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To: JPX2011
OK, I stand corrected. I had to choose between you being serious and sarcastic and I guessed wrong.

It's impossible to tell via the printed word, what the inflection would be if someone was speaking.

Every single person on this planet has their own personal interpretation of Scripture. It may be that they decide on it themselves, or they may read a bunch of other people interpretations and pick the one they like the best, or they may decide to trust someone else to guide them, none of which are free from the potential of error and deception.

How many times have we heard protestants say, "I like so-and-so because they speak to me and they address my particular bent that I find personally satisfying." Their favorite pastor/preacher/personality scratches an itch of theirs. Of course, what happens when this particular individual no longer does that? The protestant moves on.

And that is the problem with following men instead of Christ. And it is also something that Catholics are not immune to. They follow the Catholic church because that's where they think is the truth and meets their needs.

Their understanding of Truth is conditional.

On the contrary, for the spiritually mature, you face the Truth, that is found in Scripture and don't twist it to your own ends.

Following a church over Scripture also does not prevent that from happening.

Every criticism leveled against sola Scriptura can be leveled against sola ecclesia.

When it gets down to it, it's still just everyone's own personal interpretation.

That said, there is room for *disputable matters* as Paul calls it in Romans 14. Not everything is a matter of salvation.

We are commanded to repent and believe and told and promised that for those who confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead, they will be saved. It's by grace through faith in Christ not by works so that no man can boast.

There are areas where I disagree with many here on the board but they're of no consequence. And I know that there are areas where Catholic disagree, the EO and RC rites are prime examples of differences in theology greater than I have with most other believers I know, and yet the Roman Catholic church still considers them Catholics in in communion with them.

As an example, in the Pentecostal movement there is the issue of speaking in tongues. They hold that it is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I disagree. But that does not mean that they or I are not saved. It's not an issue related to salvation. We'll find out when we get there who was right and likely it was neither of us.

In the meantime, I can worship with them, fellowship with them, pray with them, wish them Godspeed, as brothers and sisters in Christ. And if they bring it up, I'll say my piece and drop it. As long as they don't make an issue of it, it's not a problem for me.

582 posted on 07/28/2014 6:04:31 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom; JPX2011
>> And that is the problem with following men instead of Christ.<<

And all too often overlooked by not only Catholics but others as well is the fact that people grow in their faith and understanding which may lead them to other groups that focus on more of the meat of scripture while the group or “church” they were in stay with the milk.

609 posted on 07/28/2014 9:54:52 AM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ)
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