Who Has Authority?

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On the important things no, it was pretty accurate and that’s what I was looking for. 😉
I don’t count wax candles and other miscellaneous things as important. :rolleyes:
Did I miss your response to the people who posted against the “important” things that you claim to be accurate #266?

Funny, most people think that if a person gives unreliable testimony even about “little things” it calls into questions their reliability in general yet you seem unconcerned about it?
 
I think the main thing with Protestants not liking today’s Catholic Church is due to some of our bad popes in history corrupting the seat of Rome.
I agree,. but for every bad one there were 50 good ones and 10 exceptional one’s. Not a bad track record eh? 👍
 
Yes, I follow the commandments to the best of my ability and I try to lead a life worthy of God every day:thumbsup: I dont presume anything. I trust what God has put forth in His Word.👍 You should read Romans a very powerful book indeed:thumbsup:
There are many Christians who say, just as you do, that they believe the message of salvation and that they rely on the Holy Spirit for their interpretation of the Bible, which they say tells them that it’s OK to perform abortions and commit sodomy. So they do these things and insist that they are “saved”. Is that OK with you? If not, why not?
 
There are many Christians who say, just as you do, that they believe the message of salvation and that they rely on the Holy Spirit for their interpretation of the Bible, which they say tells them that it’s OK to perform abortions and commit sodomy. So they do these things and insist that they are “saved”. Is that OK with you? If not, why not?
They are wrong and obviously need to read their bible. There are also many people who claim to have the HS and their actions and words show otherwise. Someone who says they are saved and then goes against what the bible teaches, I would say needs to take a long hard look at themselves. There are many people that sit in all churches around the world and claim to be saved but are not. Including my church and yours.😦
 
They are wrong and obviously need to read their bible. There are also many people who claim to have the HS and their actions and words show otherwise. Someone who says they are saved and then goes against what the bible teaches, I would say needs to take a long hard look at themselves. There are many people that sit in all churches around the world and claim to be saved but are not. Including my church and yours.😦
AFH, I think Petergee’s point is: how do you know your interpretation is correct and the other person is wrong? Both of you are reading the Bible, praying to the Holy Spirit, and trying to discern the truth. Yet you come to opposing answers.

Surely many Protestant ministers have studied the Bible carefully and prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Yet they too end up teaching opposing doctrines.

On another thread, I asked you a question which you never gave an answer to–at least I never saw your answer. I had originally asked what to do if a friend was sinning against me by teaching false doctrine about Baptism to my children. The Bible says in Matthew 18 to take it to the church. I asked you which church to take it to. You said to take it to the church I happened to belong to. I then pointed out:

But I’m afraid this doesn’t help at all. How do I know the church I’m attending will give me the right answer about Baptism? As I pointed out, some teach Baptism is for everyone; some say it is not for infants. Some teach that Baptism is regenerative; others say it is merely symbolic. Some teach Baptism is not necessary at all. They all claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Because I want my children to have the truth, it’s absolutely essential they be taught the correct doctrine about Baptism. But all these churches have different doctrines! All these churches go by the Bible and claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit, but they can’t all be right because they teach opposing doctrines!

What if I’m saying Baptism is regenerative and is for infants, but my friend says it isn’t regenerative and infants should not be baptized? (And that’s what he’s teaching my kids!) How do I trust whatever church I happen to be attending to give me the right answer? That church might say my friend is right, and I am wrong. However, if I happen to attend a different church, it might say I’m right and he’s wrong!

Now, when Jesus said “take it to the church,” surely He didn’t mean for me to take it to a church that’s going to give me a wrong answer. Surely Jesus wants us to have the truth. As I’ve pointed out, simply *taking it to the church I happen to attend *is no guarantee that church will teach me the correct doctrine.

So I have to ask again: Which church do I take it to?

Or, to put it another way: Is there a church I can trust to teach me the correct doctrine? Because if there isn’t, why would Jesus tell me to “take it to the church”?

Link to other thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=1751958#post1751958
 
From reading the debates between Protestants and Catholics on this forum, it seems Protestants believe the following (implicitly, if not explicitly; and as a former Protestant I accepted it unconciously):
The Holy Spirit was able to prevent error when the sacred writers wrote Holy Scripture.
The Holy Spirit was able to prevent error when the Church leaders compiled Holy Scripture.
But the Holy Spirit was unable to prevent error when teaching the true meaning of Holy Scripture.
Protestants believe that Catholicism became corrupted and thus necessitated the Reformation. I want ask something: If the Catholic Church erred in its teaching, to where is the Christian to go to to find the Scriptures expounded without error?
Nice one 👍
 
AFH, I think Petergee’s point is: how do you know your interpretation is correct and the other person is wrong? Both of you are reading the Bible, praying to the Holy Spirit, and trying to discern the truth. Yet you come to opposing answers.

Surely many Protestant ministers have studied the Bible carefully and prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Yet they too end up teaching opposing doctrines.

On another thread, I asked you a question which you never gave an answer to–at least I never saw your answer. I had originally asked what to do if a friend was sinning against me by teaching false doctrine about Baptism to my children. The Bible says in Matthew 18 to take it to the church. I asked you which church to take it to. You said to take it to the church I happened to belong to. I then pointed out:

But I’m afraid this doesn’t help at all. How do I know the church I’m attending will give me the right answer about Baptism? As I pointed out, some teach Baptism is for everyone; some say it is not for infants. Some teach that Baptism is regenerative; others say it is merely symbolic. Some teach Baptism is not necessary at all. They all claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Because I want my children to have the truth, it’s absolutely essential they be taught the correct doctrine about Baptism. But all these churches have different doctrines! All these churches go by the Bible and claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit, but they can’t all be right because they teach opposing doctrines!

What if I’m saying Baptism is regenerative and is for infants, but my friend says it isn’t regenerative and infants should not be baptized? (And that’s what he’s teaching my kids!) How do I trust whatever church I happen to be attending to give me the right answer? That church might say my friend is right, and I am wrong. However, if I happen to attend a different church, it might say I’m right and he’s wrong!

Now, when Jesus said “take it to the church,” surely He didn’t mean for me to take it to a church that’s going to give me a wrong answer. Surely Jesus wants us to have the truth. As I’ve pointed out, simply *taking it to the church I happen to attend *is no guarantee that church will teach me the correct doctrine.

So I have to ask again: Which church do I take it to?

Or, to put it another way: Is there a church I can trust to teach me the correct doctrine? Because if there isn’t, why would Jesus tell me to “take it to the church”?

Link to other thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=1751958#post1751958
Hi,
Im sorry I didnt answer your question:o Maybe I thought I did but it didnt help you:o Sorry:(

Honestly, when I was looking for a church that would teach me the truth as I believed it to be I visited and I asked for their doctrine of faith. If it matched the bible(as I understand the bible)that is where I went. I understand people have opposing views. The thing of it is all side think they are right so, what I do is go back to the bible. If one side tells me something that simply is not in the bible I x them off my list(for that doctrine) and so on. If I am told something that is in the bible but questionable–I study it and pray and the HS has not let me down.👍

As far as baptism, the bible is silent on the baby issue however, when baptism is mentioned it also mentions that one must believe and repent. So from a logical standpoint I would say an infant cant do that so I would believe a believers baptism which can be a child–age depends on how much a child knows. Some kids get it at 5. My son is 8 and only begining to get it. There is nothing in the bible about a parents intention(Iforget what catholics call it:o ). I have studied baptism and I have come to the conclusion that baby baptism does not save someone. The Scriptures just dont teach that.

Ultimately, I think the answer is always go back to the bible. Also, people are going to venture to a side they grew up with and they feel comfortable with until the HS moves them. It really does take studying the bible and discerning for yourself. If you truly have the HS then God will lead you to where He wants you to be and it may be a baptist church, catholic,methodist etc. Keep in mind that if a person does not have the HS in them they are unable to intrepret the Scriptures clearly.👍
 
They are wrong and obviously need to read their bible.
You say they need to read their Bible, but I know people who read the Bible in the original Greek and Hebrew, who have gone to every kind of Bible school, and taken every kind of Theology classes, who say that the Bible never actually condemns (or even mentions) born-as-homosexuals from marrying each other (though it does condemn sodomy and homosexual-type acts in heterosexuals) and that abortion, birth control, and even child exposure (killing a newborn child by leaving her outside, exposed to the elements) is never directly condemned anywhere in the Scriptures.

These Bible scholars also claim to have the Holy Spirit, and they claim that the Holy Spirit is telling them that we are now in a more mature Age of Man when we can indulge our sexual appetites without condemnation from God, because we have women’s liberation now, and we have learned how to respect one another. They say that these ancient ideas of “sexual sin” have never really been condemned by the Bible itself, and that the Holy Spirit is guiding us into a new era of freedom from repressive sexual taboos.

An outsider looking in (say, a non-Christian), not knowing anything about Christian tradition, what should he think? Are you right (three years of reading the Bible by yourself) or them? (16 years of Theology and Bible classes, plus an additional 30 years of preaching and pastoral care/marriage counselling.) After all, both are claiming to have the Holy Spirit, both are saying “Bible alone; no human traditions” and both seem to be completely sincere in their beliefs.
 
You say they need to read their Bible, but I know people who read the Bible in the original Greek and Hebrew, who have gone to every kind of Bible school, and taken every kind of Theology classes, who say that the Bible never actually condemns (or even mentions) born-as-homosexuals from marrying each other (though it does condemn sodomy and homosexual-type acts in heterosexuals) and that abortion, birth control, and even child exposure (killing a newborn child by leaving her outside, exposed to the elements) is never directly condemned anywhere in the Scriptures.

These Bible scholars also claim to have the Holy Spirit, and they claim that the Holy Spirit is telling them that we are now in a more mature Age of Man when we can indulge our sexual appetites without condemnation from God, because we have women’s liberation now, and we have learned how to respect one another. They say that these ancient ideas of “sexual sin” have never really been condemned by the Bible itself, and that the Holy Spirit is guiding us into a new era of freedom from repressive sexual taboos.

An outsider looking in (say, a non-Christian), not knowing anything about Christian tradition, what should he think? Are you right (three years of reading the Bible by yourself) or them? (16 years of Theology and Bible classes, plus an additional 30 years of preaching and pastoral care/marriage counselling.) After all, both are claiming to have the Holy Spirit, both are saying “Bible alone; no human traditions” and both seem to be completely sincere in their beliefs.
I would say it doesnt matter how long you have read or studied the bible or gone to seminary or become a priest or bishop or anything else. If you do not have the HS in you you cannot and will not intrepret Scripture correctly.

As far as your last paragraph goes—that is why it is important for christians who do have the HS in them to produce the fruit of the spirit so non-christians can tell we are different and that we have something they want. There is SOOO much corruption out there everywhere that truly does inhibit people from finding God:( I can only do my part and that is to show people the fruit of the spirit(Galations 5:22) and only hope people will notice I am different from the way the world thinks.👍
 
I would say it doesnt matter how long you have read or studied the bible or gone to seminary or become a priest or bishop or anything else. If you do not have the HS in you you cannot and will not intrepret Scripture correctly.

As far as your last paragraph goes—that is why it is important for christians who do have the HS in them to produce the fruit of the spirit so non-christians can tell we are different and that we have something they want. There is SOOO much corruption out there everywhere that truly does inhibit people from finding God:( I can only do my part and that is to show people the fruit of the spirit(Galations 5:22) and only hope people will notice I am different from the way the world thinks.👍
So, would you say that my friend (he’s actually my husband’s pastor) is either lying or self-deceived when he says he has the Holy Spirit, and that he is interpreting the Scriptures through the power of the Holy Spirit, given personally to him because he read about it in the Scriptures and believed it?

He seems so sincere, and so loving!! He often gives to the poor, and he’s patient with fools, he’s peaceful, and he’s always so kind to everyone, and so joyful all the time - could it really be that this kind, loving, joyful Christian believer hasn’t got the Holy Spirit at all, but some other spirit? :eek:

And if it could happen to him, couldn’t it happen to someone else, too?
 
So, would you say that my friend (he’s actually my husband’s pastor) is either lying or self-deceived when he says he has the Holy Spirit, and that he is interpreting the Scriptures through the power of the Holy Spirit, given personally to him because he read about it in the Scriptures and believed it?

He seems so sincere, and so loving!! He often gives to the poor, and he’s patient with fools, he’s peaceful, and he’s always so kind to everyone, and so joyful all the time - could it really be that this kind, loving, joyful Christian believer hasn’t got the Holy Spirit at all, but some other spirit? :eek:

And if it could happen to him, couldn’t it happen to someone else, too?
Hi,
I cant and I wont make a judgement call. I dont even know this man. I hope and pray he has the HS but God only knows.
My Grandfather was an Episcopal Minister and while I hope he is in heaven I really dont know. Some of his actions were questionable. I guess what I am trying to say is that just because someone is a minister or priest or bishop or even pope doesnt mean they automatically have the HS in them. Although I would give them the benefit of the doubt because they are teaching God’s Word. Actually I feel sorry for them if they are not indwelled with the HS because they are held to a higher standard by God:eek: which means they will be judged more harshly:eek:

Well, that was a long winded I wont make a judgement call.:o
 
Hi,
I cant and I wont make a judgement call. I dont even know this man. I hope and pray he has the HS but God only knows.
So, the Holy Spirit could be using him to teach sexual immorality, while at the same time using other people to uphold the more traditional Christian standards? (Does that seem to you like something the Holy Spirit would do?)
My Grandfather was an Episcopal Minister and while I hope he is in heaven I really dont know. Some of his actions were questionable. I guess what I am trying to say is that just because someone is a minister or priest or bishop or even pope doesnt mean they automatically have the HS in them.
I thought you said before that everyone has the Holy Spirit in them to know the Truth of God’s Word without needing a teacher?
Although I would give them the benefit of the doubt because they are teaching God’s Word. Actually I feel sorry for them if they are not indwelled with the HS because they are held to a higher standard by God:eek: which means they will be judged more harshly:eek:
Well, that was a long winded I wont make a judgement call.:o
I’m not asking you to judge whether they will go to Heaven or not, but whether you would have them for your teacher, or not.

If everyone has the Holy Spirit, then whatever anyone says to you is coming directly from the Holy Spirit, right? As long as they got it from Scripture, I mean.
 
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petergee View Post
There are many Christians who say, just as you do, that they believe the message of salvation and that they rely on the Holy Spirit for their interpretation of the Bible, which they say tells them that it’s OK to perform abortions and commit sodomy. So they do these things and insist that they are “saved”. Is that OK with you? If not, why not?

They are wrong and obviously need to read their bible.
They would say that YOU are wrong and need to read the Bible to see that THEY are right.
There are also many people who claim to have the HS and their actions and words show otherwise. Someone who says they are saved and then goes against what the bible teaches, I would say needs to take a long hard look at themselves. There are many people that sit in all churches around the world and claim to be saved but are not. Including my church and yours.😦
You’re definitely wrong there. I have met many thousands of Catholics, practising, non-practising, good and bad. Not one Catholic has ever claimed to me that he is “saved”. We all believe we are, as the Bible says, “working out our salvation” and only if we “endure to the end will we be saved”.
 
Hi,
Im sorry I didnt answer your question:o Maybe I thought I did but it didnt help you:o Sorry:(

Honestly, when I was looking for a church that would teach me the truth as I believed it to be I visited and I asked for their doctrine of faith. If it matched the bible(as I understand the bible)that is where I went. I understand people have opposing views. The thing of it is all side think they are right so, what I do is go back to the bible. If one side tells me something that simply is not in the bible I x them off my list(for that doctrine) and so on. If I am told something that is in the bible but questionable–I study it and pray and the HS has not let me down.👍

As far as baptism, the bible is silent on the baby issue however, when baptism is mentioned it also mentions that one must believe and repent. So from a logical standpoint I would say an infant cant do that so I would believe a believers baptism which can be a child–age depends on how much a child knows. Some kids get it at 5. My son is 8 and only begining to get it. There is nothing in the bible about a parents intention(Iforget what catholics call it:o ). I have studied baptism and I have come to the conclusion that baby baptism does not save someone. The Scriptures just dont teach that.

Ultimately, I think the answer is always go back to the bible. Also, people are going to venture to a side they grew up with and they feel comfortable with until the HS moves them. It really does take studying the bible and discerning for yourself. If you truly have the HS then God will lead you to where He wants you to be and it may be a baptist church, catholic,methodist etc. Keep in mind that if a person does not have the HS in them they are unable to intrepret the Scriptures clearly.👍
Yet less than 200 years after Christ they were writing specifically about infant baptism and how to do it? Or didn’t the Holy Spirit truly reside in anyone for over 1800 years until a “believers baptism” began to be taught? Or?
From CA Library Early Teachings on Infant Baptism
Hippolytus

“Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them” (*The Apostolic Tradition *21:16 [A.D. 215]).
 
I have met many thousands of Catholics, practising, non-practising, good and bad. Not one Catholic has ever claimed to me that he is “saved”. We all believe we are, as the Bible says, “working out our salvation” and only if we “endure to the end will we be saved”.
Hi,
Well, that is a whole other topic.😉
 
Yet less than 200 years after Christ they were writing specifically about infant baptism and how to do it?
Hi,
Well like I have said before, there were false teachings going on while the Apostles were still teaching, so it doesnt surprise me that in less then 200 years infant baptism started.😦
 
Hi,
Well like I have said before, there were false teachings going on while the Apostles were still teaching, so it doesnt surprise me that in less then 200 years infant baptism started.😦
And took God 1600 years to fix?
 
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