But that's exactly what you do...Praying to Mary...Holy Water...Apparitions...Purgatory...Limbo...
Your church is based on tons of things that aren't scriptural...Then you call it 'tradition' which you say supercedes the word of God...
We did not become Christians because of your church...We are Christians because we ultimately heard the word of God from the bible...And it doesn't come any where near resembling your religion...We becaume Christians without your tradition...
You appear to claim that the Holy Spitit does not lead individuals to truth...Only your 'holy priesthood' is taught truth by the Holy Spirit...And it doesn't come from the bible...Is that an admission that the Holy Spirit does not dwell within you??? How do you know that it's not Satan leading your Magisterium??? Fact is, you don't...
We rely on the Church that Jesus Christ founded. It is the Pillar of Truth. Jesus himself says to go to the Church. The Church guides, admonishes, teaches and is the hands of God here on Earth.
It has the authority to do His will. Remember the story of the eunuch attempting to read Scripture. At least the eunuch had the sense to accept the guidance of one authorized to teach. I see a lot of eunuchs that are missing that sense.
"Holy Spitit" indeed!
I don't get how you guys claim the leadership of the Holy Spirit when basic reasoning is so infrequently used by you all. There is a disticntion between gifts of the Spirit and the Spirit Himself.
I've said it numerous times on this thread and have yet to see it addressed. The Bible (it's an interesting book, you may have heard of it) quite clearly states that not everyone has all the gifts of the Spirit, but gifts are spread around, with one person having this gift and another not having this gift but having that gift.
Consequently there is no connection whatsoever between acknowledging that somebody else has gifts having to do with discernment and teaching and saying that I have no portion of the Holy Spirit. Paul distinguishes between gifts and the Spirit which gives them. YOU all are disagreeing with Paul, as it seems to me, not us.
And of course there's the problem , and it's just a problem, I'm not claiming to have a devastating rejoinder here, of how people became Christians before there was a Bible? But we've been over that so many times.
We becaume Christians without your tradition...
The Bible itself is a tradition of the Church. I know you don't agree, I've read the articulations of the opposing viewpoints. None of them persuade.
But at least you make as clear as can be that the real defining and motivating principle for many (by no means for all) Protestants is nothing other than hatred of the catholic church. You claim a Spirit of Truth but then put up the ludicrous article which charges us with teaching what we do not teach. Any stick, -- the stick doesn't even have to exist -- ANY stick will do. Don't you see that as long as you support this article, you cannot be considered a source of anything reliable?