Posted on 08/15/2013 7:03:11 PM PDT by annalex
Once a woman in the crowd surrounding Christ and His disciples cries out to Him:
Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. (Luke 11:27)
What is it? We have, clearly, an act of venerating Mary. Note that the Blessed Virgin is venerated properly: not on her own but as the mother of Christ. Yet the reason for venerating is indeed concerning: it is her physiological and physiologically unique relationship with Jesus that is emphasized. That is not yet paganism with its crude theories of gods giving birth to other gods, but it is lacking proper focus and Jesus corrects it:
Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it. (Luke 11:28)
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| The Virgin with the Child on her knees and a prophet pointing at the star. Catacomb of Priscilla, late 2nd c. Source |
Having gotten past this linguistic hurdle, we can understand clearly what this passage, Luke 11:27-28, does: it establishes veneration of saints based not on their blood relation to Christ but on their obedience to God. It is in that sense that we venerate Our Lady: given that Christ is the Word of God personified, she heard and kept both Him in person as her Child and His teaching, figuratively. In Mary the essence of sainthood is seen in the flesh as well as in the mind. We could say that by the late second century at the latest, when we find evidence of the veneration of both the prophets and the Mother of God in the catacombs, the two reasons to venerate a saint: his martyrdom as in the case of Polycarp, or his obedience to the Word, as in Mary, -- unite into a single practice.
I know; butt I gotta be me!
Come and take it.
At first glance, Luther's dogma seems clear and simple. But after examining Luther's tradition, one finds that it's self-contradictory, since it isn't biblical.
Moreover, the doctrine presupposes the validity of Luther's canon of Scripture, and his authority to determine the canon of Scripture. Was Luther infallible?
Protestants need to stand back, and try to read Scripture objectively, without presupposing Luther's doctrinal tradition. Reading Scripture objectively is difficult for everyone, since we all approach Scripture with presuppositions. Regardless, doing so will expose the incoherence of Luther's central doctrine.
And that must be one of your favorites since you remembered that line...
If so, then is Rome not subject to God?
Simple intellectual assent? Even the demons believe, and tremble...
Yours is a very clear and simple doctrine, and I understand the psychological appeal. Yet this human tradition of salvation through simple intellectual assent, contradicts countless passages of Scripture, which many Protestants dismiss with a wave of the hand.
This demonstrates another weakness of Luther's self-contradictory doctrine of "the Bible alone." Individual interpretation of Scripture, outside of the maternal guidance of the Church, "the pillar and foundation of truth," results in a proliferation of errors.
"‘Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord" shall enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matt. 7:21)."Assurance of Salvation"I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby justified. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Cor. 4:4)
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" (James 14)
He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31–46)
"Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:22)
"If any one says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20)
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3)
A boat ride??? In Texas??? Your boats must all have wheels...
Jonh 5:24 requires Catohlic belief, not Protestant theological fantasies.
The Jewish law was finished, not everyone's salvation.
It doesn't because salvation is not promised to the unbaptized, or to those who don't receive Catholic Communion. It is an exception if they are saved.
That’s a cool beach-buggy...
I agree that the Church is a world-wide congregation, not a building. You are wrong however to thing that any congregation of people professing some parts of the One Holy Catholic Faith immediately become the Church. You need also to have Catholic beliefs.
I notice you posted several dozen posts to me; please do not expect an answer to each one.
got a dictionary?
No, I actually said rather the opposite, with St. Paul, that you are not saved by the works of any human law. Thanks for the dissertation, but I don't see how it relates to anything I said.
I obey my Church and don't deny any scripture, even though we deny much of Protestant heresies that they spin around the Holy Scripture. For details, wait for the book.
No it doesn't. Natural law, yes, but not man-made law. We have laws that abortion is legal -- we piss on that "law".
I don't ignore Paul; I explain what you don't understand about St. Paul.
True, but they have not been saved if they do not follow up with the good works. They will "make a shipwreck concerning the faith" (1 Timothy 1:19). If you do not do works of love and mercy your faith will die and you will lose your salvation.
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