TOPICS	emerging from the Upper Room	core Roman Catholic	Anabaptist	Protestant
Scripture's Authority	specific authority of Scripture useless to those without confirming & corresponding revelation. authority of early church writings would be keyed to each author's Spirit-graced authority and fidelity.	Scripture plus Papal and Canon Law with Church Traditions	Scripture as highest authority.	early: Scripture plus State decree later: Scripture as highest authority
Hermeneutic for Bible	present world passing away. mystery of God being fulfilled. ekklesia (church) commissioned as the Bride and life of Christ on earth and in heaven. coming advent of Christ imminent. all men will be judged for their deeds when God is remedial, it is in/by grace toward us.	God has purposed differently toward the religious (clergy) and the laity.	Ethical Christo-centric hermenautic: we should live according to Christ's example. God's ultimate will doesn't change, only remedial will.	The ultimate will of God is accomplished largely through His provisional wills and dispensations. Kingdom of God unrealized on earth until the next advent of Christ.
Who interprets	Holy Spirit interprets all things. every interpretation put forward or applied is freely examined by the Word and all who have the Spirit of Christ (today, here, there, or yesterday).	Pope and clergy.	Gathered church led by ministers.	Individual interprets the Bible.
Emphasis on The Word and/or The Spirit	Word and Spirit reveal Christ; not one without the other.	varies among denominations.	varies among denominations.	varies among denominations.
Baptism and View of Children	baptism as a full and personal appeal to God for a clean conscience. suffer the little ones to come unto Me	Regenerational infant baptism Symbol of receiving God's grace. confirmation used as a process to later "confirm" one's faith in God.	adult believer's baptism. baptism as a public declaration; symbol of joining the church/receiving grace. children are safe before reaching their accountability age.	confirmation is sometimes used as a process to later "confirm" one's faith in God. early: infant baptism as regenrational or as a covenant with God. later: baptism as a symbol of grace or as an open appeal for a clean conscience or as a testimony of faith.
Church	visible ekklesia/church is corporate discerned. local ekklesia as manifestation of total ekklesia (past, present & future) unrepentant ekklesia will have its candlestick removed.	visible corporate church; "Body of Christ". no salvation outside the church	visible corporate church; "Body of Christ". more coporate than individual (closer to Roman Catholic)	invisible church (true church is within the church) organized church as ministering church. individualistic (largely following local-cultural norm.)
Discipline in the Church	first line discipline is to disciple (daily) remove the wicked man from among yourselves restore as many as God so enables [I Corinthians 5]	early: violent church discipline which readily joined with the State. late: varies upon polity.	non-violent discipline with love: ban process.	varies upon polity. early: violent church discipline which readily joined with the State. later: may be coercive.
Institution or Organism	Christ in you. His Body {similar: organism} early: institutional form unknown later: institutional forms regarded as adverse/toxic.	institution.	both institution and organism. radical-leaning	both institution and organism.
TOPICS	emerging from the Upper Room	core Roman Catholic	Anabaptist	Protestant
Church Voluntary or Involuntary	Involuntary people become part of the church as they come to repentance, so thereafter to live for Christ alone.
Church and State	Church and State are very different.	Church and State are coterminous.	Church and State are very separate.	Both conterminous and separate.
Secular vs. Sacred	Church is concerned with the sacred. All that is (devoted) in/to Christ is sacred.	Church is both secular and sacred. Two levels of sacred: religious/clergy and laity.	No "sacred" or "secular"; everything is sacred.	Church is partly secular, partly sacred. varies with denominations.
Calling/Vocation	Calling of Christ is total and inclusive of vocation; supercedes acquired ethics.	Church is devided into two levels of ethics.   Religious above Laity -- follow Christ.   Laity follows laws of necessity.	Calling (vocation) is to be Christian. Life and ethics is not divided; you should always follow Christ. in but not of the world.	Life is divided into two spheres: society and church. Christians are part of both spheres.
Violence	no aggression against a neighbor. no cause to take up arms.	seek no aggression against a neighbor. "just war" when criteria is met.	Biblical non-violence.	varies with denominations. "just war" when criteria is met.
Atonement and Christology	Blood atonement in the propitiative response of Jesus Christ, with His power from God changes a human. Jesus came to show us the way of "this new life".	Jesus came to die; to be a sacrifice for sins. Jesus changes what God would otherwise do.	Jesus came to reveal God and to restore right relationships with God, others, and all Creation through His life, teaching, healing and re-establishing the church community. Jesus was killed because He challenged the power and control of the "Powers." Historical: humans are changed.	Jesus came to die. Jesus changes what God would otherwise do. Atonement occurs in another relm, beyond earth history.
Christian Definition	repentance, trust and submission in God through Christ. receiving grace and power as anointing from/in the Holy Spirit "faith that works."	receiving the sacraments	being a disciple in response to grace. following Jesus salvation and ethics not separated.	believing experience (holiness) stream; close to anabaptist. varies with denomination
TOPICS	emerging from the Upper Room	core Roman Catholic	Anabaptist	Protestant