Interpreting Scripture - Page 2

fhansen · #16 Jun 16, '12, 6:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by peace2u2

A friend who practices their faith at a non-denominational church states that Romans Chapter 14 supports and is referring to the way Catholics treat other religions as inferior and that we are all the one, true Church who profess our faith and belief in Jesus and that it doesn't matter which church we worship God at because we are all Christians. Also, this person uses Luke 9:49-50 to support that we are all the one, true Church and that one Church shouldn't act like their better than another:

Luke 9:49-50
John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us". But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he that is not against you is for you".

Is this person's interpretation of the above Scripture true or false?

Many of the Protestant sects have been explicitly against the CC, certainly at the beginning of the Reformation but also now, as well. And are we to dismiss all criteria for judging the orthodoxy of non-Catholic Christians, regardless of how heretical their beliefs may be?

submariner2 · #17 Jun 16, '12, 6:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobyshme

Rob,

Doctrines are the teaching of Christ. What did Christ teach? The Truth. What is the Truth? Jesus, Himself, Who said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life..." So, is it important whether we get all his doctrines right or not? You bet! I am reminded of Gal. 1:8, which says, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!"

The teachings of Christ are an integrated whole. I like to give the example of mathematics. Say I made the statement, "I love math! I love everything about math! I really do! I love subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, etc. Well, except maybe addition. I really don't believe in addition. But the rest, I certainly do!" What would I have, with regard to math? Nothing! Why? Because addition is integral to math. With out it, you have none of the rest of it. Giving lip service to loving it does nothing for me with regard to math.

The same is truth for the Christian faith. If we reject one doctrine, we lost the rest. Christ's truth cannot be sliced and diced into pieces we chose or reject.

I'm not talking about individual culpability with regard to Christ's doctrines. Some folks are certainly sincere in their search for Christ, but are in error through no fault of their own. That's for God to judge, not us. But we are to be "fruit inspectors." And we are to try to help our fellow man know the fullness of Christ's truths, even if it upsets them. Charity is not defined by how nice someone feels, but by how we do what is best for the other person. Teaching the fullness of Christ's truth is always best. When we do that, His grace accompanies the teaching.

scooby,

I would disagree with your defintion of what is good for others. What is good is actual love and respect for others. Advice is fine but we should not push our beliefs onto others. I try to use reason and respect to discuss these issues.

With regard to doctrines people may honestly disagrree and when they take their doctrines from the bible they may honestly disagree about what it says. Some doctrines may be fine but some may not. Each of us must make up his mind on that. Naturally we should put the teachings of Christ first.

Rob

Scoobyshme · #18 Jun 21, '12, 6:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner2

scooby,

I would disagree with your defintion of what is good for others. What is good is actual love and respect for others. Advice is fine but we should not push our beliefs onto others. I try to use reason and respect to discuss these issues.

With regard to doctrines people may honestly disagrree and when they take their doctrines from the bible they may honestly disagree about what it says. Some doctrines may be fine but some may not. Each of us must make up his mind on that. Naturally we should put the teachings of Christ first.

Rob

Rob,

There is a significant difference between "pushing our beliefs onto others" and trying to convince them, through reason, etc. If I hold a gun to their head and say, "Believe like me or not," then you're right. Otherwise, they always have the freedom to reject my suggestions and explanations.

The doctrines of the Catholic Church were given the Church by Jesus Christ, Son of God. Therefore, they ARE the doctrines of Christ. We didn't make them up out of thin air, or by misinterpreting the Bible, as Protestants are prone to do. Our doctrines existed before the New Testament was written. Some, over time, were formally declared in order to dispel doubt or confusion. But they were there from the beginning.

Furthermore, our doctrines are an all or none proposition. Why? Because they are the Truth. Strictly speaking, the Truth is not an opinion or a viewpoint. They are a Person. Jesus Christ, Who said, "I am the way, the Truth, and the life." Reject one doctrine and you reject them all. Christ calls each of us to be fully in Him. This cannot happen if we reject any of His Truths, because if we do that, we reject Him.

Let me give you an example of this principle. Let's take math. If I said, "I love math! I love everything about math! Subtraction, multiplication, division, alegbra, etc. Well, maybe except addition. I really don't believe or accept addition." What would I have, with regard to math? Absolutely nothing! Why? Because you can't do any of the rest of it without addition!

The same is true for Christ's truths. If we reject one doctrine, we end up rejecting them all.

in_servitude · #19 Jun 21, '12, 6:35 am

Please keep in mind that the situation involves spiritual warfare. If your friends is pointing to Luke 9, then he must believe that demons are the reality. However, missing in the discussion is how those demons are at work today.

Did not Jesus find demons INSIDE the synagog? I would be surprised if demons were not at work in every church. They try to take us away from God, they try to convince us with error and misdirection. It's not an abstract concept. It's reality.

So, the question to our Christian brothers has to be, "What prevents misdirection and error in your church?"

We're tossed about in a sea mixed with both Truth and confusion. The Rock is one source of Truth that will not fail as promised to us by Christ. The Rock will not lose the battle for the sake of our faith.

COPLAND 3 · #20 Jun 21, '12, 7:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner2

scooby,

I would disagree with your defintion of what is good for others. What is good is actual love and respect for others. Advice is fine but we should not push our beliefs onto others. I try to use reason and respect to discuss these issues.

With regard to doctrines people may honestly disagrree and when they take their doctrines from the bible they may honestly disagree about what it says. Some doctrines may be fine but some may not. Each of us must make up his mind on that. Naturally we should put the teachings of Christ first.

Rob

"Each of us must make up our own mind on that.". That is what I dont miss about being a non-catholic. When it comes to truth that's binding, there is no room for opinion. Its like mixing truth with relativism, it does not mix. I remember when I listened to preachers and I discerned their words based upon my understanding of the Bible, which led to pride and lifting myself up as authoritative. Now I discern someone's words based upon the Church's teachings, which is outside of myself and based upon a tradition that goes back to Christ.