“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. The Lord's Prayer
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
If the RCC is taking all that kind of credit for doing God's work, they need to be careful of blowing their trumpet before men.
They have their reward already.
No one owes ANYTHING to the Catholic church for merely being the instruments by which God did something in this world.
They need to remember that God used an ass to talk to Balaam. Being used by God is no measure of spirituality and bragging on it will not end well.
Herod in Acts 12:21-23 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Its not about blowing trumpets. Its about the one and only Church, Christ Himself founded. All these out of context scriptural quotes are old hat that even eminent Protestant theologians have now discounted and converted to Catholicism. That is the plain fact.
There is a reason I think these Bible Christians see the Bible the simplistic way they do. They haven been “Gruberized” by the local corner street Foursquare Church pastors and the likes of the Schullers, Billy Grahams, and Osteen. TD Jakes, etc whose congregations are mainly middle-aged women who cannot reason beyond the shallow waters of superficial readings of Bible text.
The works of Augustine, Aquinas, Newman, and Benedict are too profound for these congregations. They form part of the same crowd that watch Oprah. So their pastors know these folks are too “stupid” to understand the full breadth of scripture, history, sacred ritual and practice.
They sell them these frothy preachy discourses on the Bible and of good reason. If the congregation becomes educated, they will lost their ministries and with than their profitable source of income. One might ask “Where’s the beef”?
They are accustomed to Christianity Lite. Be treated to a theatrical interoperation of the Bible as “he/she” sees it, surround yourself with lights, band, music, clapping, get some doughnuts and coffee, and then pass the collection basket. No need for the sacraments, the attendance at a solemn Mass, the Eucharist, etc. Just be happy. Ignorance is bliss, empty your purse and go home.