The Words and Deeds of Christ

Reprinted from SOBRAN’S, November 2000, page 5 ^ | Joseph Sobran

[what's up]

The Apostles had — and could have — no conception of books as we know them

The Apostles had the Old Testament scriptures from which they learned about God. The "tradition" was denigrated by Christ as second-best to the written scripture. Jesus Himself quoted from the Old Testament time and time again. Some of the apostles chose to write letters, etc. to communicate to suffering christians. Every New Testament book is connected to an Apostle in some way.

The author, while I respect his faith, is wrong in placing the Bible on a lesser tier than tradition. He should be praising the Bible fully in this article. He speaks highly of Christ's words. How have Christ's the bulk of Christ's words been communicated through the centuries? The written word.

[ZULU]

There are Catholics and there are Catholics.

Christ died to save all people, not just Catholics, and not just even Christians for that matter. The Cathilic Church, like the Protestant Chruches and Orthodox Churches, may trace their teachings - some of them - back to Christ, but he didn't found any of them. They are human constructs.

Otherwise, a good article.

[Dataman]

But all this raises a question (and here I apologize for offending our Protestant readers). If the Bible is to be our sole guide, why didn’t Christ himself write it?

Actually, He did: John Chapter 1.

Why didn’t he even expressly tell the Apostles to write it, as far as we know?

He foresaw it: John 16: 13-14. He commanded the Apostles to teach followers to observe all His teachings (Matthew 28:20). The statement presumes the existence of written accounts.

Why did he leave so much to chance?

Catholics believe Jesus is God. How does God leave anything to chance?

Yet he said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” And so far this certainly appears true, though we know of no measures on his part to see to it that his words would be preserved.

The statement would seem to be true if we could separate His deity from His humanity. But Jesus wasn't just a man, was he?

[kitkat]

***Pardon me if I am being thick or obtuse, but, is he saying at the end that if I am not a Catholic I cannot be saved? That makes me scowl.***

Obviously, a merciful God would judge us on who we are and how we have arrived at our beliefs. And, most certainly, how we have used our lives to do good.

The Catholic Church says that if you KNOW the Catholic Church to be the true church, and yet deny it, you shall not be saved. I believe what that means is that if you go against your beliefs for some earthly gain such as impressing your employer; gaining entry to a country club; winning votes; etc. then you are dishonest and will not be saved.

It all comes down to are you honest or dishonest. Any person acting in good faith and leading a good life will be saved.

[Dataman]

But all this raises a question (and here I apologize for offending our Protestant readers). If the Bible is to be our sole guide, why didn’t Christ himself write it?

Actually, He did: John Chapter 1.

Why didn’t he even expressly tell the Apostles to write it, as far as we know?

He foresaw it: John 16: 13-14. He commanded the Apostles to teach followers to observe all His teachings (Matthew 28:20). The statement presumes the existence of written accounts.

Why did he leave so much to chance?

Catholics believe Jesus is God. How does God leave anything to chance?

Yet he said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” And so far this certainly appears true, though we know of no measures on his part to see to it that his words would be preserved.

The statement would seem to be true if we could separate His deity from His humanity. But Jesus wasn't just a man, was he?

[bondserv]

Good gets there Dataman.

You would think he could run this by one of his Protestant friends that actually studies the Bible, before he published this. He wrongly offends those who follow the Words of Christ over all others.

Other than his following after the "Traditions of Men" mistakes, the article raises some good points.

[netmilsmom]

>>The one True Church - I believe is the one where anyone who believes in Jesus as the Christ, The Father, and the Holy Spirit. That Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to concur everlasting death. It should not matter what "church" you belong to, I believe that as long as you believe what is written, then you shall be saved. In fact, I do believe that the Bible tells me just that, because in the beginning, there were numerous churches - a different one for each city - ergo the different letters from Paul and Timothy.<<

I love you soooo much!!! You my FRiend have put into words what I have always believed but could not express so beautifully. Thank you!!

[responder]

Uhh, Jesus, in fact, started the only church. The one he referred to when speaking to Peter. There is only 1 church and that is the one with Jesus as the head where we call no man father but He that is in heaven (Jesus's words).

[Fester Chugabrew]

"One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism."

In the end we will see that each of us, due to oiur sinful nature, have been inclined to speak where God has not spoken, and failed to speak (or believe) where He has.

This film, The Passion of the Christ, will serve well in bringing together Christians of this current age, because it accurately reflects what is written in the Gospels for our comfort and learning.

When I hear the word "Catholic" I understand it to mean "universal". There can no more be two Churches than there can be two Christs. Through faith in Christ Jesus you and I are as much partakers of His glory as anyone else who trusts in His sacrificial death and resurrection.

In this life, however, the Faith will be played out in many ways as we see it. God sees His Son, and those who believe in Him, and that is what matters most.

[Dataman]

He wrongly offends those who follow the Words of Christ over all others.

I really don't get the sense that he is trying to be offensive, but as is evidenced by the Catholic/Protestant feuds on FR, Catholics generally misunderstand Protestants as much as Protestants generally misunderstand Catholics. Another difficulty is that the spectrum of Catholic opinion is about as wide as the spectrum of Protestant opinion: from flaccid liberalism to tightly-wound fundamentalism. Good thing for all of us (but maybe not for the liberals) that God never changes and the Bible remains the same.

[tekriter]

Catholics believe that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ in Mt 16:18. Other Christians find this to be a "hard saying" (Jn 6:60).

I invite those who would like to know the arguments for the Catholic belief to read An Interactive Detective Story by Tony Kovach.

[responder]

That is a real stretch to build a denomination on. My belief is based on that scripture also and it does not include the Catholic church. The church is built upon on the Christ not on Peter.

[ZULU]

Uhh, that church is not the Catholic Church, or the Episcopalian Church, etc. Its Christ's Church and all Christians regardless of individual sect, belong to it.

[responder]

That was my point. The only church is the one where Christ is the one and only head. I think we agree completely. For one group to call themselves the only Christians is ludicrous. We all should strive to be as inclusive as possible by spreading the Gospel to as many as will listen. Where someone attends services is irrelevant as long as He is proclaimed as Lord and Savior and the Biblical plan of salvation is taught and adhered to.

[Elsie]

(Try writing a single sentence that anyone could mistake for a saying of Christ for even a century.)

Well..... you can sure tell he ain't MORMON!

[bondserv]

I really don't get the sense that he is trying to be offensive, but as is evidenced by the Catholic/Protestant feuds on FR, Catholics generally misunderstand Protestants as much as Protestants generally misunderstand Catholics. Another difficulty is that the spectrum of Catholic opinion is about as wide as the spectrum of Protestant opinion: from flaccid liberalism to tightly-wound fundamentalism. Good thing for all of us (but maybe not for the liberals) that God never changes and the Bible remains the same.

Well said.

[ZULU]

I guess we both agree. That makes a lot of sense to me.

[responder]

Great. I get tired of all the Catholic/Protestant arguments. I find neither of these descriptive of me. I am not protesting anything; neither do I need someone to tell me what I should believe. The Bible is, as stated, its' own witness as stated in 1 Timothy 3:16-17.