Yes, we Catholics believe that we are saved by grace, but that doesn't address the questions of the op.
Yes well we have seen your lack of logic in the way you interpret scripture. It is very flawed.I was raised as a Catholic, but was steered away from the Catholic church by a nCCs. I was told not to listen to what the Catholic church says but what scripture says. Scripture alone, I was told, is a Christian's final/sole authority.
It took me over 25 years as born again nCCs before I realized that I still wasn't listening to what scripture was saying; I was again listening to what a church was telling me.
Stepping back and looking at Christianity as a whole what I see are 100's of voices/churches out there all telling me what I should believe as a Christian.
So my question is how does a Christian know what is the truth? How can a Christian know which church is teaching the truth?
Following man no matter what denomination and the RCC is just a denomination is folly. Your problem is you never listen to God.No, I am looking for the truth. Yes, God's word is the truth. But interpretations of God's word is not necessarily the truth.
Oh how you have changed your tune on this point. You said it was not enough, that there was more required.Yes, we Catholics believe that we are saved by grace, but that doesn't address the questions of the op.
I will add most of scripture does not need any interpretation at all. Do not kill. Follow Jesus. Do not be sexually immoral. Flee sexual sins. Love the Lord your God with all your heart etc. Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross for us. That is not hard. Do not meat human flesh, not hard to understand. Do not consume blood, not hard to understand. Stay married, do not sleep around when married. Not hard to understand. I mean I have paraphrased scripture but it is not hard to understand.Following man no matter what denomination and the RCC is just a denomination is folly. Your problem is you never listen to God.
yes we have seen the body and it not acting under the guidance of the HS. The HS would never have condoned the murdering of others, which your institution has done for centuries and that is because it followed the way of the Romans and not Jesus. The HS would never condone the hiding of sins, but your leaders have actually done that. The HS would never say pray to anyone other than God, which your leaders have authorized that. So many things your institution does, which prove it is not guided by the HS.I've been a practicing Catholic by the grace of God, since the day I was born 60 odd years ago. I clearly see a 'catholic' Church everywhere in the Scriptures in a hierarchy of authority passed on by the Apostles to Paul and the subsequent evangelists and then to local leaders. There is a body arbitrating under the guidance of the Holy Spirit on matters under contention, resolved for the Christian faithful. ie The Council of Jerusalem. There is a deposit of faith recognising letters and epistles and other writings that conform to Christs teachings and shared among the Christian faithful. The proto Scriptures. The Didache defining a manner of worship and celebrating the Lambs sacrifice.
The idea that all that catholicity was irrelevant to Christian faith after that time will never sway me away from a catholic Church.
Once God opens your eyes, these problems will be gone. ?I was raised as a Catholic, but was steered away from the Catholic church by a nCCs. I was told not to listen to what the Catholic church says but what scripture says. Scripture alone, I was told, is a Christian's final/sole authority.
It took me over 25 years as born again nCCs before I realized that I still wasn't listening to what scripture was saying; I was again listening to what a church was telling me.
Stepping back and looking at Christianity as a whole what I see are 100's of voices/churches out there all telling me what I should believe as a Christian.
So my question is how does a Christian know what is the truth? How can a Christian know which church is teaching the truth?
I've been a practicing Catholic by the grace of God, since the day I was born 60 odd years ago. I clearly see a 'catholic' Church everywhere in the Scriptures in a hierarchy of authority passed on by the Apostles to Paul and the subsequent evangelists and then to local leaders. There is a body arbitrating under the guidance of the Holy Spirit on matters under contention, resolved for the Christian faithful. ie The Council of Jerusalem. There is a deposit of faith recognising letters and epistles and other writings that conform to Christs teachings and shared among the Christian faithful. The proto Scriptures. The Didache defining a manner of worship and celebrating the Lambs sacrifice.
The idea that all that catholicity was irrelevant to Christian faith after that time will never sway me away from a catholic Church.
Practiced in the sense that I did what my parents did and believed what my parents believed. Then I did what the Church did an believed what the Church believed. As an older person developed by spiritual direction and scripture study, I try to do what Jesus did and believe in His teaching. But that discipline and obedience were gifted to me by first my parents and second by the Church and I've not abandoned either of those authorities mainly now so that I can model them for my children and grandchildren. Practice meets different needs at different times of your faith life.Just so I understand what you have written, how can you have been a practicing Catholic since the day you were born? I'm struggling with understanding how an infant can practice anything other then crying to be fed and pooping their diaper...(the last is tongue in cheek so please don't be offended).
It's not called discipline; rather, it's called indoctrination. I've been there; until I picked up a Bible, read it and believed it.Practiced in the sense that I did what my parents did and believed what my parents believed. Then I did what the Church did an believed what the Church believed. As an older person developed by spiritual direction and scripture study, I try to do what Jesus did and believe in His teaching. But that discipline and obedience were gifted to me by first my parents and second by the Church and I've not abandoned either of those authorities mainly now so that I can model them for my children and grandchildren. Practice meets different needs at different times of your faith life.
Anyone can claim that God opened their eyes and now they know the truth.Once God opens your eyes, these problems will be gone. ?
Yes Jesus said, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."There is only one body, and those who are in the body of Christ are set free from the bondage of sin. Knowing the truth is a CONSEQUENCE of being set free. In other words, it is the truth itself that sets one free, not the knowledge of the truth.
As long as one places knowledge above the truth, they're lost. Any and all churches which place knowledge as the fundamental way to find the truth are hopelessly deceived.
Yes, we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus and we believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead.Does this clarify any:
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Just human institutions or humans too?Here is something that will help you:
Cursed is the man who trusts in man.
It is important not to trust human institutions to be one's security.
If you feel insecure—seek God in prayer until you find him.
The same way that rc's can claim that they are Christians. just because you say so dont make it so.Anyone can claim that God opened their eyes and now they know the truth.
But that works both ways. Christians can claim that we are not Christians, or that our teachings are in error but just because they say so doesn't make it so.The same way that rc's can claim that they are Christians. just because you say so dont make it so.
Practiced in the sense that I did what my parents did and believed what my parents believed. Then I did what the Church did an believed what the Church believed. As an older person developed by spiritual direction and scripture study, I try to do what Jesus did and believe in His teaching.
But that discipline and obedience were gifted to me by first my parents and second by the Church and I've not abandoned either of those authorities mainly now so that I can model them for my children and grandchildren. Practice meets different needs at different times of your faith life.
Yep. They sure can.Anyone can claim that God opened their eyes and now they know the truth.