Thanks for your reply, as I am always interested in different points of view.
Regarding the Decalogue, it is good for living, as it was the spoken word of God, which Jesus obeyed perfectly.
Second, there were certainly some things that Jesus said that were metaphors and analogies, and some things were precise. For example, I am the vines and you are the branches. Jesus isn’t a plant, nor is he a plant type. However, He was the Lamb of God (which is a type), sacrificed, and then consumed by the priests (us). His admonition to tear out your eye if it causes you to sin is not to be taken literally, as we are temples of the Lord. Logically, we wouldn’t destroy, that which He had built.
I guess we have very different opinions on the purpose and meaning of Scripture, as well as its value. My impression is (and I could be wrong), that you value the different books of Scripture differently, with the Epistles holding more weight than the Gospels (as they commonly known).
I believe the following 8 things about Scripture:
All Sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ, “because all divine Scripture speaks of Christ, and all divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ” (Hugh of St. Victor, De arca Noe 2,8:PL 176,642: cf. ibid. 2,9:PL 176,642-643).
“The Sacred Scriptures contain the Word of God and, because they are inspired, they are truly the Word of God” (DV 24).
God is the author of Sacred Scripture because he inspired its human authors; he acts in them and by means of them. He thus gives assurance that their writings teach without error his saving truth (cf. DV 11).
Interpretation of the inspired Scripture must be attentive above all to what God wants to reveal through the sacred authors for our salvation. What comes from the Spirit is not fully “understood except by the Spirit’s action’ (cf. Origen, Hom. in Ex. 4, 5: PG 12, 320).
The Church accepts and venerates as inspired the 46 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New.
The four Gospels occupy a central place because Christ Jesus is their center.
The unity of the two Testaments proceeds from the unity of God’s plan and his Revelation. The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfills the Old; the two shed light on each other; both are true Word of God.
“The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord” (DV 21): both nourish and govern the whole Christian life. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105; cf. Is 50:4).
Before I address your other remarks (and I assure you, I will), I am curious about your statement,”…I am always interested in different points of view.”
What exactly do you mean by this? I have listed some possibilities.
1. I am interested and would change my mind if your argument was persuasive.
2. I am interested because I want to see where the errors are in your argument.
3. I am interested because I want to see how to change your mind.
4. I am interested because new ideas are a hobby.
5. I am interested because there is nothing else to do today.
6. I am interested because I question whether my view is true.
7. I am just saying that I am interested because it is a polite way to behave
8. I am just saying that I am interested because I believe it will disarm the speaker.
9. I am saying that I am interested because I was taught this debate technique.
10. I am interested in other views because truth is malleable and there are many contradictory precepts that are simultaneously true.
There are likely other iterations of this statement. When I began to list the possibilities, I was surprised how many seemed to come to mind. What was your intention when you penned this? I ask because you have a rather vague method of communicating (to my mind) and it is almost as if you want to avoid direct issues. Again, what do you mean by, “...I am always interested in different points of view.”
Thank you for that clarification.
Perhaps I should give a similar registration. Paul seemed to listen to some folks politely and soundly reject (even angrily reject) others. Notice the difference between the treatment of the pagans at Mars Hill and the Judaizers. I cannot find a reference that specifically refers to his method of differentiating, but I do find that he coached Timothy using the following, “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” IITim2:23ff. Notice, no reference to the Decalogue.
I certainly don’t pretend to hold the rank of Timothy, but as a fellow believing Gentile it seems the advice to him is now applicable to me. And, it is entirely likely that we are approaching this threshold.
You seem to view the Bible as a flat, encyclopedic document (as I described before), useful for a kind smorgasbord selection of useful sayings and advice (cf Ps 119 cite). I, OTOH, view it as an unfolding story delivered long before there was ever such a thing as a “Roman Catholic Church”. History seems to support my view, but Rome supports your view.
And, all 66 books of the true Bible are equally valuable…not all of them, however, are written directly to me. And, you seem to have a hint of this, too. There is a reason you do not go to Jerusalem, even though Jesus ordered this clearly in the text. You have some sense that He was not speaking directly to you. Sadly, this pick-and-choose mentality is what permits the Romanists to create a homemade religion. It is not, however, the Gospel of Jesus as delivered by Paul (read the entire letter to the Romans).
The Epistles explain what believing Gentiles should hold as true and how to behave accordingly. You are welcome to believe you are doing the things described in the so-called Gospels (again, these words are not in the text), just recall that I cautioned you against this view. And, of course, Jesus spoke in types and shadows and figures. But, when He demands that you be, “…perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”, no one with any kind of reasonable hermeneutic believes this is one of those “figures”. I am curious to know if you believe you meet His demand.
Because, if you do not satisfy this, and all other parts of the Law, be aware that you will be guilty of it all (if you believe you should accomplish it). Perhaps it pleases you to feel that the “old college try” is adequate, I cannot tell. Perhaps, you believe your sincerity is adequate. Again, the Muslims are deeply sincere.
I sign off, here, hoping that you can hear this. But, I know from the Scriptures that the choice is in the hands of Jesus.