Ask A Baptist Pastor

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I will try this again…

reformissionary,
Please tell us how many years you attended seminary, and where. What and how much formal theological instruction have you had?

Thank you,
Linda
 
You haven’t answered the question Bob. Where in Scripture do the Apostles venerate Mary for instance? You list a bunch of people who support your argument, I can do the same who don’t. That’s why I went back to the Bible - you know, the Word of God.
I have show you that, contrary your assertions, veneration of Mary has been around since the first Century. Fortunately I am not shackled with the realtively new (and False)doctrine of Sola Scriptura so i can look at other sources rather than my own personal interpretation of Scruipture. If not I would ask you, using the same requirments you gave me, to prove the Trinity.

BTW-when you say the Word of God what you really mean is "The word of God as interpreted by mrclm, correct?
 
I will try this again…

reformissionary,
Please tell us how many years you attended seminary, and where. What and how much formal theological instruction have you had?

Thank you,
Linda
I can understand him not wanting to give too specific an answer. In my case it was 4 years in the mid-west. I also have a minor in Theology from a mid-west university. Theological Study at a Catholic Insititution if tougher than what i am sure reformissionary faced as we could not merely answer every question with “my peronal interpreation of scripture proves me right.”
 
This is to everyone, not just Linda. – I’m happy for everyone here who spends all day and night on a forum. Good for you. I have a life outside the forum. So if your stuff gets missed or not answered for a while, too bad. And this goes double for something that is easily found if you use the links I already provided. I’m not going to feel bad about enjoying my family or doing my job or watching the Blackhawks lose (though I think that will change come Friday!).
I will try this again…

reformissionary,
Please tell us how many years you attended seminary, and where. What and how much formal theological instruction have you had?

Thank you,
Linda
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. I think the degree was 96 credit hours. I was working full-time and had children and in school full-time, so I think I was in school from '97-2002. Before that I earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies from Colorado Christian University. I graduated from both schools with honors. Do you want to see my transcripts and particular grades too? :rolleyes:
 
Theological Study at a Catholic Insititution if tougher than what i am sure reformissionary faced as we could not merely answer every question with “my peronal interpreation of scripture proves me right.”
Catholic friends, this statement is a HUGE misrepresentation of what I believe & do. HUGE. Every time you all make a similar statement it just shows you don’t understand and don’t care to understand.
 
I have come to an understanding that many of my my former interpretations of Scripture were wrong (OSAS, for example.)
Once Saved Always Saved as Catholics have TOLD ME I believed is not what I believe. If you want to know if I believe it or what I believe, that would be more meaningful than assuming we all believe it in the way you have been told we do.
 
Catholic friends, this statement is a HUGE misrepresentation of what I believe & do. HUGE. Every time you all make a similar statement it just shows you don’t understand and don’t care to understand.
You and I disagree on how to interpret John:6. how do we resolve that?
 
Once Saved Always Saved as Catholics have TOLD ME I believed is not what I believe. If you want to know if I believe it or what I believe, that would be more meaningful than assuming we all believe it in the way you have been told we do.
Yet many Protestant denominations do believe in OSAS. How do we resolve that?
 
We (I converted from protestantism) look to the early Church because Jesus promised to lead his followers into all truth. The early Church doesn’t seem to be southern baptist/emergent/calvinist/etc. We don’t look to scripture alone just as Paul didn’t look to scripture alone in Acts 15.
Ha. You can’t point to someone living during the writing of the Scriptures as unable to point to their own writings. The Apostles were there so that we would have the NT Scriptures!
Please answer the following questions:
1.) Is your denomination the one true church of Jesus Christ?
No.
2.) What about this church:
marshillchurch.org
The founder attended a Baptist ( your church) seminary but claims to be a mix of Calvin/Luther, etc
What about it? Are they a true church? Yea. He didn’t attend a Southern Baptist seminary associated with my particular denomination. But what difference does that make? Why bring up a random church?
3.) You accept Sola Scriptura. So do Presbyterians. They baptize babies. You don’t.
One of you is wrong. How do you justify your right to not baptize the babies in your church?
Because it’s biblical. They have a mistaken aspect of covenantal theology that creates this error. It’s a hang up that I think would not be there if the Catholic church hadn’t changed the biblical mode of baptism long ago. But we stand united on the gospel and neither of us mean baptism in the magical, removal of original sin way that Catholics do. So they are good friends. Some of my favorite Christian writers and friends are baby baptizers. United on the Gospel.
 
Because it’s biblical. They have a mistaken aspect of covenantal theology that creates this error. It’s a hang up that I think would not be there if the Catholic church hadn’t changed the biblical mode of baptism long ago. But we stand united on the gospel and neither of us mean baptism in the magical, removal of original sin way that Catholics do. So they are good friends. Some of my favorite Christian writers and friends are baby baptizers. United on the Gospel.
Biblical in who’s opinion? And if we disagree about it(like you disagree with the multitude of Protestants who say OSAS is biblical) how do we resolve it?
 
This is to everyone, not just Linda. – I’m happy for everyone here who spends all day and night on a forum. Good for you. I have a life outside the forum. So if your stuff gets missed or not answered for a while, too bad. And this goes double for something that is easily found if you use the links I already provided. I’m not going to feel bad about enjoying my family or doing my job or watching the Blackhawks lose (though I think that will change come Friday!).

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. I think the degree was 96 credit hours. I was working full-time and had children and in school full-time, so I think I was in school from '97-2002. Before that I earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies from Colorado Christian University. I graduated from both schools with honors. Do you want to see my transcripts and particular grades too? :rolleyes:
Getting a little testy there aren’t you?

I noticed that both of the schools listed have online programs. Is this how you received your “degrees”?

In checking out the Baptist seminary, I did find this:
• There is one church (Catholic,
Orthodox and Protestant) for
every 1455 people.
• Evangelicals need to be planting
500 churches per year for
the next 20 years to make
a significant impact on the
Chicagoland population.

sbts.edu/documents/cpc/Newsletter_07Sep.pdf

You have made it clear you are from the Chicago area right? It sure makes it look like you’re more here to proselytize now doesn’t it.

Also, I find it interesting that a person that went to seminary for 5 years is more qualified to interpret scripture than a church that is 2000 years old. Doesn’t really seem very logical does it? 🤷
 
Biblical in who’s opinion? And if we disagree about it(like you disagree with the multitude of Protestants who say OSAS is biblical) how do we resolve it?
By understanding the Bible for what it says, not what we want it to say. There will always be people who disagree and chose to let presuppositions and powers taint their understanding. It’s the Scriptures that we have been given to change people. We know that there were many false teachers all through Scripture. The Gospel, NOT the Catholic Church, is the power of God for salvation. Christians/Churches are the vessels of the Gospel.
 
By understanding the Bible for what it says, not what we want it to say. There will always be people who disagree and chose to let presuppositions and powers taint their understanding. It’s the Scriptures that we have been given to change people. We know that there were many false teachers all through Scripture. The Gospel, NOT the Catholic Church, is the power of God for salvation. Christians/Churches are the vessels of the Gospel.
Be carefull here, statements like these may cause one difficulty, I assume you still have both of your hands and both of your eyes.
 
I started to post this on the other thread but found it was closed, so I am moving it here where it is actually more appropriate.

(Quote here is from the other thread)
Catholics go way beyond Scripture with the Eucharist. We shouldn’t have faith in it. I could easily respond with, “Well, you are attacking God’s Word!” So maybe we should stop saying people are attacking people and open the Scriptures.
Well said, Let us explore the idea of “let’s open the Scriptures” for a moment.

Let us pretend for a moment that I am a “heathen” (which I was for many years though I was raised catholic).

You wish to bring me to Jesus and so invite me to “open the Scriptures” (That is the Holy bible) which are, so you tell me, the complete Word of God and the sole rule of faith. So you being to teach me a few things from the Bible.

This fascinates me and so I go out and Purchase a “Holy Bible” of my own and begin reading through it. I come to you with a question from Daniel Chapter 13.
“Chapter thirteen?”, you ask. There must be some mistake - there are only 12 chapters in Daniel.
"No I respond, it is Chapter 13, verses 34-41.
You then recognize that what I have is a Catholic Bible.

Now I have a dilemma. I believed you when you told me that “The Bible” is the complete and unalterable word of God and I believed you. Now I’m faced with another “Holy Bible” that is different from the one who hold so dear.

This bible I hold was sold to me by a Good Christian bookstore, and is obviously not some spurious publication, but rather is the product of a large and respectable organization.

Now here is the dillemma - Since the Bible is the “Complete and Unalterable Word of God”, according to you, yet there are at least two different canons both claiming to be the “Holy Bible”, who’s word do I take, yours or theirs?
Peace
James
 
Steve,

I always wonder this of all non-Catholic Christians I meet, but what would it take for you to convert to Catholism?
That’s a great question and I appreciate you asking it. I’ll answer, and I’d like you to answer your own question for me too. What would it take for you to convert to Protestantism?

There are many hangups for me. I imagine a number of those would have to be dealt with sufficiently.

It’s Scripture that keeps Protestants from Catholicism. So I’d have to see the entire system of Popes and Catholic leadership from one brief passage in Mt 16. I’d have to see Scripture pointing to an equal authority outside itself. I’d have to see praying to Saints from Scripture. I’d have to see baptizing infants in Scripture. I’d have to see real presence from Scripture. Etc.
 
I started to post this on the other thread but found it was closed, so I am moving it here where it is actually more appropriate.

(Quote here is from the other thread)

Well said, Let us explore the idea of “let’s open the Scriptures” for a moment.

Let us pretend for a moment that I am a “heathen” (which I was for many years though I was raised catholic).

You wish to bring me to Jesus and so invite me to “open the Scriptures” (That is the Holy bible) which are, so you tell me, the complete Word of God and the sole rule of faith. So you being to teach me a few things from the Bible.

This fascinates me and so I go out and Purchase a “Holy Bible” of my own and begin reading through it. I come to you with a question from Daniel Chapter 13.
“Chapter thirteen?”, you ask. There must be some mistake - there are only 12 chapters in Daniel.
"No I respond, it is Chapter 13, verses 34-41.
You then recognize that what I have is a Catholic Bible.

Now I have a dilemma. I believed you when you told me that “The Bible” is the complete and unalterable word of God and I believed you. Now I’m faced with another “Holy Bible” that is different from the one who hold so dear.

This bible I hold was sold to me by a Good Christian bookstore, and is obviously not some spurious publication, but rather is the product of a large and respectable organization.

Now here is the dillemma - Since the Bible is the “Complete and Unalterable Word of God”, according to you, yet there are at least two different canons both claiming to be the “Holy Bible”, who’s word do I take, yours or theirs?
Peace
James
Good questions. 1. I would give them a Bible, not make them buy their own. 🙂 2. I don’t put much weight on different publishers with different goals using the name “Holy Bible.” What makes it holy is God’s inspiration. I write Holy Bible on a blank notebook and that doesn’t make it from God. So I would tell them there are Christians who accept other books that aren’t God-breathed.

It seems like a not-that-important problem, really. Not sure that scenario gets us very far in conversation. And you all would have the same problem if someone buys a Protestant Bible.
 
RM,

Honest question:

Do you believe that if any person either now or at any point in history, Protestant or Catholic, no matter what level or education or experience does not share your exact interpretation of Scripture as you would express is in error?

If yes, how do you know that you are fundamentally correct and everyone else is not?
If no, how do you resolve any disagreements on Scripture?
 
By understanding the Bible for what it says, not what we want it to say. There will always be people who disagree and chose to let presuppositions and powers taint their understanding. It’s the Scriptures that we have been given to change people. We know that there were many false teachers all through Scripture. The Gospel, NOT the Catholic Church, is the power of God for salvation. Christians/Churches are the vessels of the Gospel.
And yet if we DO let the Bible speak for itself it points directly, and by Christ’s own words toward an authoritative Church on Earth. In this I point to Matthew 18: 15-18.
Matthew 18: 15-18
15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church (Singular); and if he refuses to listen even to the church let him be as a tax collector. 18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
And just to be clear, I don’t think anyone would disagree that teaching a false doctrine (a false Gospel) would clearly be sinful and thus the passage above would apply to doctrinal issues.

This authority can be clearly excerized in Acts Chapter 15. With the Council of Jerusalem. It has always struck me that those who today cling to Sola Scriptura would undoubtedly be members of the Judaizers in the debate before the council of Jerusalem. Clearly circumcision, and the dietary laws, the “Law of Moses” was scriptural and therefore the Apostles at the council should have applied these laws to the Gentile converts as well as the Jews.
Yet, what The Church in Council did do was to go outside the established scripture of the time - That being the OT, and Loosing the Gentiles, and by extention ALL christians, from the contraints of the Mosaic Law.

Now - We can argue over how the structure of this “Authoritative Church” ought to have been set up, whether teh RCC or the Orthodox system is better, It is not my goal here to convince you that the RCC model is ideal (though obviously I think it is).
However, the fact remains that the word “Church” is used only twice in the Gospels - Both times from the Mouth of Christ Himself, and Both time in confirring the Power to “Bind and Loose - Whatever”.
Clearly an indication that Christ foresaw the need for a temporal system to resolve disputes and maintain unity and purity of His message.
The Church has used such councils to prevent the Gospel from being distorted on many occasions. She even used a series of councils to set and confirm the canon of Scripture that you claim and then attempt to use against her.

Peace
James
 
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