You seem to be hung up on on interpretation, so let’s consider two options.
#1 - One religious monarch or leader, often of questionable character, in charge of a denomination or church. All “revelation” filters through a single person, or a central authority, and then is spoon-fed to the masses who are discouraged to seek God’s Truth for themselves.
#2 - Jesus is the Head of the Church. All Believers have free access to God’s Word, and have the Holy Spirit inside as a Guide and Comforter.
Which one would be more productive for the Heavenly Father to fellowship with His children, and for their spiritual growth? Which one would lead to more abuse, whether it be Jim Jones or David Koresh, or a pope/monarch ordering the torture and murder of Believers?
There is no “private interpretation” in the Body of Christ. God’s Word is ALIVE. Scripture interprets Scripture. The Bible is spiritually discerned, and when rightly divided, the Word and the Spirit agree. Its the theologians who attempt to figure it out mentally who for almost 2,000 years have been leading everyone into the religious ditch. God’s Word is Truth. God’s Wisdom is revealed in the spirit first, and then you renew your mind with His Truth.
Reading the teachings of man will never build faith. That comes from hearing God’s Word, not some theological opinion or denominational dogma. Note the instructions to Joshua. He was told to meditate on God’s Word night and day, and then he would be prosperous. (Joshua 1:8) Similar instructions continue throughout God’s Word - Psalm 1 & 119, John 17, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and many more.
Yes, there is absolutely ONE TRUTH. But it does not come from, or require some man-made religious organization. God is the Creator, and the Holy Spirit inspired His Word. He does not need a man to “interpret” it. He needs people to share it and preach it. Its the Word, the incorruptible SEED, that transforms people. From the Word in your spirit you understand His Wisdom, Will, and receive revelation. No religious organization can match that kind of personal intimacy and fellowship with your Heavenly Father.
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
>>>“My God, what have I done? Even the milkmaids think they can interpret Scripture!” - Martin Luther.
At least he got that one right.>>>
Frankly, I would be more interested in hearing a Spirit-filled milkmaid share her insight almost any day over the vast majority of theologians. My gosh they can find Mary in every passage of the Bible, but don’t see Jesus! And the ENTIRE book is about HIM!!
Its frightening how some folks have more respect for theological opinion or denominational teaching, rather than God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Do you really think God would inspire His Word in such a way that His children could not understand His Truth? That’s exactly what the religious want you to believe, so they can keep you in bondage. It all started in the Garden - “Did God really say...”
Please note, I do not come here pimping any denomination. A careful examination of posts from Believers will show that rarely do they push any denomination. Why? They are man-made organizations just like Rome - all with the same pimples, boils, and warts alike. Folks get fixated on a building or a denomination - that is the foolishness of man, and the division of the enemy. Neither is THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH, the Body of Christ, is every Believer, they are the Temple of God with the presence of the Holy Spirit inside. Believers may worship in a church or a denomination, but they take THE CHURCH to the world.
Believers are complete in Christ. Flee all the religious nonsense, theological opinions, and man-made fables and myths. Cling to Christ and preach the Word only.
I do not believe Jesus came to leave us a book, He came to leave us a Church and establish His Kingdom. He said as much. If He came to leave us a book He would have told His followers to write everything down as it happened. Jesus did no such thing. For a few hundred years there was no written word, Christians relied on instruction and traditions passed on to them by the Apostles.
Regarding the two options you give, yes, Christ is the head of the Church. I believe that Church to be the Catholic Church. Jesus did give a leader, Peter, the Keys to his Church until He returns.
The same thing happened in the Old Testament, did it not? Pharaoh gave Joseph a ring, clothing and a gold necklace, giving him absolute power over the Kingdom while Pharaoh was away. So Christ did with Peter.
In the Old Testament Moses led the people and was the intermediary. Kings led the people. One of them build a temple. Some of those Kings were less than stellar.
The Old Testament foreshadowing of the Catholic Church is everywhere.
Another misconception about the Catholic Church is that Catholics do not read scripture. You mention that we catholics can find Mary everywhere but not Jesus? That strikes me as funny because Protestants gloss over everything Christ said that they do not like, such as John 6. Or Christ giving Peter the Keys. Or Confession, or the Priesthood.
ping to post 135
I’ll tell you what.
When I was a teen and Catholic at the time, and I first started hearing about Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him, I didn’t think it was possible because all my life I had been taught that He was unapproachable except through the clergy and church. They were the only ones who were holy enough and qualified enough to connect me with God, that God would not listen to me.
Worse yet, I didn’t think that God would even want to. Who was I? Just some no name little sinner who God was sitting up there watching so He could zap me next time I made a mistake.
No way I thought He’d be approachable and be interested in me as an individual, thanks to Catholic church upbringing.
The whole concept of going directly to God through only Jesus was foreign to me. He had better things to do and He was no interested in my petty little problems.
How wrong I was and how I thank God that He did reveal Himself to me and save me from that mess.