Christianity is above all a mystery, and should be approached as such. It is more than Holy Scripture, which a recording of the events and teachings surrounding the mystery as well as the word of God.
Really, again, this is irrelavent to the discussion. The statement has been made by the RC's here on this thread: "
Prayer to the Saints... is Scriptural." Your comment, while strange, doesn't even get to the argument, but entirely avoids it.
Besides, I do have a scripture for you:
- Ephesians 1:7-9 In Him we have redemption through His blood,... which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,...
I do so love to read a good mystery!
But to rely completely on Scripture is, to me, like making a great piece of art into a coloring book.
Hmmmm! Adding the teaching of men to the Scripture is like adding a piece of dog poop to the brownie mix. That sure doesn't sound very good now does it.
There are times that Christ spent with the Apostles which are not discussed in the Bible, such as the forty days after Pentecost.
I think that your time line is a bit off. Nevertheless, consider this:
- Acts 1:3 He presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
In other words, He was equipping the Apostles for the Apostolic preaching of the gospel
of the kingdom of God. Sadly, until they were Baptized with the Holy Spirit, they did not understand what the gospel really is.
- Acts 1:6 "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Additionally, there are many things in Scripture which I am not aware of protestants doing, such as using incense and fasting. Correct me if I am wrong.
You are corrected. I do fast. And it is a rather perilious thing for me to do as my blood sugar tends to bottom out.
Please give me a specific Biblical example of incense.
The Saints are those who were able to overcome the passions of this world and reach into the next.
Incorrect! The saints are those who know that they
have eternal life. Minimally, I'll stay here:
- 1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,....
Certainly they are more alive than we are here in this world now.
Well, this is much better than your last post to me where you said that we were dead and they were alive. Nevertheless, I already
have eternal life. It really doesn't get any more alive than that, except to be wholly in the presence of the Lord.
There is nothing wrong with involving them in our pursuit of God-pleasing perfection here on earth. As sinners we should avail ourselves of every avenue of assistance we can to become more like Christ.
Well, I don't know about you, but I have already been perfected forever (Heb 10:14). And I look
to Jesus, not other men, as He is the One who will complete the good work He began in me. He is the author and
finisher of my faith, not some man.