The Lady of Fatima: Has Mary Appeared in Visions?

The levity aside the answer is there. The Scripture OT/NT was given by God to His People, the Jews and the Gentiles grafted on later that were called by God to belief. It is a story of salvation through the innocent suffering and death of the Son of God for the sins of the world and the triumphal resurrection victory over death and satan by the selfsame Lord Jesus, the King of Kings. The same who will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.

I know this will offends some Catholics/Orthodox it shouldn't. The Church of God is all believers on Him. This encompasses people from every nation and is not exclusive to Rome despite her claim.

The Word of God (Jesus) is recorded in the Scripture. Through the power of the Holy Spirit God enables humans the ability to do His Will. That Word when it goes forth doesn't return without accomplishing His purpose.

The Catholic church had the honor of doing the human task of assembling and collating, but the Holy Spirit did the writing, sanctioning, protecting from error you ascribe to the Catholic Church. But it is God's Word, not the Catholic Church's Word. If those who hear and believe God through His Word use it as directed unencumbered by the mandates of man, Hallelujah!!

As a Catholic, it isn't yours, though you can and some do enjoy the lavish gifts our God has given us His children through His Word. But you don't have the right or the authority to supersede the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you want to boast about the writing, assembling, safeguarding etc of Scripture, boast about the Love of God that allowed the task. Rather, don't boast at all, the tool doesn't brag about its part in the building of an edifice, that honor goes to the Builder.

By the same token, what make “the tool” so despicable?

Did I call the Catholic Church despicable? I'm pretty sure I never have, and I don't have alot of 'never have's left. Perhaps the term comes from those more deeply harmed by the perceived boasting that your original post displayed. Hurt at some time by a lack of Christian charity or humility from some member/official of your church. I don't know, but I would address that question to one who uses the term or a synonym.

The Catholic Church did have the honor of its participation in the earthly tasks of assembling Scripture. But like all things it was a gift from God, something that is a gift shouldn't be the object of hubris.

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