On individual interpretations:
If someone truly accepts the Gospel as true, then if they go the Lord asking Him to show them and guide them in interpreting Scripture, then He will. James even promises wisdom if we ask. From what I see, though, the Catholic priesthood has replaced that by saying some things about the Bible need to be interpreted instead by science, which is why its official position supports evolution. Do you agree?
“Didn’t fall from the sky.”
“All Scripture is God-breathed.” HE is the only author. There is no question that it was going to turn out how He willed it to before time began.
“Jim Jones”
From what I saw on PBS about him, he one day threw the Bible on the ground in church and said to follow Him, not it. The Bible said for us to beware of false teachers. And in different ways the Catholic Church has been that, too. Cont’d
No. The Catholic Church is the one founded by Christ with authority to interpret Scripture by his disciples and successors. As Scripture itself says there were many things Christ said and did that were not written. Catholics get their understanding from Scripture from Scriptural text, history, traditions, ritual, and revelation. It is an unbroken Truth that will last till the end of time. David Koresh or Jim Jones, Billy Graham, Rev. Moon, or the Rev. Farrakhan have no more authority to interpret the Bible that you or I do. That authority is the exclusive prerogative of the Catholic Church. The “Rock” on which Christ’s Church is founded. The central belief of the Church is the Holy Eucharist. It is the center of the Church because it is Christ truly present in body, blood, soul, and Divinity.
Reject this belief and all else is theater and farce.