Shouldn't the bible be the top authority on everything?

[DaneClark]

I’ve been thinking. If all that stuff like the difference between venial and mortal sin, or about how you’ll automatically go to hell if you don’t confess every one of your sins to a priest were true, wouldn’t they have put it in the Bible? Shouldn’t you be able to confess your sins directly to God in order to be forgiven? Isn’t that the whole reason why Jesus died for us in the first place?

Besides, aren’t all those rules about sin and confession that they have in the catechism man-made? I just don’t believe that God would create such specific rules like that, especially since he wants everyone to have peace of mind. Those complicated rules that they have in the catechism seem to do nothing other than cause lots of unnecessary anxiety in scrupulous people like me. I think that all need to do to be forgiven for anything is to pray for forgiveness, which is something that you can do in your own home. While I do see how going to confession can be good for your spiritual life, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to avoid Hell. If it were, I think that it would have specifically said so in the bible.

 

[MarkThompson]

I’ve been thinking. If all that stuff like the difference between venial and mortal sin, or about how you’ll automatically go to hell if you don’t confess every one of your sins to a priest were true, wouldn’t they have put it in the Bible? Shouldn’t you be able to confess your sins directly to God in order to be forgiven? Isn’t that the whole reason why Jesus died for us in the first place?

Besides, aren’t all those rules about sin and confession that they have in the catechism man-made? I just don’t believe that God would create such specific rules like that, especially since he wants everyone to have peace of mind. Those complicated rules that they have in the catechism seem to do nothing other than cause lots of unnecessary anxiety in scrupulous people like me. I think that all need to do to be forgiven for anything is to pray for forgiveness, which is something that you can do in your own home. While I do see how going to confession can be good for your spiritual life, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to avoid Hell. If it were, I think that it would have specifically said so in the bible.

A couple of thoughts for you: (1) have you read the Old Testament? God created excruciatingly specific rules for lots of things: from what foods were clean and unclean, to what a woman must do to cleanse herself after menstruation, to the exact dimensions and decorations of the Ark of the Covenant. God is no stranger to exacting rules. (2) When Jesus was walking among us, he didn’t write down his sayings and precepts or establish a book of teachings. What he did establish is a Church, and the Church, being divinely instituted but existing among men, is by its very nature and constitution in charge of mediating between the human and the divine. That’s why Jesus gave us a Church in the first place: to proclaim his teachings and do the things that are necessary, from age to age, to enable us to keep to his commandments. And the Church predated the very existence of the New Testament – in fact, it was the Church itself, through a series of ecumenical councils, divinely guided, that decided which of the many books floating around that claimed apostolic origin and divine inspiration were in fact worth of being in the Canon. So it doesn’t make much sense to exalt written Scripture over the apostolic authority of the Church, since it was the apostolic authority of the Church that decided what would be Scripture and what would just be left in the dust. (For example, many people thought that The Shepherd of Hermas was divinely inspired, but the Church determined that it was not.)

For further information, you might want to read through some of the documents here. Cheers–

Mark.

 

[canne]

… If it were, I think that it would have specifically said so in the bible.

To the Apostles from Jesus.
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

further reading: catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

 

[giuseppeTO]

If you read the last verse of St. John’s gosple, he attests to the fact that Christ said and did many things that were not “captured” in the bible. The rest of what Christ taught and revealed was passed down through his successors, the apostles, who were charged with promulgating His words beyond those written in scripture.

So, if you only use the bible as a sole source of revelation, you ignore a significant amount of Christ’s teachings handed down through apostolic tradition.

Our Protestant brothers would have you believe that the bible (their version) is the totality of revelation which demonstrates that they miss much that has been handed down by the succession of apostles and contained within the Deposit of Faith and Magisterium.

Since the New testament was not collated into a concise volume until hundreds of years after Christ and was not subsequently readily available to the general population until hundreds of years after that, it would certainly seem to have been a poor choice for Christ to expect Christianity to take root relying solely on a book that would not be available to most Christians until hundreds of years after His death. Rather, he relied on the teaching of His apostles to transmit the majority of revelation supported eventually and completely by scripture, but never solely by scripture.

 

[po18guy]

I’ve been thinking. If all that stuff like the difference between venial and mortal sin, or about how you’ll automatically go to hell if you don’t confess every one of your sins to a priest were true, wouldn’t they have put it in the Bible? Shouldn’t you be able to confess your sins directly to God in order to be forgiven? Isn’t that the whole reason why Jesus died for us in the first place?

Good that you are pondering such things! I can only suggest that you read the Letter of James and 1 John. In 1 John 5:16, he speaks of sins that lead to death, and others which do not. James teaches us to confess our sins to “one another”, (James 5:16) and so we do. However, God is present during all confessions, Catholic or not. The Priest or Bishop is the Lord’s agent on earth, and acts “in persona Christi” - in the person of Christ, to forgive sins. For this very reason, Jesus gave the Apostles power over sin (Matthew 16:19, John 20:23)). Remember how shocked the Pharisees were that Jesus forgave sins? (Mark 2:7, Mark 5:21) Well, He then gave that authority to the twelve, and they passed it on through the laying on of hands, a process described in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 4:14).

It is the same with power over demons. Until Jesus gave that power to the seventy-two, (Luke 10:17) no man had ever had power over demons. And, to carry that power on, certain Catholic Priests and Bishops have the authority to cast out demons to this day. But, remember when those who were not authorized tried to cast demons out? (Acts 19:13-16) They were torn up by those same demons! The point is that the seven sons of Sceva had no authority to drive them out.

Besides, aren’t all those rules about sin and confession that they have in the catechism man-made? I just don’t believe that God would create such specific rules like that, especially since he wants everyone to have peace of mind.

First: Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the Church to lead it into all truth (John 16:13). The Church produced, with God’s inspiration, the bible. The same Spirit lead the Church to develop norms for worship and administration of the Sacraments, because the faith was spreading through all nations and cultures, and so consistency had to be achieved. It is those guidelines that produce peace. Through those same guidelines, we learn to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Rather than fear them or doubt them, examine them. Each was inspired to assist in leading us to heaven.

We can show that the bible is man-made, because we know many of the authors. We take it to be inspired only through our faith, and by the declaration of the Church.

Those complicated rules that they have in the catechism seem to do nothing other than cause lots of unnecessary anxiety in scrupulous people like me. I think that all need to do to be forgiven for anything is to pray for forgiveness, which is something that you can do in your own home.

When Jesus forgave sin, as a sign of His New Covenant, he told them “your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:5, Luke 5:20, Luke 7:47). I must ask: Have you ever heard those words? When you do, you will be simply amazed at how comforting and reassuring they are. You leave confession feeling like your feet are not touching the ground. God in Christ is present wherever two or three are gathered in His name, correct? (Matthew 18:20) When you and the Priest are together in the Sacrament of Recionciliation, Jesus is also there. He is there in the spirtual sense, as He was present when the seventy two cast out demons, but also physically through His Priest.

While I do see how going to confession can be good for your spiritual life, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to avoid Hell. If it were, I think that it would have specifically said so in the bible.

I would advise you not to aim away from hell, but toward heaven. Even if confession wasn’t absolutely required to get to heaven, don’t you want the best chance? You know what the other choice is, and it’s forever. Don’t you want the deepest, most spiritual relationship that you can possibly have with our Lord? When you experience the soul-lifting peace that comes from absolution from your sins, you are taking your faith to another level. Catholics know this and our testimony is true (to quote Saint John).

You sound like a bible Christian. Good on you! Your faith, baptism and adherence to the Word has changed you forever. But, the Church came before the bible, and produced the bible, so not everything is in the bible. Just scan Luke 3:18, John 20:30, John 21:25, Acts 2:40, 1 Corinthians 11:34. All of these verses, and many others, tell you that the bible is incomplete.

As to the catechism, have a look inside. You can get one for about $10, or at the library. Next to the bible, you will be absolutely amazed at the wisdom in it. Yes, it has rules in it, but it gives the reasons for those rules. It is in those reasons that the wisdom exists.

Please keep pondering these things, carefully checking the scriptures for them. They are all in there, but we sometimes need an Ezra or a Philip (Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 8:27-31) to explain scripture to us.

Catholicism is not made up. Nothing made up will last almost 2,000 years, as attested to by Gamaliel in Acts 5:38-39.

Always seek the truth.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

But what you believe or don’t believe does not in anyway change reality, God did do it this way whether you believe it or not.

God tells us in the scriptures that everything isn’t in the scriptures:

“Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book.” John 20:30

“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.” John 21:25

And God has given the authority to His Church on earth to make laws for the benefit of the flock:

“And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.” Matt. 16:19

And upholds the authority of His chosen priests through Divine chastisement:

“And thou shalt do whatsoever they shall say, that preside in the place, which the Lord shall choose, and what they shall teach thee, according to his law; and thou shalt follow their sentence: neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand. But he that will be proud, and refuse to obey the commandment of the priest, who ministereth at that time to the Lord thy God, and the decree of the judge, that man shall die, and thou shalt take away the evil from Israel:” Deut. 17:10-12

And commands us to love, honour and obey His priests.

“With all thy soul fear the Lord, and reverence his priests. With all thy strength love him that made thee: and forsake not his ministers. Honour God with all thy soul, and give honour to the priests, and purify thyself with thy arms.” Ecclesiasticus 7:31-33

And God makes it clear in the scriptures that the power to forgive sins and reconcile man is God is to be done through His priests:

“But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18

Which we see been practice in the Acts of the Apostles:

"And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds. " Acts 19:18

 

[Bbigam]

This should be in the Apologetics - Sacred Scripture sub-forum.

 

[JRKH]

There are a number of good answers already to your questions. I will just supply a couple of brief points here.

I’ve been thinking. If all that stuff like the difference between venial and mortal sin, or about how you’ll automatically go to hell if you don’t confess every one of your sins to a priest were true, wouldn’t they have put it in the Bible? Shouldn’t you be able to confess your sins directly to God in order to be forgiven? Isn’t that the whole reason why Jesus died for us in the first place?

In The Bible Christ established a Church with authority to “Bind and Loose” See Mt 16:16-19 and more especially Mt 18:15-18 for the ONLY two places in the Bible where Christ uses the term “Church”. You will note that both times it is used in granting authority to bind and loose.
The Church has used that authority to clarify issues for the Church over the centuries.

Besides, aren’t all those rules about sin and confession that they have in the catechism man-made? I just don’t believe that God would create such specific rules like that, especially since he wants everyone to have peace of mind.

Not at all. Most of the “rules” you refer to are merely clarifications on biblical matters and on Christ’s primary Rule to Love God and neighbor.
It all goes back to Love.

Those complicated rules that they have in the catechism seem to do nothing other than cause lots of unnecessary anxiety in scrupulous people like me.

Yes I can understand that for those suffering from scupulocity the many “rules” can be a burden. But that comes from the burden of Scrupulocity itself. Due to your scrupulocity you become focused on “keeping the Law”, that is, following all the rules, without necessarily understanding the underlying principles for the various rules. This is what causes one to lose their peace of mind.
When one looks at Mt 22:36-40 where Christ gives the Greatest commandments it is important to note what he says about their relationship to the other rules. He says, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
So the key to understanding all of the various rules is Love. Love of God and Love of neighbor.

I think that all need to do to be forgiven for anything is to pray for forgiveness, which is something that you can do in your own home. While I do see how going to confession can be good for your spiritual life, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to avoid Hell. If it were, I think that it would have specifically said so in the bible.

You do have a misunderstanding of confession both from a necessity standpoint and also from a benefits standpoint.
First, the necessity standpoint. Repentance and forgiveness need to be sought as soon as the need is recognized. Pray imediately for forgivenss. This is true for both venial AND mortal sin. However, confession to a priest as a follow-up is only necessary in the case of mortal sin.
Now fromt he benefits standpoint. Going to confession is not, or should not be, just about reeling off a list of sins. It can, and should, also be about spiritual advise, discussing areas of trouble etc., not unlike what you might do with a therapist or councilor.
Add to this the fact that, by verbally confessing and receiving absolution, you leave the confessional knowing you are forgiven. This is very beneficial spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

So - in summary,
Christ established a Church and not a book.
That Church has been given authority to Bind and Loose.
Christ also told the Apostles - Whos sins you forgive they are forgiven those you retain they are retained…
Therefore both The Church and Confession are quite biblical.

Peace
James

 

[Claire_from_DE]

This should be in the Apologetics - Sacred Scripture sub-forum.

I notice a lot of overlap in most of the forums. If this is where he hangs out and he wants to know what traditional Catholics would say about this, it’s OK here.

There have been some great answers given here to this question, worthy of the apologetics forum!

 

[po18guy]

I notice a lot of overlap in most of the forums. If this is where he hangs out and he wants to know what traditional Catholics would say about this, it’s OK here.

There have been some great answers given here to this question, worthy of the apologetics forum!

D’oh! I just clicked on the “Latest Threads” column on the left side of the home page. I just now realized that this is in TradCath area. Maybe a kind Mod can/will move it?

 

[RosaryCrusader]

You want to use the Bible (and your own interpretation) as your sole authority? Sure… why not? I mean those 30,000 different protestant sects can’t be wrong! :doh2:

 

[JRKH]

In answer to the actual title question, yes the bible should be used as authority on everything including who has authority.
The Bible says that “The Church” is the pillar and bulwark" of truth.
Christ says that His Church has the authority to Bind and Loose and that we should “Listen To The Church” or risk being seperated from the Body of Christ.

So - using the Bible as the “top authority” points one directly to The Church.

Peace
James

 

[po18guy]

In answer to the actual title question, yes the bible should be used as authority on everything including who has authority.
The Bible says that “The Church” is the pillar and bulwark" of truth.
Christ says that His Church has the authority to Bind and Loose and that we should “Listen To The Church” or risk being seperated from the Body of Christ.

So - using the Bible as the “top authority” points one directly to The Church.

Peace
James

Great point, James! Like settling for the owner’s manual, when you need the car to get you there.

 

[Thomas58]

I’ve been thinking. If all that stuff like the difference between venial and mortal sin, or about how you’ll automatically go to hell if you don’t confess every one of your sins to a priest were true, wouldn’t they have put it in the Bible? Shouldn’t you be able to confess your sins directly to God in order to be forgiven? Isn’t that the whole reason why Jesus died for us in the first place?

Besides, aren’t all those rules about sin and confession that they have in the catechism man-made? I just don’t believe that God would create such specific rules like that, especially since he wants everyone to have peace of mind. Those complicated rules that they have in the catechism seem to do nothing other than cause lots of unnecessary anxiety in scrupulous people like me. I think that all need to do to be forgiven for anything is to pray for forgiveness, which is something that you can do in your own home. While I do see how going to confession can be good for your spiritual life, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to avoid Hell. If it were, I think that it would have specifically said so in the bible.:"

If you read the Bible and use it as your authority you will see that Jesus Christ established a visible Church on Earth to propagate his teachings.

*"And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?

Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. **And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven ***

Another thing you should consider is that the Church pre-dated the New Testament.

The New Testament was not a neatly bond book that fell from Heaven complete and intact. The New Testament is a selection made by the authority of the Catholic Church itself from a mass of early Christian literature. The Canon of the New Testament came from the Catholic Church in Church Councils in Rome in 382 and in Carthage in 397 .

The New Testament was assembled to serve an already existent, functioning, and growing Church.

The earliest Christians had no New Testament to appeal to; they learned from oral, not written, instruction. This oral teaching was passed down generation to generation by the Church.

The fullness of Christian teaching was found, right from the first, in the Church as the living embodiment of Christ, not in a book. The teaching Church, with its oral traditions, was authoritative.

 

[edwest2]

There are a number of good answers already to your questions. I will just supply a couple of brief points here.

In The Bible Christ established a Church with authority to “Bind and Loose” See Mt 16:16-19 and more especially Mt 18:15-18 for the ONLY two places in the Bible where Christ uses the term “Church”. You will note that both times it is used in granting authority to bind and loose.
The Church has used that authority to clarify issues for the Church over the centuries.

Not at all. Most of the “rules” you refer to are merely clarifications on biblical matters and on Christ’s primary Rule to Love God and neighbor.
It all goes back to Love.

Yes I can understand that for those suffering from scupulocity the many “rules” can be a burden. But that comes from the burden of Scrupulocity itself. Due to your scrupulocity you become focused on “keeping the Law”, that is, following all the rules, without necessarily understanding the underlying principles for the various rules. This is what causes one to lose their peace of mind.
When one looks at Mt 22:36-40 where Christ gives the Greatest commandments it is important to note what he says about their relationship to the other rules. He says, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
So the key to understanding all of the various rules is Love. Love of God and Love of neighbor.

You do have a misunderstanding of confession both from a necessity standpoint and also from a benefits standpoint.
First, the necessity standpoint. Repentance and forgiveness need to be sought as soon as the need is recognized. Pray imediately for forgivenss. This is true for both venial AND mortal sin. However, confession to a priest as a follow-up is only necessary in the case of mortal sin.
Now fromt he benefits standpoint. Going to confession is not, or should not be, just about reeling off a list of sins. It can, and should, also be about spiritual advise, discussing areas of trouble etc., not unlike what you might do with a therapist or councilor.
Add to this the fact that, by verbally confessing and receiving absolution, you leave the confessional knowing you are forgiven. This is very beneficial spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

So - in summary,
Christ established a Church and not a book.
That Church has been given authority to Bind and Loose.
Christ also told the Apostles - Whos sins you forgive they are forgiven those you retain they are retained…
Therefore both The Church and Confession are quite biblical.

Peace
James

Why is Sacred Scripture called Sacred? This was done by the power of the Holy Spirit. What happened to Paul who persecuted the early Church? Jesus Himself spoke to him.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Brywan]

I just don’t believe that God would create such specific rules like that, especially since he wants everyone to have peace of mind. Those complicated rules that they have in the catechism seem to do nothing other than cause lots of unnecessary anxiety in scrupulous people like me.

You are going to have to give me some evidence that God wants everyone to have peace of mind all the time…

All of the sacraments are a means of experiencing CHRIST in our life–not to tie you down and make you feel guilty, but to experience CHRIST–and the freedom He brings— .this is especially true of the sacrament of reconciliation. You say you are scrupulous–I believe, that for the scrupulous, it is a true gift to actually HEAR those words, from CHRIST (in the person of His priest): “I **absolve **you of your sins…” Done deal. No question. No doubts.

I am reminded of the Old Testament story of Naaman the Leper–who was upset that he was told by the prophet Elisha to wash 7 times in the Jordan to cure his leprosy–he thought that God would heal him in some other, “supernatural” way…but it was the simple obedience to the prophet’s directive that healed his leprosy…

Sometimes the directives of God may seem strange or unnecessary to our natural minds…Jesus Christ, through His bride, the Church, has provided an absolute, sure way of KNOWING that we are forgiven of the sins we commit after baptism…and this sacrament is very simple, very uncomplicated, and very available to just about everyone on the planet–is this a bad thing, in your mind?!

 

[DaneClark]

I have always been taught that the most important thing to do is to just trust God and everything will be okay. Numerous times I have felt him telling me not to worry about things and just trust him that everything will be okay. Sometimes it seems like the catholic church wants everyone to be as perfect as they possibly can. I think that God can see behind any flaws a person may have and see that what really matters is that they have goodness in their hearts and have lots of faith.

I’m reminded of when Jesus healed a man on a Sunday and people thought it was blasphemous that he did so on the sabbath. He said that people should live by the heart of the law, not the letter of the law. What I think he meant was that people should listen to their hearts to decide whether or not something is morally wrong.

I know that God doesn’t want me to worry about things, and I just feel safest and most secure believing things this way.

 

[BettyM]

I have always been taught that the most important thing to do is to just trust God and everything will be okay. Numerous times I have felt him telling me not to worry about things and just trust him that everything will be okay. Sometimes it seems like the catholic church wants everyone to be as perfect as they possibly can. I think that God can see behind any flaws a person may have and see that what really matters is that they have goodness in their hearts and have lots of faith.

I’m reminded of when Jesus healed a man on a Sunday and people thought it was blasphemous that he did so on the sabbath. He said that people should live by the heart of the law, not the letter of the law. What I think he meant was that people should listen to their hearts to decide whether or not something is morally wrong.

I know that God doesn’t want me to worry about things, and I just feel safest and most secure believing things this way.

Jesus gave us the Church and the Church gave us the bible. The Church does want us to try and be as perfect or holy as we can. Jesus said in Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

You’re right God does see our flaws. When we go to confession it is not the first time God finds out about our sins. He already knows. He wants that relationship with us and He gave us His Church to draw us close to Him.

According to your first question: Should’t be the bible be the top authority on everything?

The Bible gives us this answer:
1Ti 3:15…the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

So if the bible says the church is the pillar and foundation of truth we don’t just follow after our own hearts. I think if you think about it, you will realize that everyone can’t just follow after their own heart. Besides the bible says not to follow after your own understanding but to acknowledge Him and He will direct your path, not your own heart directing your path.

 

[Brywan]

people should listen to their hearts to decide whether or not something is morally wrong.

I think that if you REALLY think about this statement you will see it is pretty indefensible in the realm of morality and ethics…

 

[JRKH]

I have always been taught that the most important thing to do is to just trust God and everything will be okay. Numerous times I have felt him telling me not to worry about things and just trust him that everything will be okay.

This is good. Trusting God, and resting in His Will is a very good thing. something we should all cultivate.

Sometimes it seems like the catholic church wants everyone to be as perfect as they possibly can.

This is certainly correct. And do you know why The Church seeks this in everyone? It is because it is an instruction that comes directly from Christ in the Gospels.
Matthew 5: 48
You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect

Should Christ’s Church, or any ofh the Faithful seek after anything less?

I think that God can see behind any flaws a person may have and see that what really matters is that they have goodness in their hearts and have lots of faith.

Yes Christ does see behind the flaws. But His knowledge and His mercy should not be seen as excuses for us to accept these flaws as permanent. Prather we need to ask Him for his help to remove these flaws from us that we may Grow in Holiness. In other words we must not “rest on our laurels” and commit teh sin of presumption.

I’m reminded of when Jesus healed a man on a Sunday and people thought it was blasphemous that he did so on the sabbath. He said that people should live by the heart of the law, not the letter of the law. What I think he meant was that people should listen to their hearts to decide whether or not something is morally wrong.

This is both correct and incorrect. Yes God wants us to listen to our hearts in many things. But this listening and discerning requires a “properly formed conscience”. In other words it is necessary to know what God requires of us in various situations. What the underlying reasons are for various rules etc. In other words we must conform our will to His. Only then can we, by listening to His Will in our hearts, properly discern what is morally right and wrong.

I know that God doesn’t want me to worry about things, and I just feel safest and most secure believing things this way.

May God continue to lead you in His paths.

Peace
James