[jo kus]

In my previous 15,445, addressed TO YOU, I said: "... This is well stated. My first advice would be to get away from thinking that on the one hand there is Catholicism and on the other is Protestantism. Catholicism is a self-contained monolithic faith. Protestantism is nothing like that. ..." (emphasis added)

That might be difficult to do, since history sees the Church as one organization that saw numerous heterodox groups fall away from community with this one unit. Thus, it will seem like an "us" vs. "them". The gist of the discussion is that there is no central authority in "non-Catholic" Christian groups (I exclude Orthodox from this discussion because I consider them "catholic" in regards to the articles of faith). Even the Bible is not a central authority, because, as you jokingly point out, different groups bash each other and get nowhere. That is because the individual, not the Bible, is the point of authority. That is because each "Protestant" sees himself led by the Spirit.

To continue, nothing you posted mentions anything about the Holy Spirit giving the individual bible study interpretations. Naturally, we will become more holy by the Spirit's work in us, but it is not suggested anywhere that this is a RESULT of reading the Bible, but rather, of having the Spirit working within us! Thus, your connection or definition of sanctification vis a vis bible study is incorrect. Sanctification is about "making the soil more productive to bear the fruit". That doesn't mean one will have more book knowledge about the Scriptures. As I said before, even illiterate people are quite capable - MORE SO - of being made sanctified (because they have fewer impediments to keep them from dying to selves. People of the First World have a more difficult time doing this)

Regards

[Forest Keeper]

Naturally, we will become more holy by the Spirit's work in us, but it is not suggested anywhere that this is a RESULT of reading the Bible, but rather, of having the Spirit working within us! Thus, your connection or definition of sanctification vis a vis bible study is incorrect. Sanctification is about "making the soil more productive to bear the fruit". That doesn't mean one will have more book knowledge about the Scriptures.

Of course it is the Spirit working within us! :) He is Who leads us to read the Bible in the first place. You appear to be making this an either/or situation. All I'm trying to say is that learning the scriptures is a good part of sanctification. You appear to be saying that learning God's word is "nice", but not really important in terms of a person's Christian education. I understand that to be a Roman Catholic view, and I respectfully disagree with it. I understand the Roman Catholic view to be that the most important thing is to learn the Tradition of men FIRST, and then if people want to read the Bible on side issues it is tolerated to a degree.