Recently my boss asked me to read a new Christian health book, "Setting Yourself Apart from the Seeds of Cancer", by Morris Keller (and in this economy I'd put on a chiffon dress if my employer asked, so reading a book is easy enough). Both the medical and religious aspects of the book are all over the place, with both being anywhere from old school organic to new age weirdness (although the health aspects are fairly sound). Mr. Keller's theology is rather confusing, but it is enough to say that it does minic that of most non-denom Christians out there.You know the "Jesus is Lord", whatever that means to you
You are "Saved", whatever that means to you
You should be a "servant", whatever that means to you
I do think that is really what denomination most modern Christians belong to,
the "Church of Whatever it Means to You".
While trying to get past the rather muddy theology of the book, I started to realize that if Keller, and most of his readers, would aim that same , and not without merit, distrust for the medical establishment towards their own church's teachings (or lack thereof), they might begin to realize that these unbiblical views are the very cancer trying to attach itself to Christ's body.
Protestantism really is very much like a cancer, in that it in many ways seems like a product of the original body, but is really a collection of mutations which mimic and weaken that which gave it life. A malignancy which constantly changes direction (over 30,ooo denominations!), selfishly growing uncontrollably due to our pride, bad habits and even worse lifestyles.
I am like Dr. Keller, in that I see that to make the body healthy and strong we must give it what God created it to receive, and stop pumping it with artificial ingredients that we've been marketed to desire .
"For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. "
John 6:55
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew
and were not walking with Him anymore
John 6:66
yep, 666
.
John 6:55
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew
and were not walking with Him anymore
John 6:66
yep, 666
6 comments:
Where in the Bible does it mention Christ founded the system of the Roman Catholic Church?
to flip the question back, where does the Bible say it is the only authority?
The Bible's existence does demonstrate the authority of the Church, as we have to believe that same trust we have in God's word extends to those who put it together in the first place...you can not have one without the other.
I wondered if you knew of anything that showed that the Roman Catholic Church was in existence at the time the N.T. was written or was there simply a church at Rome just as there were churches at Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, and other locations as the New Testament indicates.
"to flip the question back, where does the Bible say it is the only authority?"
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine handd, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on they gates." Deuteronomy ch6 vs 6 to 9
Why did God give this commandment to Moses to pass on to Israel?
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, and said to Jesus "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Jesus responded by quoted Scripture.
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew ch4 vs4
Why did Jesus say this to the devil instead of simply using His power to rid himself of the devil?
What did Jesus mean when he spoke those words in verse 4 to the devil?
Further down in the chapter, "Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me."
What does Jesus do then?
"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matthew ch4 vs10
Why did Jesus say "for it is written" if Scripture was not the final authority on the matter?
You said "The Bible's existence does demonstrate the authority of the Church," How does it demonstrate the authority of the church? Wouldn't you say the authority of God is the highest authority? If so, would you accept God's words as written in Scripture as the highest authority?
When Jesus was speaking to Satan in Matthew chapter 4, does Jesus' reply to Satan demonstrate Jesus considered the authority of Scripture as the highest authority? Where in Scripture does God give higher authority to a church than he gives to his own Word?
The very fact that we could throw verses back and forth further demonstrates the need for a teaching authority to interpret scripture for us.
if yer interested in how we got the Bible, try "Where We Got The Bible: Our Debt to the Catholic Church" by Henry Graham, who was a Protestant when he first began to write the book
Interesting how the apostle Peter wrote "for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." 2 Peter ch1 vs21
- New American RC Bible (Saint Joseph Edition)
"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy ch3 vs16,17
RC NAB
Where do these verses tell us Scripture came from?
You may think the Roman Catholic church gave you the Bible because that is what they claim and want you to believe. Where in the Bible does it say anything about the early church being the Roman Catholic Church? A church in Rome existed we know but so did other churches exist in various places. The epistles were addressed to these various churches. What make you think the church in Rome was the pre-eminent church or head church over all the rest in the apostolic age. The papacy actually developed gradually several centuries after Christ. There is no evidence in the Bible or elsewhere that the apostle Peter was ever even in Rome and there is no evidence that the apostles even recognized Peter as a pope. So your claim that the RC church gave us the Bible is without any foundation or evidence. God simply inspired men to write the Scriptures and providentially preserved the Scriptures and distributed them through the various early churches.
Do you believe the Holy Spirit is able to teach believers what the Bible is teaching or do we need someone to interpret it for us? (John chap.16 and 1 John 2:27)
"In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures" 2 Pet.3:16
My friend, are you interested in Truth?, or just defending your own views? I personally have already been where you are, and hope now for all my Protestant brethren to know the peace of entering into the Christ's Church.
If you are interested in truth, start with the early Church fathers, and you will soon find that what they taught in the first few centuries is basically the same as what the Church teaches today.
If there is a Catholic radio station in yer area, see when "Catholic Answers Live" or "Open Line" is on. The hosts are some of the most intelligent and wise Christians you're likely to hear (and many are converts like myself)
Here is a great list of books by mostly converts, recommended by Scott Hahn
http://www.catholiccompany.com/dr-hahn-recommends-c287/
Happy studying
"There are nowadays almost as many sects and creeds as there are heads." Martin Luther on realizing the folly of his Sola Scriptura
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