Sorry, Dutchboy88, but from a Catholic perspective all those denominations arguing over the interpretations of Scripture, correcting each other “based on the best persuasive arguments for authorial intent” and holding themselves up as authorities on Scripture while criticizing all those who don’t enjoy “grappling with the text” sound a bit more like Pharisees than Christians.
Catholics believe Christ promised to guide His Church and prevent it from teaching error in matters of faith. We see no problem in accepting authority: God’s, Christ’s, and the Apostles and their successors (the Pope’s). Why would Christ set up a tower of Babel when it came to setting up His Church? He would be clear, authoritative, and sensible. He is God and anything He established would be WELL established. What Protestants do with the Bible sounds like enslavement to me: constant bickering and refuting and negotiating about what each little line means without examining it in context and from the historical perspective. Sounds like Protestants are guided by persuasive arguments when interpreting the Bible. Gosh, what happens when there are TWO persuasive Bible interpreters in the same room?
The devil makes very persuasive arguments too. Persuasiveness is no litmus test for understanding God’s will for us. Abraham was not noted for being “persuasive”. Moses wasn’t very persuasive at all. The Jews often stopped doing what he told them God wanted. Hmmm, the Apostles: not one was known for being persuasive. None of them were even known for being well educated in Scripture. They often got it wrong in trying to understand what Christ was telling them. Only after the visit from the Holy Spirit did the Apostles become persuasive. Only then did they have the authority burning in their hearts and minds that was the gift of the Holy Spirit. Christ gave them the authority and promised He would continue to guide them as His Church.
The Holy Spirit is guiding every Pope to teach Truth on matters of faith. When the Pope speaks to us on matters of faith, we believe he is just as guided by the Holy Spirit as the authors of the Bible were, and as the Apostles were.
Rome was on the shore with Christ. Rome was told it would be fishing for men. Rome was told it would not be left an orphan by God’s Son. We put our faith in what the Apostles told us about Christ and the Church. They told us the authority passes to the successors of Peter.
We don’t need a “persuasive” fellow to tell us what to think about the Bible.
Sorry, Melian, that is precisely the point. If you are relying on the Scriptures to promise that, your guyes running the cult don't agree with you. They will decide what it is that your faith is. The pope is to be followed even when "new" revelation is given through his pointy hat. You folks are destiny-bound to accept whatever kook-ball direction that takes you. Read that...this is just how the Catholics strayed so far from the message of grace that is already in the Book that started this. We at least have a returning point...you guys are cut adrift to float ever further from the shore. Repent, Rome, if you can.