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.
What's your address so I can send a pledge form?
***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?***
I am simply saying that since the English words that are in your Bible didn’t exist and they vary from Bible to Bible anyway, that the words that some do worship aren’t God’s - they are translations of translations of translation. In other words, they are the best attempts of fallible men to write the infallible word of God in our language as it is today. The truths are contained within - at least the best translations such as the NAB :) - but the individual words are not necessarily as God would have had written in the original Greek (NT) and Hebrew (OT).
Many Protestants will point at the KJV or NKJV or NIV or... and say that the specific words or phrases mean exactly something based upon their understanding of those words or phrases even though they differ from other translations and therefore somebody else will come up with a different understanding. How can somebody worship words which differ from translation to translation?
***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.***
As do all sincere Christians.
*** 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.***
Then I and other Catholics have fallen short of the mark for being unable to get you to understand it. It is our failing, not yours. It is our burden and something that we shall answer for to Him.
***Am I a member of what you call “God’s Church”? This is how we find out if your side claims ownership over anything.***
The Vatican has said that valid baptism makes you a member, but distancing one’s self from the Catholic Church may imperil one’s soul. We do not own God - we are the creatures of God. We do not attempt to individually define God - we accept His Church’s teachings. Is FK going to eternal salvation? I would certainly think so, but that is entirely up to God. We have God’s Church and the statements of Jesus and the Apostles and the Church Fathers.
I will not play chicken with my soul by gainsaying or second guessing the Apostles and the Church Fathers.