***I know we disagree on whether God’s word is sufficient for us, but if we agree that “God’s word” is God’s word, then that is a matter of stark disagreement with the Orthodox.***
Bibliolatry again? The Bible contains what God wanted to tell us through the Bible. To say that each and every word of the (insert version here) Bible is absolutely God’s word is crazy.
For instance, the NAB starts out with:
Gen 1:1
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth
and finishes with:
Rev 22:21
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
Exactly none of these words were even in existence when the first versions of the Bible were written down. How can anyone claim that these are the words of God exactly as dictated when these words didn’t even exist at the time.
We believe that the truths of God are contained in the Bible - well some of the versions anyway - we’ve had prior discussions over what constitutes a good and a bad translation, but that these are words according to men.
***Unfortunately, some folks have seen fit to claim sole ownership of it as it was a means to consolidate power, imo. God’s Church has all believers as members.***
That’s where the Protestant mindset is so obviously wrong. We don’t claim ownership over anything. We belong to God and are made in His image; we have not made Him in our own image, put Him on the hall stand and rub His head for luck when we walk by.
Believers? Believers in what? What level of heresy does one need to attain before one ceases to be regarded by God as a believer? As one goes from LCMS to ELCA to Methodist to UCC to UU, where is the dividing line? The Missouri Synod Lutherans are sometimes more Catholic than a lot of Catholics. Are they Christians? Sure. But how far away from the defined Church does one feel free to wander before one is not a believer in the Triune God of Christianity?
***We are OK, though, since the Bible prepares us for the treatment we have received from your Church to this day.***
How does it do that? By marinading overnight in the fridge? :)
Bibliolatry again? The Bible contains what God wanted to tell us through the Bible. To say that each and every word of the (insert version here) Bible is absolutely God’s word is crazy.
If you are accusing me of Bibliolitry for saying this, then perhaps I made a mistake about you. ............. I don't know what you mean when you say that words in the Bible "didn't exist". Do you mean that since English hadn't been invented yet that our Bibles must be wrong?
FK: ***Unfortunately, some folks have seen fit to claim sole ownership of it as it was a means to consolidate power, imo. God’s Church has all believers as members.***
That’s where the Protestant mindset is so obviously wrong. We don’t claim ownership over anything. We belong to God and are made in His image; we have not made Him in our own image, put Him on the hall stand and rub His head for luck when we walk by.
OK, Mark. I confess the truth of Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and my God. He is the only begotten Son and He came to earth to save me from my sins. He died and was resurrected, and He lives today! I am a lowly sinner and I need His forgiveness. I have asked Him to come into my life to be my God and to lead me in all things. I also totally reject the earthly authority of the Pope as I understand Catholicism claims it, and I reject the vast majority of Roman Catholic theology as I understand it. Am I a member of what you call "God's Church"? This is how we find out if your side claims ownership over anything.