[adiaireton8]

Well said. What you say in #2099 is precisely what most Protestants do not seem to understand. They think that since they obviously can't believe that the Apostles's successors are always and everywhere infallible, therefore each person must always trust his own personal private interpretation of his own personal private Bible. And that is the deadly false dilemma that has divided and is continually dividing Christians all over the world.

-A8

[Blogger]

Again, you do not understand Protestants.

We do not believe we must ALWAYS trust just our own private interpretation of things.

The Holy Spirit does teach through His Universal Church.

He teaches through friends.

He teaches through life's circumstances.

He teaches through prayer.

He teaches through personal Bible Study.

The KEY though to discernment is "DOES IT MESH WITH SCRIPTURE?"

Where something contradicts Scripture, it is to be rejected.

The Popes, when addressing the whole church about a doctrinal issue (ex cathedra) are said to be addressing the church infallibly. But what do you do with one pope saying "infallibly" that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic church and that anyone who rejects the tenets of Catholicism is damned and another Pope saying ex cathedra that we are merely separated Brethren and have salvation if we are baptized? Gee. Luther was Baptized. Luther's children were baptized. Is their anathema now invalidated?

Scripture doesn't change. The church has - and not for the better.

Christ wondered if he would even find faith on the earth when he returned.

If you follow an institution, you will be bound by the shifting sands of each new administration.

If you follow the Savior as laid out in Scripture, you hae an Anchor for your soul that never changes.