Hello Cu list and Bill, Bill Said: >We probably need less > people in the churches but more practicing Christians. This is a preposterous supposition of choices. Why not more practicing Christians, and therefor more people, in *all* the churches? Btw Bill, when you show the subject for a new thread of a post you want to make, it is customary *not* to start it with the contraction, "Re:" . We wouldn't want someone to misunderstand and not realize that it was you who made the original post for that thread, Bill, about less people more christians. And I know there have been recent problems with the list's automatic mailer, so I thought I should try to clear that up for everyone concerned. Hey, even the best computer drops a bit, now and again. What we're trying to do here is build bridges between *all* Christian churches. We therefor want to see *more* people in all churches, not less. For more information about the purpose of this list, see the CUC homepage at the following url: http://www.inlink.com/~cc3c/cuc/ Your reference to negative descriptions of the early history of a Christian church serves to build bridges with no one. What matters now, is that the message of salvation in Jesus crucified is available now; now in the Catholic church, now in the Lutheran church, and now in *all* such Christian denominations and groups. And we want *more* people, not less, to hear that message in church, regardless what Christian denomination or group they find it in. So how do we know which one to listen to, when someone, of any group, approaches and claims to be a Christian? Matthew 17:15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Love in Jesus, Tim