Catholic Church.

He was robbed of his rights as the next Pope and I am sure all of you know why. I need not say more except that RatZinger and his Mafia Third Reich (666) evil. "For the love of money is the root of all evil:which while some coveted after,they have erred from the faith,and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

While pretending to be of great faith they have strayed away from Jesus.

Just look at the History.

I pray that the grace of God and his mercy will bring true salvation.
"looking for that blessed hope,and the glorious appearing of the great God and and our Saviour Jesus Christ".Titus chp 2 verse 11 thru 13.

God Bless us all.
Graca de Deus.
Manu

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | July 22, 2008 12:52 PM
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Peace Be unto all.

It is unfortunate that every one has forgotten about Cardinal Francis Arize from Nigeria.

He was the one person that was close to Pope John Paul ll. He was being groomed to be the next Pope.
He was looked upon as the most righteous and the best candidate and the one person that was close to Jesus in term of wisdom and virtue
His Excellency Cardinal Arize and all the titles such as The most Perfect should have been the ruling Pope of The Catholic Church.

He was robbed of his rights as the next Pope and I am sure all of you know why. I need not say more except that RatZinger and his Mafia Third Reich (666) evil. "For the love of money is the root of all evil:which while some coveted after,they have erred from the faith,and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

While pretending to be of great faith they have strayed away from Jesus.

Just look at the History.

I pray that the grace of God and his mercy will bring true salvation.
"looking for that blessed hope,and the glorious appearing of the great God and and our Saviour Jesus Christ".Titus chp 2 verse 11 thru 13.

God Bless us all.
Graca de Deus.
Manu

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | July 22, 2008 10:19 AM
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Dear friends in the transformation and the transition of higher knowledge. That is reality and actuality in accordance to the reality of our every day life.

I would like to suggest in the renewing of our minds and raising our consciousness and to awake our mental faculties.

Please read the 4books I am going to mention and some of you perhaps have read them already,but this is for those who have not.

1, AMERICA AS EMPIRE (GLOBAL LEADER OR ROGUE POWER? BY JIM GARRISON WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF THW WORLD FORUM.
-------------------------------------------------
2,THE COLLECTED WORKS OF KEN WILBER
A BRIEF HISTORY THE EYE OF THE SPIRIT.
--------------------------------------------------
3,THE GOD DELUSION BY RICHRAD DAWKINS
--------------------------------------------------
4,DISCOVERING GOD
THE ORIGINS OF THE GREAT RELIGIONS AND THE EVOLUTION OF BELIEF. BY RODNEY STARK.
--------------------------------------------------

IN THE MEAN TIME LET THERE BE JOY AND HAPPINESS
IN YOUR LIVE AND GOOD HEALTH.
IN TERMS OF PEACE IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND,IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE WAR'S ARE BEING FOUGHT BY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY BELIEVE IN GOD.

BUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART MY SACRED HEART
I DO WISH YOU ALL PEACE.

Manu Rabbi Salah

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | April 21, 2008 12:18 PM
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Posted by: Deanne Morales | December 21, 2007 10:31 AM
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Yes it is true that Jesus was of the jewish tradition but he was a catholic meaning universal in his teaching. What is not spoke is that Emanuel(Yeshua)(Esau)(Jesus) traveled with Buddhist Monks in the years that he was missing.

His philosophy was changed and when he came back home and spoke with the Rabbis then went against him and had him persecuted and later he was hung on the cross;but he did not die. His family and dear friends took him down from the cross and nursed him to good health and then he and his family left (escaped) to India and later settled in what is today called Karachi area.

The story was concocted that he went up into the heavens. Much that is taught about Jesus is not the whole truth. The truth about Jesus can be found in the teachings of the Dali Lama and the Buddhist in the sanctuary of the sanctum sanctorum of the Buddhist Monks some place in India. You can start in Nepal or New Delhi to unravel the mystery.

Manu

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | September 26, 2007 1:57 PM
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To Ralph Aguila

Sorry to burst your bubble but Ratzinger is a Nazi from the The Third Reich,with a master plan to continue Hitler's program of the super race and the supremacy of the fuhrer.

Pope Benedict Arnold XVI The new Fuehrer of the Aryan Germanic race. Heil Hitler.

In a few words the Rat. Rat meaning one who
betrays or deserts friends or associates.

Zinger meaning something causing or meant to cause interest,surprise or shock or a pointed witty remark or retort.

Look up the word Rat and then look up Zinger.

Manu

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | August 19, 2007 1:35 PM
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To Ralph Aguila

Sorry to burst your bubble but Ratzinger is a Nazi from the The Third Reich,with a master plan to continue Hitler's program of the super race and the supremacy of the fuhrer.

Pope Benedict Arnold XVI The new Fuehrer of the Aryan Germanic race. Heil Hitler.

In a few words the Rat. Rat meaning one who
betrays or deserts friends or associates.

Zinger meaning something causing or meant to cause interest,surprise or shock or a pointed witty remark or retort.

Look up the word Rat and then look up Zinger.

Manu

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | August 19, 2007 1:34 PM
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To Manu Salah O.Mateus: Jesus was a Jew, Jesus's Mom, Mary, was a Jew, Jesus's foster father, Joseph was a Jew, the 12 apostles were Jews, Paul was a Jew. The Jews are the chosen people and God chose and formed them so that He could become one of us. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: Thomas Baum | August 1, 2007 7:46 PM
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The Roman Catholic Church has it's agenda from the very begining,that is to control. That is the power of the Romans. Now there is a big difference between a Catholic and a Roman Catholic. Jesus was a Catholic not a Roman Catholic.Romans was an Empire of imperialistic nature ruled by military might under the guise of God. There history is one of blood,guts death and brainwashing people and of criminal activity.
Pope playing God.
There are many good people who go to the Roman Catholic Church but have been forced to accept the power of the Pope and to be under that control of mind set. Killing men,woman and children and ruling with fear. That is he history of the R.C.

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | July 31, 2007 1:56 PM
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The Roman Catholic Church has it's agenda from the very begining,that is to control. That is the power of the Romans. Now there is a big difference between a Catholic and a Roman Catholic. Jesus was a Catholic not a Roman Catholic.Romans was an Empire of imperialistic nature ruled by military might under the guise of God. There history is one of blood,guts death and brainwashing people and of criminal activity.
Pope playing God.
There are many good people who go to the Roman Catholic Church but have been forced to accept the power of the Pope and to be under that control of mind set. Killing men,woman and children and ruling with fear. That is he history of the R.C.

Posted by: Manu Salah O.Mateus | July 31, 2007 1:56 PM
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To Jack: And Mary said, "Let it be done to me according to thy Will". She said Yes whether you like it or not. Jesus did say what you said He said and it is very true but that is not the only thing that He said, I, for one, do not deny that hell is real as a matter of fact I know that it is real but Jesus won the keys to the netherworld and He will use them in due time. I look past Heaven to the Kingdom, remember it is spoken about that there will be new heavens and a new earth, also it says that God will declare Victory in favor of the Holy Ones. God has a Plan, which is referred to as the mysterious Plan of God, God is not a loser, satan is a loser. I am just a messenger, God always sends one, doesn't He? Take care. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: Thomas Baum | July 28, 2007 10:45 AM
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This is to T. Baum. First of all, Jesus did not "ask" Mary for permission regarding anything..God TOLD Mary what was going to happen through His angel Gabriel..(Luke 1:31).Secondly, if all are going to heaven, why did Jesus say, " Because strait is the gate,and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."..Matthew 7:14...se also Luke 13:24. Open up your Bible sir...obviously, it's been a while!

Posted by: Jack | July 23, 2007 6:17 PM
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Religous racists+ Bernie Ward

Posted by: Peter giglio | July 22, 2007 1:08 PM
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The Truth seems to be an elusive sprite on this blog. So many claim to have possessed it, so few give evidence that they have.

For example, authentic Bible scholars and researchers are nearly unanimous that the claim of Apostolic Succession is utter fantasy, and the Pope's claim to it is based on nothing.

You may have "faith" that the Catholic Church is the one true way or just a better way and that Protestants will or will not burn in Hell as a result of their inferior status, not to mention the great mass of the world's population who either haven't heard of Christianity or don't much care. But "faith" doesn't make it true.

The point is that such "faith" without right reason and independent scholarship has served us poorly, from "belief" in the non-existent WMDs of Saddam to his non-existent ties to Osama, to the other deceits and fantasies the God-asserting Bush Administration has foisted on us as allegedly stemming from Bush's self-appointed status as the messenger of the Almighty's will. General William Boykin, former Pentagon intelligence chief for the Middle East, said, "The enemy we're fighting out there is Satan". He got a promotion after that.

When we set reason aside and choose to "believe" utter hogwash that scholarship and research tell us is hogwash, then we have abdicated the proper use of the minds that God, or something, endowed us with. With fundamentalists of all persuasions, it's always "check your brains at the door and take your crayons inside" [Bernie Ward].

Posted by: california condor | July 22, 2007 1:55 AM
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To Anonymmous who posted on 7-21-2007 at 12:36 AM and the rest of the world: Actually I am not borderline psychotic, but I am either speaking about who I am and things that have happened to me or I am a full-blown psychotic, time will tell. I thank you for your post, lots of people of Jesus's day thought the same of Him. Take care and I will see you in the Kingdom, God's Plan is for all. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: Thomas Baum | July 21, 2007 10:50 AM
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In his new book "God is Not Great",Christopher Hitchins says religion poisons everything.
I think religion actually makes people crazy.
It encourages people to believe in the most outrageous nonsense,Devils and Gods and angels with harps,like the world is fairyland. To believe this nonsense you have to have been brainwashed,or just plain deranged.
To believe that anyone can live forever in a supernatural fairyland is the height of
stupidity and wishful thinking.
People can be made to believe anything it seems,and churches and mosques know all the right
techniques.
They can even get people to blow themselves up for God.
It can be like a mental illness,and the world would be a better place without it.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 21, 2007 1:23 AM
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Thomas Baum
Do you seriously think that anyone reads the drivel you write?
You are borderline psychotic with your delusions.
You have a lot in common with the Muslim fanatics
its scary. This nonsense you spout is all in your imagination and only in your imagination.
Look around you.That's reality.There is no supernatural world.This real one is all she wrote.
Get a grip.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 21, 2007 12:36 AM
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Please Pray for the Peace of Israel.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, Which made Heaven and Earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepth thee will not slumber Behold, He that keepth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Posted by: michael | July 20, 2007 7:14 PM
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Ratzinger was not only the Vatican's chief theologian, but John Paul II's closest theological collaborator. From his first academic work on St Bonaventure, Ratzinger took the Protestant bull by the horns. Scriptural revelation is an act by which God reveals himself, he argued, and revelation requires someone to whom revelation is made manifest. He wrote in his autobiography:

"The word "revelation" refers to the act in which God shows himself, and not to the objectified result of this act. Part and parcel of the concept of revelation is the receiving subject. Where there is no one to perceive revelation, no re-vel-ation has occurred because no veil has been removed. By definition, revelation requires a someone who apprehends it."

For Ratzinger, this "someone" is of course the Church, as opposed to the Protestant contention that each individual must read Scripture for himself. By making revelation the subject of discourse, though, the Augustinian Ratzinger may have more in common with evangelical Christians than with the neo-Thomists of his own Church. For the first time, Catholic congregations in the US south are attracting the sort of people who normally would join evangelical denominations. On the surface, the US Church is deteriorating, bulked up by Hispanic immigrants but losing clergy and parochial-school attendance. I consider the odds very small, but cannot rule out that the Wojtyla-Ratzinger current yet might turn out to be the mustard seed of which Ratzinger wrote. It is not, as some suggest, that the US Catholic Church has assimilated into the ambient Protestant culture of US, but rather that a Catholic current of ancient lineage might compete with evangelical Christianity on its own terms.

-- I copied this from a blog that I read called Spengler (the title was "Ratzinger's mustard seed").

Posted by: Ralph Aguila | July 20, 2007 6:41 PM
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Pope Benedict is expounding his church doctrine
in a consistent manner . This is a changing , shifting world . He is not changing with it .
I do not agree with his interpretation on church succession and communion.
However it is refreshing to see a leader take a consistent stand on church teaching

Posted by: chuck childers | July 20, 2007 6:05 PM
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Pope Benedict is expounding his church doctrine
in a consistent manner . This is a changing , shifting world . He is not changing with it .
I do not agree with his interpretation on church succession and communion.
However it is refreshing to see a leader take a consistent stand on church teaching

Posted by: chuck childers | July 20, 2007 6:00 PM
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How can the catholic church be the 'true' church when they have roots back to the Babylonian mystery religion, let alone keep pagan days as 'religous' holidays. Theres no truth in keeping a holiday where bunnies are said to lay eggs or that the 25th of December is Christs birthday. THe bible says, in John, 'Thy word is truth'. In catholocism, 'their word is error'

Rev. 12:9 tells the whole story.

Posted by: WHAT? | July 20, 2007 12:30 PM
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When you look to the bible you should look to the whole bible and not just parts of it. There is in there talk of the mysterious Plan of God, God also says My ways are not your ways and My thoughts are not your thoughts. I've met God the Father, He came into my heart, I didn't go into His, when I was praying for God to rip my heart out because it was a black hole, in my opinion, I just wanted to be cleaned, it was quite a surprise when He came into my heart to say the least. It is really sad that so many people think that satan is a winner when he is a loser, a total loser, you see a tie like so many people are settling on as long as they go to the good place is really really really so unchristian that I really shouldn't have to write this. A tie for satan would be winning some of humanity and God losing some of humanity well that just is not going to happen, JESUS WON THE KEYS TO THE NETHERWORLD, HELL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH, AND HE WILL USE THEM IN DUE TIME, I stake my everlasting destiny on that and I just might be the only breather on earth that has experienced both hell and spiritual death, but I don't know if I am the only one, I did't see them, I experienced them. I'm sorry to say but some people's conception of God is so tiny and to say the least not even close to be as forgiving as Jesus told us to be. We are all God's children, we will all be in the Kingdom, I actually look past heaven to the new heavens and new earth which is the Kingdom to come. The tribulation, the wrath of God, the judgement of God on this world, whatever you want to call it, is coming, Jesus referred to it as night is coming when no man can work, be ready. The dawning of the seventh day will bring about the Kingdom of God, just when I don't know, I'm just a messenger. There is no way that I could be thankful to such a puny, heartless, revengeful, spiteful, foul being that some people think that God is. God is PURE LOVE. I will repeat that God is a searcher of hearts and minds not of religious affiliations or lack thereof, GOD WINS, satan loses, a tie is unacceptable... Believe it or not what I write is in the bible. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: Thomas Baum | July 19, 2007 7:34 PM
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Thank you Mr. Colson for not shutting the door to the pursuit of unity in the boundaries of truth. Reading the e-mail from T. Baum, one would think that truth was something that you could pick and chooose, such as salad toppings at a buffet. Believing the whole Bible suggests that we believe even the sections we do not like, otherwise, it becomes an exercise in picking and choosing what we like and don't like. Personally, I do not like the doctrine of Hell, but Christ spoke more on Hell than He ever did Heaven. If we are to believe in something that is transcendent then we must believe it all or else it is not transcendent at all, just our opinion. I have opinions on alot, but transcendant truth does not fit into that category. Thank you Mr. Colson for leaving the door open for unity and at the same time keeping your integrity.

Posted by: Lynn A. Cross | July 19, 2007 10:12 AM
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Mr. Colson,

"As one committed to the pursuit of unity in service of the truth, I welcome honest expressions of our different views."

"IN THE SERVICE OF TRUTH" - An interesting phrase, that.

In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II referred to the tortures and burnings of the Holy Inquisition as "VIOLENCE IN THE SERVICE OF TRUTH".

I hope his truth is not your truth.

Posted by: Norrie Hoyt | July 18, 2007 10:44 PM
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We sure seem to get caught up in things that are a distraction to say the least. I am a catholic and I cherish my catholic faith, and my job as the New Testament Moses is to tell the whole world that everybody will be in the Kingdom of God or if you prefer the Kingdom of Love, since God is Pure Love. The catholic Eucharist is Jesus by the way, that is what Jesus said at the Last Supper and that is what He meant and also when the Holy Spirit came into my body on 29 Jan 2000, He revealed it to me, thank you Holy Spirit. God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof, the only true religion is taking care of widows and orphans, which basically is the whole human race since we are all brothers and sisters. Thank you Dad for Your Plan, thank you Brother for your obedience to The Plan and thank you Knitting Buddy for bringing The Plan to Fruition. By the way the preceding sentence is referring to God the Trinity; Father-Jesus said to think of Him as our Dad, Brother-Jesus by choosing to become a human being and asking permission from Mary, who freely said her Yes, became humanity's Brother as in the entire human race, Knitting Buddy, the Holy Spirit who knits us together in our mother's womb. Jesus won the keys to hell and spiritual death and He will use them in due time. God has never sent anyone to hell because He can't, you have to build it yourself first. People that slice and dice the bible would be better off throwing the whole bible away, Jesus said a lot of things when He was walking on this planet a while back and if you don't know what He was talking about, don't try to mislead others. The whole bible is true and there is probably plenty in there that I don't know what it means but I don't have too, I am just a messenger and the message is: God wins, satan loses, a tie is unacceptable; we are in the sixth day, they are God Days by the way, and night is coming, be ready, the dawning of the seventh day will also be here. It seems like a lot of people will be trying to hide behind their religion but God looks at what you do and why you do it and also what you know. God is so so so much nicer than some of the people that call themselves christians think that He is and sad to say, than some want Him to be. Take care. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: Thomas Baum | July 18, 2007 7:12 PM
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It's all Christianity people, the little stupid differences are nothing compared to the big stupid similarities.

-Bart Simpson

Posted by: Joe Campbell | July 18, 2007 4:37 PM
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Paganplace:
Who said that the rest of the world is going to Hell? Clearly you've been listening more to the reaction than to the statement. The Catholic Church has been pretty clear that it is not the ONLY way into Heaven, even if it does claim to be the best way.

Oh, and you don't have to be atheist to be a Democrat, so don't start with 'the base.' Catholics are pretty much 50/50.

Posted by: Phil | July 18, 2007 4:19 PM
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Yeah, but how's that 'unity' working out when they say the rest of the world's going to Hell? Or is that just business as usual between churches.

You'd think for people who actually believe in that, it might be a bit more upsetting.

Ah, well, can't divide 'the base,' can we?
:)


Posted by: Paganplace | July 18, 2007 1:18 PM
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