You evaded my point altogether.
Hm?
I did not challenge the spirituality of Catholic teachers.
You said:
After all, the pope and the cardinal- bishops are all practically infallible when they speak doctrine, Iâm told. But anyone else (outside your teaching circle) is viewed as having less impartation of the Holy Spirit than them.
But you assume they alone have revelation from God.
We believe that the Catholic Church, alone, is assured of and Teaches an infallible understanding of Godâs Word.
I donât think thatâs the same thing as what you claim we assert.
I donât. We too have the very same Holy Spirit residing in our hearts.
Agreed. But so do the Catholic laity, the Catholic Saints and the Catholic Priests. None of which are considered infallible, either. So, whatâs your point? That everyone who has the Holy Spirit residing in their hearts is infallible?
We too draw near to Him in prayer and supplication.
True.
We too hear His voice and obeyâŚ
That is the one we are discussing and debating, isnât it. We donât consider it obedient to deny Godâs Word. And we believe that Protestants deny Godâs Word when they interpret it in contradiction to the instrument that He appointed to Teach His Word. Namely, the Catholic Church. Basically, if you disobey the Catholic Church, you disobey God, because God speaks through her.
We too understand 1st. Cor. 2:15 when we make judgments about all things and is NOT judged (accurately) by anyone.
You believe it of each and every Protestant. And yet, you disagree with each other.
Whereas, we believe that God has appointed ministers for His people, who impart to us, His Will. We believe these are all members of the Magisterium.
This is why I say the Protestants are just one slice of the pie, but so are the Catholics. The pie is so much grander than your parameters or mine.
Whom do you include in your pie? People who deny the efficacy of Baptism, people who deny the Real Presence, people who deny that men must strive for holiness, people who believe that one may sin at will and still be saved, etc. etc.?
Scripture Teaches that Doctrine is very important and denounces idea that one can believe anything they want and still be saved. And Scripture doesnât have some kind of list which it denotes as the âessentialsâ that we must believe and ignore everything else. Here is what Scripture says:
1 Timothy 1:3As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Scripture does not Teach the idea you are espousing.