Christ gave Peter and his successors to establish ONE Truth, ONE Church, ONE authority. Following the evil of Protestantism, we now have each person and every corner street pastor from Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the insufferable Joel Osteens of this world to say nothing of Jim Jones and David Koresh, as preaching the “authentic” word of God. This is the scandal that plagues modern day Christianity.
“You” say what the Bible says, and so does Rev. Al Sharpton. By these lights everyone has free license to interpret Scripture. The books in the Bible did not fall from the skies. They were authenticated by the early Church Fathers. This authority to discern this central truth continues today and until the end of time. Outside the Church, the rest of Christianity is all apostasy.
If a guy can read, he can know what the bible says...
If the Gospels say works are required for salvation and the Epistles say works for salvation will reward you with damnation, what do you do??? Do you just pick one or the other???
When Romans 2 says you are justifed by works and Romans 3 says you are not justified by works, do you go with one chapter or the other???
The people who use your argument obviously don't know what the bible says...You're just repeating what your religion told you; which is wrong...
“Peter and his successors”
The promise is to Peter and the Church. Do you believe there are tares in the Catholic priesthood and church?
“evil of Protestantism”
It was believing on the Lord and later reading the whole Bible that drew me close to Him, and that is what Bible-believing Christianity is. And if not for it, the simple Gospel accepted by simple faith would have been lost in all the Catholic Church’s rituals and excesses. How much do you imagine was spent on “recognizing” JP II was a “saint?” Cont’d
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
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Truth Handling and Teaching Authority
Beginning Catholic: Church Authority In Scripture [Ecumenical] Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With: The 3 Pillars of the Church's Authority