— I want to respond to you with the respect and sincerity I’d expect in return, without getting condescending. But I do want to be crystal clear and firm in what I believe.
Absolutely, I have no problems with that, as long as you understand I have no ill feelings and know that we are both o the same side on this side of life, both trying to live our lives according to the Gospel
I don’t say the things I say because I think I’m better or that I alone have the truth. I say them because I’ve spent years making sure what I believe lines up with Yeshua and what is written—not with denominational spin, and certainly not with traditions that contradict Scripture.
It's commendable that you have spent years seeking the truth, as many others have done the same. First and foremost, do you genuinely believe that the Catholic Church does not follow the Bible? Again, I ask you: do you truly think it does not adhere to the teachings of the Gospel, Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, or that it fails to educate its members in these teachings? I assure you; both the Church and its members do.
For example, the Mass is said right throughout the world, in every parish, every day, within the Mass the number of scripture verses read in a whole liturgical year at Mass may vary depending on the liturgical calendar and the cycle of readings followed in the Church. However, on a typical Sunday Mass cycle using the Lectionary, approximately 1,500 verses are read throughout the liturgical year, from both the OT and the NT in addition to psalms, working on 4-year cycle, where different verses are read that is 1500 x 4 =6000 verses, these readings during Mass are carefully selected to present a coherent and comprehensive message that leads the faithful to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of faith.
And not to mention, a good number of other verses are read during and what makes up the Mass
Now having said that, you have spent years making sure your faith lines up with Yeshua and what is written, have you every considered that you are not alone, many faithful across the board have also done the same thing, not only the CC having 2000 years longer up its sleeve more experience then you, also its been there from the beginning, same goes with others of different faith like Protestant’s don’t you think they have also done the same thing as you say you have
What one needs to understand first up, is that we all have our own prospectives in how we see things, and that includes the bible, and bible verses, what seems to line up with your view, it doesn’t line up others, this is the very point you need to understand.
If you believe that 'denominational spin' can influence interpretation, don’t you think that individual perspectives can also have an impact? A person may only adhere to their own viewpoint on Scripture, and without the opportunity to discuss it with others, they might overlook potential errors in their understanding. In a church setting with a diverse group of individuals holding various views, there is a greater likelihood of arriving at the truth. The Bible itself acknowledges that different people possess different gifts. Do you have all these gifts necessary to come to a comprehensive understanding of what the Bible is conveying? These verses suggest that relying solely on Scripture is insufficient; rather, there exists a community within the Church that enhances our understanding.
Romans 12:4-8 "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV): "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
1 Peter 4:10-11 "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."
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So let’s be real—there are thousands of denominations. They all say “the Spirit is guiding us.” Yet many of them contradict each other. Does that mean God’s Spirit is confused? Of course not. That’s why the only safe place is in Yeshua’s words and the Scriptures, not what a council or a pope decided hundreds of years later.
No, not really again you seem to not understand, these are Protestant denomination, and from the reformation the first reformer Luther coined the “bible alone” only the bible, or as you put it and how you go about practicing your faith, that is how these thousands have gone off track, by using the bible alone
thousands of denominations ..They all believe that their understanding of the Bible is correct and that they possess the true faith, just as you do. So, why do you consider yourself right while viewing them as wrong? By what authority do you claim this correctness? The Bible itself doesn’t specify how to interpret it, nor does it correct you if your interpretation is mistaken. How can you be certain that your perspective is accurate while other denominations are not? Simply aligning your views with your own beliefs doesn’t prove them wrong, as you could also be mistaken. This is an important point to consider.
Pope and councils are the leaders, or elders, as per the apostles’ electing leaders wherever they founded a church, just like Christ, he had 12 leaders, the apostles started off His church, they have more authority to dictate what scripture says, more than any one person especially if he’s not a leader but one of the sheep.
If you ever want to go verse by verse and test doctrines honestly with Scripture—no tradition, no spin—I’m all for it. That’s how iron sharpens iron.
My Friend I've been there and done that, it simply doesn't work, as like I keep telling you, people have a different view of what they think verses are saying, it only leads to bickering
And that is a fact of history, why do you think certain denominations even within themselves have fractured into thousands of pieces
Why do you think we have all these different versions of the Bible in the first place, along with different commentaries.
This is a notion inherited from Protestantism, all have thrown the baby out along with the water now forever searching scripture to form their rule of faith, with each person seeing verses in different light, this is a sad fact or reality to which you need to come to terms with.
Bible alone is no guarantee that you have the same message that the authors wanted to convey, especially when we've been conditioned by 2000 years of history, this is why believing the faith how it was Traditionally understood is paramount especially by the first Christians, as they have not been conditioned with human history, especially the last 500
