I acknowledge that you know the Bible better than I do, perhaps better than I ever will.
I am trying to figure things out and my default response generally is "I don't know."
My basis for commenting here is the same as anyone else's: We all have opinions and some of us also have questions and are voicing them.
I "assume" that we all have the best interests of others and ourselves at heart, but that is an assumption, as "I don't know" for sure. It's hard to tell with some people here.
I see my own self as a seeker, and I am generally honest in my seeking Him, but I am constantly struggling with my ego and my darker, more critical and extremely competitive nature's need to win.
Personally, I don't belong to any faction of Christianity, nor do I believe we are right in dividing ourselves into various groups and then fighting with each other about who is right.
I recognize my own ego in those fights/discussions and my darker, competitive nature wants to argue, too, but I think that would lead to my destruction, as I had said in previous posts.
That's my worry about my fellow humans, too, and is the reason for many of my comments on similar threads, as some appear to be very close to that edge I know so well.
There is but one Jesus, yet how many different versions of Christianity and the Bible are there?
Can you tell me which version of Christianity is correct?
Can you tell me which Bible would Jesus quote from or tell us to read and refer to?
Personally, I also don't even know what to make of the Catholic's and the Orthodox devotion to Mother Mary.
Or rather, is it the Protestant's lack of devotion to Mother Mary that is curious?
I don't know. Do you? Do you know who does?
Why don't we all celebrate Easter on the same day? I don't know, do you?
Why do some fall away from their faith and belief? Are they still saved?
What happens to the believing Pastor or Priest who by his mistakes leads his flock astray? He still believes, but...
For me, my need for Him is great, but there's so much confusion it's hard to know where to turn for answers, especially since His true believes don't agree and like to fight each other in His Name.
Ultimately, like everyone else, I pick and choose between the various options for what seems to be His stuff.
It's not easy, but I'm doing my best to let go of my guile and find instead a faith, trust and belief like that of a child.
Our ways are not His Ways, that's for sure!
Or rather, is it the Protestant's lack of devotion to Mother Mary that is curious?
Where are we even instructed to have a "devotion" to Mary. You would not gather that from the NT.
And why call her "Mother Mary"? She is the mother of Christ.
She's not our mother much as some claim.
You’re welcome, and I thank you for your thoughtful reply as well.
On knowledge of the Bible, I would just say that it is ever so important to read the whole Bible, if you haven’t, if you are going to have answers to the questions you’re asking. God’s Word is what He has revealed to us. He has only revealed things in part, but what He has revealed we can be assured is sufficient for us. Between knowing and meditating on His Word and receiving His guidance, we will begin to grow in Christ and in the knowledge of the Lord. Answers come over time, and usually not completely, but they truly do come and one’s understanding grows. If you’ve read the whole Bible, then more answers will come.
I know every question you pose here I have a much better understanding of than I used to, and in many cases have come to some satisfying answers, though certainly not complete ones. For some of your questions, the ultimate answers won’t come in this world. If a pastor leads his flock astray, for example. Well, how and why did he do so? Ultimately, only God knows what’s in His heart. We certainly might be able to say that he should no longer be a minister, and perhaps that we shouldn’t have fellowship with him, but to say what will become of his soul, that’s really beyond us. And it’s also impossible for any pastor not to err in some ways. They’re human. We’re not ultimately relying on him, but on God’s grace.
And too, even over our lives our beliefs change. Suppose we believe in baptism by immersion, as we know the Lord was baptized that way, but it is a church that sprinkles with water which reaches a person living in a remote place, and that person comes to faith in Christ and is baptized into that church. Can we say that person isn’t saved because he or she wasn’t baptized in what we believe is the right way, or the best way? These questions and uncertainties might seem to cause agony, but they also refine us, and we’ve been promised fiery trials here that are for our own spiritual good. It’s not a matter of being lost in unresolvable problems, because we will come closer to the Lord as we seek the answers.
Heck; why do we celebrate it at ALL?