Yes, I also have concluded too much emphasis is put on their “traditions” though these have a place in all venues of our life, for many in the catholic church these carry as much weight as scripture, which is why they end up in error. IMO. The pattern is much as with Islam in that they have the Koran but put as much weight and sometimes more in the Hadiths etc. As well their Imams and such...as catholics do Bishops etc. May be why the Pope/Rome and the Moslem leadership see a kindred spirit with one another as also those of the Mormon faith. All three have hierarchy similar...and accountability, “works” and such which benefit that high leadership in them all. I can see where these will identify with one another down the road...all under the name and understanding they are all serving the same God...which is simply not true. There is only the God of Christianity...unfortunately by the catholic church acknowledging openly that the Moslem God is the same they have evidenced by doing so their willingness to eventually abandon the Christian God...at the very least set Him along side a pagan God.
Jesus will always be a stumbling block for those who want to hold that He was simply a good teacher, or a prophet etc. Jesus IS God...and there is none like Him.
What a tremendous education these threads have brought....as well as understanding why and how those on differing sides of issues arrive at their conclusions. They have challenged me to go deeper into Gods word and seek His truth time and again...for that I am much grateful to all who have posted. At other times these have strengthened what I already knew as truth. Jesus did say He was and is the truth....and I will continue to stand on that truth and the words He gave us to live by it. And continue to pray that the light of His truth will be revealed to those in the catholic truth....who want to see it thru Christ and not that of those who determine so.
WHO TRULY
SEEK HIM
TO HIM AND INTO ALL TRUTH.
I agree with every sentence of yours.
I do my feeble best to lob thought bombs persistently in the hope that some will eventually go off at Holy Spirit's urging and lighting, to good effect, within the person reading them.
An eternal soul is a horrific thing to waste.
Certainly we all need to walk circumspectly before God and the character in our mirrors . . . idolatry, traditions, RELIGION etc. lurk at every turn and corner toward entrapment regardless of the label on the door. However, the INSTITUTIONS you mentioned are dyed-in-the-wool ANTI-CHRIST READY and complicit already in memes, themes, structures, rituals, constructs, priorities, goals, foci . . . straight from the throne of hell.
Such are not small things.
Such are not inconsequential.
Such are not to be winked at as just another way to God.
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Such are not to be indulged in as just a viable variation on authentic Christianity.
Such are not to be flaunted as beneficial distinctives in the 'holier-than-thou' race.
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Such are not to be worn as robes of righteousness in prancing dances of RELIGIOUS one-ups-man-ship.
Such are not to be wallowed in as empty 'proofs' of sanctification and IN-GROUP exclusiveness.
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Such are NOT to substitute in mind, heart, spirit or practice for the EXCLUSIVELY RIGHTEOUSNESS YIELDING, CLEANSING AND COVERING BLOOD OF JESUS.
Such don't fool God in the least degree.
God will not be mocked. Sowing DEAD RELIGION having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof, will result only in a harvest of DEAD RELIGION--powerless to save; powerless to sanctify; powerless to redeem.
2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.