You said yourself that 'Peter was the 'vicar'. The Popes are called 'Vicars' The word vicar means replacement or substitute.
It should not be taken as meaning the Pope can be worshiped or regarded to on equal levels as Christ or as Christ himself. Rather, he is a representative, and his role is mediated by the Holy Spirit. Consider John 20:21-24 which says "So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace
be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.'" Christ sent out his disciples out as His agents, but of course providing them the gift of the Holy Spirit as a necessary mediator for their mission.
Peter never was a bishop or Pope of Rome nor did he 'pass on' any keys to another Pope. Religion is of the Devil.
Speaking on Peter as the first pope, Matthew 16:18 is where this is instituted. When Christ called him 'Petros,' this word literally means "rock." The argument against this is that Christ followed it with "and on this PETRA, I will build my Church..." so people consider the word "Petros" as meaning pebble, but this isn't true. Aramaic was a gendered language, and 'Petra' is a feminine word. So when Christ called him "Petros," it was the same word, but in masculine form as Peter was, well, a man, not a woman.
False and empty religion is certainly something to be rejected, bu fulfilled religion is a privilege. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus expressed that He didn't come to abolish the law, but the fulfill it. Religion is man's response to God -- there is no point to it if one doesn't have a personal relationship with Him.
Christ in a persons heart, causing them to live their life according to His will is what makes a Christian.
Absolutely -- one must repent and live according to His Word in order to be a Christian. Protestants who obey Him, love Him, and fulfill His will are my brothers and sisters. YOU are my brother as I have no doubt you do these things.
Many are going to say Lord Lord...Deny Catholicism and just say you are a Christian. Why glorify a religion when you can glorify God? I am not going to debate Catholicism here.. I am simply saying I will not listen to the doctrines of Catholicism or even acknowledge them to be truth. That said, back to your discussion about 'tattoos' and other acts of the flesh..
TC
Why deny Catholicism when I believe this is objectively the true Church? I spent years denying it and later spent years researching it (with the intention to prove it wrong). You're assuming that Catholics are glorifying a religion and bypassing God. This would be vanity, and that is not by any means Catholicism proper.
I understand that you are not hear to debate Catholicism, and I didn't come here to do that either, but when I hear attacks, misconceptions, and arguments against the faith, I have a responsibility to stand up and defend it.
I am not slandering nor attacking Protestantism. I may disagree with the doctrine, but I will never disagree that they too have a heart for Christ. We have more in common than we differ, and for those things we share, there is reason to celebrate. Christ is alive, merciful, and loves us. This is something that cannot be denied.
