How does this "prove" anything? I don't need an elaborate answer, but at least acknowledge that I asked it, think a little bit, and give me a simple answer.
P.S. Please no more all caps. Remember that doing that is interpreted as the same as yelling.
How does this "prove" anything? I don't need an elaborate answer, but at least acknowledge that I asked it, think a little bit, and give me a simple answer.
P.S. Please no more all caps. Remember that doing that is interpreted as the same as yelling.
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I don't believe I can fruitfully convince of anything when the construction on reality is so dead set against a different reality. I'm inadequate to the task.
To me, it's exceedingly simple.
Give a tribal group the Scriptures only--orally. Return some weeks to months later and a I Cor 12-14 Church is alive and well including healings, deliverance, miracles.
NO bureaucracy did it.
NO thousands of encyclicals did it.
NO college of Cardinals did it.
NO papal pontifications did it.
NO prayers to Mary and a thousand other saints did it.
NOfaithful enactments of 100's of rituals and ceremonies did it.
NO magesterium and related pontifications did it.
NO idol veneration, attention thereto, adoration or worship did it.
NO edifices of tradition did it.
NO endless lists of formal bureaucratic customs, edicts and obediences did it.
NO 100's of 'Hail Mary's' did it.
NO 100's of 'Our Father's' did it.
NO amount of crawling on knees on marble floors and steps to kiss the well worn toes of papal statues did it.
NO amount of candle burning did it.
NO amount of women's covered heads did it.
. . .
. . .
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No. Construing ALL CAPS as yelling is a common convention. It's not the only possible one. We each have choices of how we construe stimuli.
I happen to not prefer that construction on net reality. I recognize I'm in a minority. That's OK. I'm sure many other posts by many other posters would be much more comfortable to read for the ALL CAPS allergic.
It doesn't need to "prove" anything. We are commanded to preach the Gospel to all men, in season and out of season. God takes care of insuring the Gospel accomplishes everything He wills.
By virtue of Scripture being God's holy word and His instructions for correct living, then all the world profits by its proclamation.
But most assuredly, all whom have been appointed to eternal life will hear the Gospel with ears given by God, know the truth with a new heart given by God, and understand that their salvation has come about because Jesus Christ has mercifully paid for their sins in total, eternally, once for all time, as God ordained from before the foundation of the world.
"And when the gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." -- Acts 13:48