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To: D-fendr; daniel1212
No, unless by autocratic you mean the teaching of Christ as transmitted to His Apostles. Holy Scripture is integral to the Church. The beliefs are the same, that's partly how the Church chose what to include - they teach the same things.

Sure, all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work, but Scripture is far more than a book or theology, reducing God and His plan for us to a set of facts to be lined up and picked off and when you get them all, you're good.

Scripture has been called God's love letter to us. God doesn't want us to merely know about Him but to know Him. Demons know facts about God but are not in relationship with Him.

All this debate about theology misses the main points of the fact that Scripture is God communicating with us. We are washed of water with the word. God's word can be hidden in the heart that we might not sin against Him. As we meditate on His word, whatever we do prospers. The word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God speaks to us through His word to guide us in situations, to give us guidance, to bring us comfort.

The Bible is not merely an historical account, a book of theology, to be analyzed and expounded upon, and tested on. What an affront to God and the heart of God, and to His Word.

When some take the same source to mean something contrary, like no real presence in the Eucharist, the Church holds to the truth.

You know what? If the real presence is in the communion elements, they are there whether anyone believes it or not. If they're not there, then all the believing in the world doesn't make them there. The facts of the matter stand apart in their own reality, whether anyone believes them or not.

You believe that they are there, I don't. I see it as a ceremony of remembrance.

One of us is right and one of us is wrong and some day, we'll find out who.

But it certainly isn't because some group of men are self-proclaimed authorities and have decided that it's so.

241 posted on 03/03/2013 10:57:20 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: metmom
All this debate about theology misses the main points..

I agree with a great many of your points here. Debate on theology must not mean we think our main purpose is to get the theology right. It is about love as you say.

If the real presence is in the communion elements, they are there whether anyone believes it or not.

We read St. Paul to say not discerning the body has consequences. You likely know that Holy Eucharist is the at the center of our worship.

I'm kinda disagreeing with you here, because I don't think this is just theology (the how, transubstantiation, consubstatiation.. is definitely theology). We believe it is important beyond the theology.

But in the main, I am solidly behind your position in your post and thank you for posting it.

243 posted on 03/03/2013 11:06:58 AM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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