The Jesus Christ Appreciation and Worship Thread

[Warhammer]

I have a question for Catholics who visit this thread or anyone who wants to offer input. This is not a question to bait a Catholic. I seriously want to know.

Why is the Catholic church infallible? Specifically, why is the Church the ultimate interpreter of the Bible? Often I will talk to a Catholic friend or read on the internet where a sentence will start off with "According to the Church..." or "The teachings of the Church say that..."

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

why is the Church the ultimate interpreter of the Bible? Often I will talk to a Catholic friend or read on the internet where a sentence will start off with "According to the Church..." or "The teachings of the Church say that..."

Infallibility

I'm not a Catholic myself, but I admire the Catholic Church in many ways. Especially when it comes to gay marriage, pornography, euthanasia and abortion.

 

[The Silent Traveler]

Hey Christians or Believers,

My good friend will be baptized as a Mormon next month. I'm agnostic all my life and I feel concerned that she would be fallen in the wrong place if she digs deep. I respect her choice but I just don't feel comfortable with its belief.

I have a question for you. What should I do? What are your thoughts on Mormonism? Why is it not considered a true Christianity?

 

[Marvolo]

I have a question for Catholics who visit this thread or anyone who wants to offer input. This is not a question to bait a Catholic. I seriously want to know.

Why is the Catholic church infallible? Specifically, why is the Church the ultimate interpreter of the Bible? Often I will talk to a Catholic friend or read on the internet where a sentence will start off with "According to the Church..." or "The teachings of the Church say that..."

Not a Catholic. In fact, I'm not even baptised. Just so you know where I stand.

This is what I've gathered, The Church predates the Bible as we know it. The Bible was put together through a number of councils headed by the Church. They didn't write the books, but they brought them together. This is historical fact. This next bit can't be historically confirmed so it's a matter of what you believe. The Church according to the Gospels and legend is built upon Peter and the Church claims to be able to trace their lineage all the way back to him. In short to those who believe in that, there is no question a Catholic should follow the Church. It was set up by Peter as Christ dictated. Also they believe the Holy Spirit guides the Church. If the Church says something then it was guided by the Holy Spirit to do so.

 

[Warhammer]

Very good explanation. And that goes back to that infallibility link that was posted. I disagree but that figures since I'm not a Catholic.

For back story on why I asked the above question, it came about from a conversation I had with my friend (she is Catholic). We started talking about sex randomly. Eventually she said that mutual *********ion is a sin. I let it go but when I got home, I started doing my research. Now I know about the sin of Onan from Genesis. What kills me is how it has been interpreted in the Catholic Church and how the idea came about. Honestly, around 500 years ago, a guy said "This is how it should be interpreted" and the Church then adopts it into it's dogma. Now, every single Catholic who doesn't follow this is committing a mortal sin. I don't get it.

I honestly could start a whole thread about this but it'll be shut down in minutes. And eventually, someone will eventually shut me down in this thread because this is a worship thread even though every other Christianity-related thread gets locked.

 

[rodhulk]

Hey Christians or Believers,

My good friend will be baptized as a Mormon next month. I'm agnostic all my life and I feel concerned that she would be fallen in the wrong place if she digs deep. I respect her choice but I just don't feel comfortable with its belief.

I have a question for you. What should I do? What are your thoughts on Mormonism? Why is it not considered a true Christianity?

Well, your friend doesn't believe in a sure foundation, something they can check to make sure things are correct. In other words, they don't see the Bible as being that sure foundation. They think the Bible is full of contradictions. Let them see this link: http://thedevineevidence.com/skeptic_contradictions.html

Hopefully they can see that the Bible may not be that full of contradictions after all. If there are answers to all these in the links, then perhaps there are answers to other supposed contradictions.
Let them know that they should check the Bible to make final doctrinal positions just as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11) because all scripture is God breathed (from God himself - 2 Timothy 3:16) and that Jesus, as per the Bible, is the only way to eternal life (John 14:6 and Romans 10:9-10). They need to believe on the real Jesus the Bible presents, that he is indeed our one and only savior.

Hope this helps.

 

[rodhulk]

As for who is the best interpreter of the Bible from some scriptures above, my best advise, be it God's will, is yourself - but via the Holy Spirit who will lead you. In effect, if you seek honestly and ask God to lead you, you should make the decisions on interpreting the Bible on your own. Of course you can seek others to help you (including the Church) but it would be best to always make sure that whatever leads you to something, whether you feel it is the Holy Spirit or the Church, always be like the Berean Jews and check the scriptures to make sure everything is in harmony with the Bible - see Acts 17:11. It is scripture that is God breathed - see 2 Timothy 3:16. If you feel okay what you are being taught and no interpretation contradicts the Bible, then perhaps it is okay - but always make your own decisions in the end. Always remember, you are responsible for yourself, not the Church or anybody else - see Romans 14:12 and Ezekiel 18:20.

 

[Warhammer]

I agree. In the past couple of years, I've truly realized that the best interpreter of the Bible is myself. The Holy Spirit is the only mediator I feel that I need, all due respect to the Church, any church, or religious authority/figure.

And thank you for those verses, rodhulk. It's a nice reference for the future.

 

[rodhulk]

I agree. In the past couple of years, I've truly realized that the best interpreter of the Bible is myself. The Holy Spirit is the only mediator I feel that I need, all due respect to the Church, any church, or religious authority/figure.

And thank you for those verses, rodhulk. It's a nice reference for the future.

Hey Warhammer, I added two other verses to the post that I think you might like as they definitely make YOU (but via asking God through the Holy Spirit which you are correct on) the best interpreter, that you are responsible for yourself - not the Church or anybody else - though it's definitely more than okay (and perhaps even best - at least sometimes) to check the Church (or religious authority/figure) since God does work through them. But make your own decisions as per the Holy Spirit above since as mentioned, you are responsible for yourself in the end - see Romans 14:12 and Ezekiel 18:20.

 

[Hush]

For a bit of levity, I am practicing lent for the first time as I just started going to mass even though I wasn't raised catholic. I was raised non denominational and have recently decided to attend catholic mass with my gf but back to the point I gave up soda off lent, I have a serious addiction to it so it was big for me to give it up, but I had a few mixed drinks the other night and it had soda in it. Now I was just sitting today thinking oh isht I messed up, did I break my Lenten promise? I'm being serious and kinda laughing about it but I have been so good and I just didn't catch it til Sunday morning and I was trying to take this seriously and I just feel like a screw up even though it was just an accident. Hope you guys get a laugh. I know I'm kinda having one at the whole deal.

 

[random_havoc]

I agree. In the past couple of years, I've truly realized that the best interpreter of the Bible is myself. The Holy Spirit is the only mediator I feel that I need, all due respect to the Church, any church, or religious authority/figure.

If all that any individual needed for interpretation was him/herself and the Holy Spirit then there wouldn't need to be any Christians given the spiritual gift of teaching (pastors). Read through Paul's writings, he was constantly correcting Christians in the churches. Part of the importance of the God's command to go to church regularly (Heb 10:25,26) is so that we can be taught by those spiritually gifted and studied in the scriptures.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

I agree.

 

[Destructus86]

If all that any individual needed for interpretation was him/herself and the Holy Spirit then there wouldn't need to be any Christians given the spiritual gift of teaching (pastors). Read through Paul's writings, he was constantly correcting Christians in the churches. Part of the importance of the God's command to go to church regularly (Heb 10:25,26) is so that we can be taught by those spiritually gifted and studied in the scriptures.

Not only that, but studying some of the top Theologians like NT Wright helps a lot because he uses historical and cultural context instead of shoehorning everything into future events.

 

[random_havoc]

Not only that, but studying some of the top Theologians like NT Wright helps a lot because he uses historical and cultural context instead of shoehorning everything into future events.

Hear hear

 

[Warhammer]

I hear y'all on that. I'm not neglecting what religious authority says. Anything that is said can only fine tune my own opinion. If I need guidance or more information on the matter, it's what I can lean on. With that said, my point was that just because the Church or a pastor interprets something in the Bible as _____ or says that something is right or wrong, that doesn't mean I have to automatically follow that same way of thinking. Like rodhulk said, ultimately, I have to make up my own mind on what to believe. It's my responsibility and mine alone come Judgment Day. At the end of the day, we all have a unique relationship with the Lord.

Tell me that I haven't made a good point there.

 

[random_havoc]

That I agree with. We should be taught by our siblings in Christ and church leaders but accept nothing blindly from anyone. We have to search the scriptures ourselves to make sure it's true

 

[NickNitro]

I agree. In the past couple of years, I've truly realized that the best interpreter of the Bible is myself. The Holy Spirit is the only mediator I feel that I need, all due respect to the Church, any church, or religious authority/figure.

And thank you for those verses, rodhulk. It's a nice reference for the future.

This

 

[Apollo]

For a bit of levity, I am practicing lent for the first time as I just started going to mass even though I wasn't raised catholic. I was raised non denominational and have recently decided to attend catholic mass with my gf but back to the point I gave up soda off lent, I have a serious addiction to it so it was big for me to give it up, but I had a few mixed drinks the other night and it had soda in it. Now I was just sitting today thinking oh isht I messed up, did I break my Lenten promise? I'm being serious and kinda laughing about it but I have been so good and I just didn't catch it til Sunday morning and I was trying to take this seriously and I just feel like a screw up even though it was just an accident. Hope you guys get a laugh. I know I'm kinda having one at the whole deal.

I am observing lent too. I'm eating no meat, eggs or dairy of any kind. Now my 4th day in, my brother made popcorn and I eat some, not realizing that it contained butter. Whoops. But I didn't kick myself over it. I'm simply doing the best I can and after 20 days so far that was the only accident that I am aware of. It is very hard since pretty much everything has some sort of meat or dairy in it. So I have to cook and prepare everything my self at home. If it was an accident I don't see you breaking your promise. Just do the best you can and Persevere you can do it.

 

[squeekness]

For a bit of levity, I am practicing lent for the first time as I just started going to mass even though I wasn't raised catholic. I was raised non denominational and have recently decided to attend catholic mass with my gf but back to the point I gave up soda off lent, I have a serious addiction to it so it was big for me to give it up, but I had a few mixed drinks the other night and it had soda in it. Now I was just sitting today thinking oh isht I messed up, did I break my Lenten promise? I'm being serious and kinda laughing about it but I have been so good and I just didn't catch it til Sunday morning and I was trying to take this seriously and I just feel like a screw up even though it was just an accident. Hope you guys get a laugh. I know I'm kinda having one at the whole deal.

LOL, the thing is my RCIA (Adult religious Ed for Catholics) said that it is only really worth it to give up something that would result in bringing you closer to God. He was telling us an amusing story about how he gave up smoking for Lent but he became such an a-hole from all the cravings even his wife told him to start again. Lent is individual to the person so there is no right or wrong, but you could ask the question -- did skipping soda bring you any closer to God? As opposed to maybe reading more Scripture or spending some time in a soup kitchen or trying to do one thing for someone else a day? That sort of thing might have been more instructive, lol, than skipping soda or even trying to quit smoking.

 

[Human Torch]

I've always been a bit dubious as to fasting. I never want to feel as if I'm doing "works" in that way, that I might feel proud - even subconsciously. The most I do when it comes to fasting is to fast from the internet on holy days.

 

[Apollo]

LOL, the thing is my RCIA (Adult religious Ed for Catholics) said that it is only really worth it to give up something that would result in bringing you closer to God. He was telling us an amusing story about how he gave up smoking for Lent but he became such an a-hole from all the cravings even his wife told him to start again. Lent is individual to the person so there is no right or wrong, but you could ask the question -- did skipping soda bring you any closer to God? As opposed to maybe reading more Scripture or spending some time in a soup kitchen or trying to do one thing for someone else a day? That sort of thing might have been more instructive, lol, than skipping soda or even trying to quit smoking.

The Mighty Squeek! Has Spoken!

 

[The Silent Traveler]

Well, your friend doesn't believe in a sure foundation, something they can check to make sure things are correct. In other words, they don't see the Bible as being that sure foundation. They think the Bible is full of contradictions. Let them see this link: http://thedevineevidence.com/skeptic_contradictions.html

Hopefully they can see that the Bible may not be that full of contradictions after all. If there are answers to all these in the links, then perhaps there are answers to other supposed contradictions.
Let them know that they should check the Bible to make final doctrinal positions just as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11) because all scripture is God breathed (from God himself - 2 Timothy 3:16) and that Jesus, as per the Bible, is the only way to eternal life (John 14:6 and Romans 10:9-10). They need to believe on the real Jesus the Bible presents, that he is indeed our one and only savior.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for answering my question. Yeah, Are there any good sources such as websites, documentaries, and etc. that suggests why Mormonism is not Christian? You can probably PM me if you have any good sources relating to it. Thanks

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I appreciate Jesus Christ but I don't worship him.

 

[Warhammer]

When people gives up certain foods for lent, is that really taking lent seriously? I understand that a certain few will use the "my body is a temple for the Holy Spirit" explanation, but is giving up ice cream for 40 days just an excuse to shed pounds in God's name? Was ice cream somehow hindering your relationship with God?

"Oh s***, I don't have time for church on Sunday but I do have time for a sundae."
"Can't pray. Too busy eating that Rocky Road, God."

 

[The_Harvest]

I appreciate Jesus Christ but I don't worship him.

So why did you enter and post in a thread titled "The Jesus Christ Appreciation and Worship Thread" ?