The Jews expected a strong, militant, human king as their messiah based on their reading of the OT, so they were dead wrong vis-a-vis Christ. The OT is more like "breaking news" then the full story. It's incomplete.
Yet, you look at what NT heretics thought and declare ONLY the heretics wrong
Heretics, by definition, teach that which the Church doesn't teach, never taught and never will teach. The Church teaches that +John the Baptist is not Elijah. Yet Matthew says (twice) that he is. However, John's Gospel says he is not.
I am sure you will come up with some convoluted "explanation" to this clear-cut contradiction, but then that's how every sect and cult can quote scriptures and be "right."
That is an interesting choice in turning God's word against itself, given that it was the Church who gave us God's word, as Apostolics are so fond of reminding me
The Church teaches what was given her, and NOT all of it is written in the Gospels; Christ taught more than was written. Your side depends on the extant versions of the Bible, none of which is veritably authentic, assuming that what you have is what God wanted you to have (baseless assumption), and that somehow insufficiency suffices.
So do you think the "highest" question is "what would Jesus do?". I do not. I think a higher question is "what would Jesus have ME do?".
Jesus would have you follow His examples, FK. Unless you have an authenticated direct connection to Him and receive His text messages every day, it's you making up what Jesus would have you do (based on those inner "voices" that could be anything, including insanity).
This is why in the west we have a defendant come to a court, and after being convicted of having drowned five of her children, gets to go home free because it was "God" who told her to do what she did!
I have news for you: Christ, as we know Him in the catholic and apostolic Church, would never tell her to do that! In fact, 'what Christ would have ME do' is a dangerous belief that opens oneself to all sorts of satanic attacks because, as the Bible says which you believe to be true, even Satan can appear as the Angel of Light. Stick to the Gospels, imitating Christ, and you will never believe God wants you to kill anyone.
Kosta, you CANNOT tell me that you do not think the OT is wrong given what you have said about it
The OT is incomplete and it is not a measure of Christ. Rather it is Christ who is the measure of the OT. The OT is correct on those occasions where the God as perceived in the OT reflects Christ of the Gospels.
I don't know if they agree with you that faith is blind and objectively baseless
They don't, because that's not my position. That is something you created in your head and are imputing to me. I never said that faith is baseless. Every belief, no matter how extreme or weird is based on something, whether that something is objective or subjective. But a beleif in and of itself is not a proof that ti is true.
I also don't know if they agree with you that the reason for your faith is objectively no better than the one Muslims have, etc.
Maybe they don't, but thy come to the same faith as I do, for their own reasons. Muslims, for their own reasons, come to a different faith which is based on a completely different perception of God.
I believe they do have no assurance in their own salvations, and thus are in no position to witness confidence to anyone else
You are confusing confidence of salvation with faith. Because they tell you that they don't know if they will be saved (neither do you, because no one knows if he is elect or not), you believe that their faith is "weak." That is patently false.
I am sure their belief in God's goodness is unshaken, but they also know that not all become Christ-like. If we die in unrepentant sin, we will not be saved. It is not God's doing; it's ours. By His resurrection He gave us a ticket, but if we throw that ticket away, well then...there is no admission.
So, they can very confidently proclaim the Good News except that they will also cation that saying "Lord, Lord" will not save them. Your side, unfortunately, believes that just because you "accept" Christ you are saved no matter what you do or how Christ-like you are.
To me, all of that is an extremely weak position from which to witness strength and confidence.
It is the weakness of, and lack of confidence in man, not God, FK.
You are equating what many Jews THOUGHT with what the OT actually SAYS. Yet, at the same time you do not equate what heretics think with what the NT actually SAYS. Why is that? Many Jews were just plain wrong. Humans do that. That is no reflection on the truth of what the OT teaches.
Heretics, by definition, teach that which the Church doesn't teach, never taught and never will teach.
Then why don't you just declare these Jews you are talking about to be heretics instead of using them to discredit God's word in the OT?
The Church teaches that +John the Baptist is not Elijah.
The Church is correct, and so is Matthew, properly interpreted.
I am sure you will come up with some convoluted "explanation" to this clear-cut contradiction, but then that's how every sect and cult can quote scriptures and be "right."
Well, I wouldn't want to be like a cult member, so I'll pass. :)
Jesus would have you follow His examples, FK. Unless you have an authenticated direct connection to Him and receive His text messages every day, it's you making up what Jesus would have you do (based on those inner "voices" that could be anything, including insanity).
David, Joshua, and others DID have a direct connection to Him and did what Jesus would not have done. But I guess you throw all that out since it's OT. Since you only accept selected portions of the Gospels I guess there's not much to compare. :)
I have news for you: Christ, as we know Him in the catholic and apostolic Church, would never tell [some woman who killed her 5 children] to do that! In fact, 'what Christ would have ME do' is a dangerous belief that opens oneself to all sorts of satanic attacks because, as the Bible says which you believe to be true, even Satan can appear as the Angel of Light. Stick to the Gospels, imitating Christ, and you will never believe God wants you to kill anyone.
What this tells me is that you are closed to receiving God's personal leading for fear that it might be satan instead, etc. That is an unfortunate loss. I depend on God leading me personally. The Holy Spirit has made a big difference in my life. I am sorry He has (apparently) not for you.
P.S. - God has apparently issued a moratorium on ordering any of us to kill anyone. Therefore, I'm not looking for it. :)
I never said that faith is baseless. Every belief, no matter how extreme or weird is based on something, whether that something is objective or subjective.
That's true, you have never said that, but I have inferred it from the totality of your statements. Therefore, and SPECIFICALLY, on what do you base your faith? And, if appropriate, how would you distinguish it from the proverbial "thin air" (which is what I call "baseless")?
You are confusing confidence of salvation with faith. Because they tell you that they don't know if they will be saved (neither do you, because no one knows if he is elect or not), you believe that their faith is "weak." That is patently false.
It is not their belief itself that I say is weak, but rather what that belief is IN that is weak, i.e. a weak God. A weak God can't give assurance because who winds up saved is beyond His control. I know perfectly well that I happen to be of the elect, through no merit of my own, because I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. Others may not believe me, but I don't need them to. God knows what God knows, and I know what God tells me through scripture and on my heart.
Your side, unfortunately, believes that just because you "accept" Christ you are saved no matter what you do or how Christ-like you are.
My side has NEVER claimed that, it is only your side that does.