Good morning. I would have responded yesterday but it was golf tournament day with my brothers from church. The course was a swamp due to all the rain we recently experienced and so no golf carts.
By the 3rd hole my feet were hurting, due to my inattention to a recurring problem, but I made it through almost 12 of the 18 before I stopped. I've golfed better but it has been a few years so that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Anyway...
If I write or speak anything that is not based on scripture, when discussing what it means to follow Jesus, to be born-again, then it is "(my) truth".
But this is not about SOLA Scriptura, or my truth, or your truth but about what the RCC has changed about the essentials to the faith and how that is diametrically opposed to Scripture.
Thank you for your honesty. "
That the Church has the real power and authority to change things..." speaks volumes. What can your church change since it has the "..
.real power and authority to change things,"...? What is outside its power and authority to change when it comes to Christianity...that should give anyone pause, let alone knowing that you are good with that.
Apostolic succession: the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church but denied by most Protestants.
Indeed, rejected!
So your church tells you.
Scripture interprets scripture. Eisegesis versus exegesis. I do not interpret Scripture alone but with the Holy Spirit guiding me into all truth through God-breathed Scripture. Not a self-appointed institution telling me what to believe the Bible says. One is higher than the other. Can you guess which one it is?
John 16: All this I have told you so that you will not fall away 2 They will put you out of the synagogue in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going? 6 Rather, you are filled with griefs because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
At what cost to those who spoke truth to the RCC throughout the centuries? Truly.
You are correct and your definition is wrong. But that's what RCC does right? Change things because it has the real power and authority to do so.
Orthodox: (of a person or their views, especially religious or political ones, or other beliefs or practices) conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved.
So, again, the RCC does not own that word, as much as you want to make it yours and yours alone. That's not how it works.
I'm not giving quarter here. Our leaders are held responsible for what they teach and if wrong will be confronted for it and expected to correct. If they don't then they are no longer in that position. Unlike the RCC. What they say goes and no one is allowed to question their pronouncements on threat of ex-communication but historically being martyred. Big difference.
THIS is not a game. This all has eternal consequences.
The RCC tells its members to read the Bible but only allow it to interpret what it says Scripture says. ("
...(Jesus)He set up the Church and you would be wise to listen to it."). You are not given the power to argue against their interpretation, their changes and add-ons to Christianity because your institution possesses "...th
e real power and authority to change things..." . Your own words.
That said, over-simplification in your conclusion. Many people say they love Jesus. Many profess love for their fellow man. Many declare God will not condemn them because they are good. I'm sorry but all of those claims, and others like them, are all well and good but not reality and what does it mean to "LIVE Scripture"? Does it mean praying to Mary? To saints? Saying the rosary? Believing in the IC? The assumption of Mary? Etc. Etc. Etc. Ad infinitum. I know your response. It will be : "...
the Church has the real power and authority to change things..." but what does it meant to live Scripture
?
I already have been but God promises us we will suffer. Do you know what that produces?
Romans 5: 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
At times we do get down, that struggle between the flesh and spirit that Paul speaks of, but when we remember what Christ suffered all that we go through pales in comparison. One of my favorite colloquial sayings is "rub some dirt in it, you'll be fine"
A beautiful sentiment.
Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Again, I am greatly enjoying our interactions. It is a personal joy for me and I thank you for you willingness to openly discuss our differences. Will any of it bear fruit? Only time will tell.