Tibby,
What if it's true that the catholics worhip the virgin Mary and the Pope? I think that no matter how I say it, you're going to take offense at it. Even if i sugar- coated the way i said it, the very IDEA that I think the catholics worship the pope and the virgin Mary is what angers you. Is that my fault? I just want to know what's TRUE more than i care about who's right or wrong. That's why I search all things. How are we going to find out the truth without questioning? Truth-seekers are willing to entertain ALL sides of an issue, not just what they want to believe. I used to think that the Catholic church was ruled by the holy Spirit. But now i have my doubts. How am I going to alleviate these doubts without questioning? You have said that you look at both sides of the Catholic church. Then why do you attack us for doing the same thing? Jesus was VERY bold, and sometimes harsh the way He spoke. Those who were convicted were angry at His words. Those who wanted to learn, opened their ears. The important thing is the willingness to get to the truth. I'm sorry if you were offended, I certainly have not meant to offend you. Churches are simply institutions. They are not us. Attacking a church doesn't mean that we are being attacked.
The lies about Catholics worshiping Mary and the pope are not what anger me. The arrogance you display by implying you know more about what Catholics believe then Catholics do, THAT is what angers me. You are not looking for truth, you aren’t even willign to listen to our side. Did you ever think that maybe listening to a few Saved Catholics will help you find this truth you are looking for? Clearly not, you have done nothing but told us, in essence, we don’t know what we believe, and you do. Good job, you’re a run-of-the-mill anti-Catholic. THAT is the truth. You are trying to hide your prejudges, even from your self. When ever we correct you, you tell us we are to close-minded to listen to you. Hey, guess what, this is a double edged sword, from our point of view YOU are to close-minded to here what we are saying.
As for "teachers of the law", Jesus was the angriest at the teachers of the law precisely because it is their RESPONSIBILITY to make sure they are passing along Christ's meaning. It sounds like you think, Ebia, that just because somebody studies in a sminary and is ordained by a church, he is always right. That is idol worship. I'm glad that Luther had the courage to go up against these "teachers of the law" druing the reformation. Otherwise, these "teachers of the law" would still be passing on non-scriptural teachings. You can put your faith in these teachers of the law. I prefer to put my faith in Christ.
If I sound angry, it's because I am angry at the teachers of the law. There is so much corruption and self deception going on in them in the name of Christ. I expect that all of us are into self-decpetion and and some kind of corruption but when somebody sets himself up as an "expert" on Christianity, he owes it to himself and the people he's placed in his hands to make sure that he is passing on the right message. That is one reason why I think Christ is harsher toward them more than humble sinners.
Now you are comparing your self to Jesus? Don’t you think his perspective was a little bit more enlightened then yours, seeing how he is GOD and all? Yeah, I’m glad Luther left the church, too. One less Drunken, anti-Semitic for the Catholic Church to deal with.
My fear of talking to the catholic church is based on the reaction I have gotten by talking to the Lutheran church. They are going to believe what they believe and i am going to believe what i believe. That has shown itself to be true even on this forum. So why did you suggest I talk to them? What good will it do? The answers i have gotten in this forum about the catholic church have only re-enforced my beliefs about it. They DO worship the pope. When addressed by the rich man as "good sir" Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." Yet the pope has the audactity to be addressed as the Holy Father. Who does he think he is, pronouncing himself as better than Jesus? If someone called me holy, it would make me sick. I'm not holy and according to Christ, neither is anyone else, including HIMSELF! It obviously doesn't make the pope sick because he hasn't changed that practice. He obviously sees himself as holy.
Maybe the reaction is due to the fact that you state lies, and try to pass it off as fact, and act like you know more about our doctrine then we do! Good sir is a term use all the time, not just to address the pope, but to address many people. It was ever popular in the Mid-evil and Renascence times. Come you, you watch movie, you’ve been to Ren fairs, you taken European History in College, Good Sir is a common title for someone of high social rank, or just someone you respect in those times. On top I have, I’ve never heard the Pope called “Good Sir.” How have what we said proven we worship the Pope? If someone said the Pastor of your church sells Child porn online, through the Churches computers, you would defend him, would you not? You do not worship him, but someone is attacking his good name, you are not just going to let it slide are you? You are going to correct that person. Same thing with the Pope, all we did was correct falsehoods about him. Catholics see the Pope as like the Pastor of the whole Church world wide. And how is “Holy Father” so wrong? It is just a title! Why do you protestants make such a big deal out of a simple thing like a name? What’s in a name? Do you think God cares about semantic at all? Do you think God cares about what you say to the letter? Or does he look at the spirit of what you say? Words are words, I would be the same person if my parents named me Jack, John, Joe, or Ashley! Christians unite would be the same forum, even if the title was “Unite all Christians.” Word, without action are nothing, right? So then why are makings such a big deal out of words? Out of NOTHING?
The Catholic church is not going to change its mind or it already would have. It obviously endorses its beliefs. I do not. I used to, so I have already seen their viewpoint. After looking at both viewpoints, i have come to my own. If they have seen my viewpoint, rejected it, and retained their own, then they obviously do endorse their beliefs. There probably isn't any point in discussing this further. I am just going to retain the right to respectfully disagree with the viewpoint of the Catholic curch. If people want to judge and berate me for it, that's their choice.
That is good, just keep in mind you said “RESPECTFULLY disagree.” You have yet to show ANY amount of respect for the Catholic Church, or any remorse for your ruthless attacks. We are not judging or berating you, we are trying very hard to clear up a few misconceptions you have. But you have rejected our viewpoints, and retained your own, even though we are in the church, and you are just on the outside looking in, without any clue of what makes us tick.
