The Pope & Bishops are the Official Interpreters of Scripture
Luke 10:16: "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Matthew 16:18: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death (gates of hell) shall not prevail against it."
Malachi 2:7: For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction (law) from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
The Holy Spirit has functioned as the very soul of the Catholic Church, insuring the efficacy of the sacraments and the truthfulness of official interpretations of the Word of God and his will for us. Certain Protestants claim an immediate mastery of all Scripture as long as they approach it prayerfully and with care. However, the Holy Spirit is not like a light switch that we can turn immediately off and on. While not utterly invalidating the personal meanings we might find in bible reading, we leave the authoritative renderings to the Magisterium (Pope and bishops in union with him). It is interesting that the fundamentalist Protestant claim makes more a claim upon the Holy Spirit and infallibility than does the Pope, himself. He only offers a declaration after extended investigation and consultation, and even then, after much prayer. Unless it is a matter essential to the faith, he usually does not invoke this authority. Infallible papal declarations are quite rare. The Pope does not make something true; rather, he draws our attention to what we have always believed.
posted by Father Joe Jenkins | 4:59 PM
1 Comments:
Here we see Rome still trying to block access to the truth. The Roman Catholic Church continues to stand in the way of truth.
The Bible was given by God to all mankind, not to an elite group to explain it to others. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path," (Ps. 119:105).
Jesus said, "That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Luke 4:4), yet Rome wants you to feed off her, for she claims she is the only one who can interpret the Bible.
Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" (John 8:31) This statement is not made to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the common people who had "just believed on him." (vs. 30). He didn't say they would need the rabbis to interpret, much less the Roman Catholic hierarchy, which didn't even exist at the time! God's word was and is available to EVERYONE.
For the Roman Catholic Church to think they are a special elite group of people, who alone can interpret Scripture, is an insult to the Holy Spirit Himself.
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."(Rom. 8:9)
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:11)
John 16:8 says of the Holy Spirit, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" If the Holy Spirit can reprove the world "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, then He can also teach those in whom He dwells! Every born again Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."(Rom. 8:9)
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:11)
If all Christians are "led by the Holy Spirit of God" (Rom. 8:14), then the Holy Spirit who dwells in them is able to help them understand the Scriptures which the Spirit of God has inspired (2 Tim. 3:16).
Now I'm not going to sit here and tell you that a serious Bible student is without his teachers and helpers, for the Lord gives gifts unto his people. In Eph. 4:11 it states, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;." Why? "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (v 12).
However, no man is infallible and that is why we must, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21) And the way to prove "all things," is through God's word by comparing Scripture with Scripture. (1 Cor. 1:12- 13; John 6:63).
No way did God say for Christians to abandon their minds to a hierarchy which denies Christians the capability of understanding the Scriptures and blindly accept their interpretation of it.
The Bereans in Acts 17:11 checked Paul's teachings. Where was the Roman Catholic Church then? It is the individual's responsibility to know God's word and to test every spiritual leader by it, no matter who he or she is.
"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." (Eph. 5:6)
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Eph. 4:14)
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21)
Roman Catholics, like the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other various cults, must accept, not check, their Church's teachings. I"d rather take the example of the Bereans who were commended the practice of searching the Scriptures.
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)
Reposted for SANDY HOOPER
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