What Jesus" DID" and what Jesus said is comparing Apples and Oranges. So please don' t use verses out of context..Thank you so much.
That is precisely the problem. You believe I am taking the scriptures out of context while I believe you are taking the scriptures out of context and are misguided in what it says. And that is a big reason why Christ instituted for us a magisterium -- a Church -- because we can't all claim authority of what Jesus is saying to us. There must be Christian order.
Read what Apostle Paul said: read Romans 6 v 3 & 4/Colossis signs 2 v 12.
Paul also stated this: I I Thessalonians 2 v 15: Therefore brethren stand fast, and hold THE TRADITIONS WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, Whether by word, or our EPISTLE. Meaning of course The Words of the Original Apostles or by The word of God. This disqualifies the RCC which came after Paul made this statement mid first Century.
Read the verse again. Once more, I am NOT saying the Bible is unnecessary. I LOVE the Bible. I believe every word of it to be true. I believe it is ALL, every single inch of it, truly the inspired Word of God, and I believe every single part must be taken whole-heartedly. You are skimming over the part that says "whether by word of mouth." I agree with the entire verse. "
stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by
word of mouth or by
letter from us."
Once again, I do not hold an Either/Or position on the Bible and the Church. I hold a Both/And position as this is precisely what is even expressed in scriptures AND by the Church. This does not disqualify the Catholic Church, even remotely. In parallels with what the Church teaches in fact, and very vigorously. The teachings of the Catholic Church are not post-Paul. Paul himself trained one of the most celebrated saints in Catholic history -- Ignatius of Antioch -- who wrote about the Catholic Church, by name, and what it teaches. Ignatius was trained by the likes of both Paul and Peter. The legend has it that he was even the child that was taken by Jesus in Mark 9:36. Every verse you're providing, I don't disagree with. However, your personal, fallible, interpretation is another story. Why do you even insist on holding the authority to understanding what Christ is saying through the scriptures? Are you infallible? If your response is simply "Jesus is infallible" then I would agree with that 100%, but that doesn't even begin to answer how your interpretation is infallible. It's precisely this sort of attitude, with all due respect, that has shifted so many interpretations and churches in making claims that the Bible permits homosexuality or abortion or divorce. It's this attitude that upholds pride, that one guy can claim a monopoly on interpretation simply because he speaks Greek or Hebrew or has a degree in theology. It's this sort of attitude that makes people believe the know precisely what is what merely because they were once drug addicts and abusers to now being Christians.
By every means am I thankful that these people have turned to Christ, whether through Catholicism or Protestantism, but the overall I concern I have is when people water down Christianity. I am not speaking to you specifically -- I'm partly speaking to the old me -- but in general, I'm speaking to the idea of not giving Christianity the dignity and fullness it deserves.
Rick, I am not telling you how to return home to the Catholic Church. I am not even attempting to revoke your title as a Christian. I'd be willing to be you are more a Christian now as a Protestant than you were as a Catholic. All I am meaning to do is defend what is being misunderstood.
Not long ago, this forum once accepted both Protestants and Catholics as Christians. Lately, there seems to be a lopsided case that Catholics are not Christians, and those making this case are arguing against a distorted version of what Catholicism is. And despite your Catholic upbringing, you seem to have this position to. You wouldn't be alone -- so many members of the Catholic Church haven't fully understood much of it. It's sad and something the Church is just recently addressing as it is finally getting back into an emphasis on evangelism.
I'm not here to try and convert Protestants to Catholicism. I am here to fellowship in God's name. I am always happy to share the Catholic perspective, but I am in no way attempting to even corner Protestants -- I don't mean to be here with an agenda.
The truth must ultimately come from the Holy Spirit for it to be valid. No second option.