Since your thread was aimed at Protestants, our of respect I won't respond there. I would have sent you a PM but you have disabled it.
I don't know about you, but when I sometimes think about all the different views out there, it does get rather confusing and I could wish that there was just One Church which had the truth all defined and explained and we wouldn't need so much confusion.
It does gets rather confusing doesn't it? But, is God the author of confusion? I think not (1 Corinthians 14:33). Is he, loving and all wise as he is, going to leave us on our own, to struggle with a book so that each of us come up with his own interpretation of it? Do you think that if he wants us to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), he would just drop a book, of which there are countless translations and editions, and leave us with no sure guide to that truth which he wants us to know? Again, I think not. I actually think that would be rather sloppy and irresponsible of a God to do, specially if knowing and living that truth is the means by which we are saved.
I like to think that I am in the truth and right with God, but can anyone truly know though? I say I have assurance because of the witness of the Holy Spirit, but the heretic down the street can say the same thing.
I would say that the fact that you realize the problem with the many different views and how confusing it is, is a sign that you are on the right track.
I also don't understand why the First Century church had the apostles to direct them, but we have no one to listen to and take as an authority?
We do, at least that is what I believe as a Catholic. I believe that when Lord Jesus said "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20) and that the spirit "will teach you all truth" (John 16:13), he spoke about his continuous involvement in directing and guiding his Church. The original apostles eventually died and went to Heaven to enjoy God, but they appointed other people as their successors and those did the same afterwards. We have the wittings of many of them, several of whom were alive even during the time of the apostles. The Catholic Church traces herself down this line of apostolic succession all the way down to St. Peter, upon whose person we believe Lord Jesus founded her (Matthew 16:17-19).
We do have someone to take as an authority, it is that same authority who determined the canon, stating which wittings were inspired and canonical and which not. But when it comes to submitting to an authority other than ourselves (or our own interpretation of Scripture) pride often proves to be a stumbling block. Some see it as "following men", yet it was Lord Jesus who said "he who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16) to the apostles and God all the way back to the Old Testament up to the New, always uses men to communicate his commands and prophecies to the multitude and to handle spiritual matters.
If the Apostle Paul was alive today where would he go? What denomination, church, or movement?
Do you think that he would say the same that Joseph Smith said? That God told him that finds all the churches an abomination in his eyes? If you notice, very much all of the Protestant denominations and groups like the Mormons, assume that the faith has been corrupted and they intend to "fix" things or "go back" to some original faith that has been lost. And how do they propose to do this? Well, "let's read the Scriptures" they say, but you already know what the result of each man wrestling the Scriptures on his own is.
Well, I hope any of this was helpful in some way to you. But over and above all, what I suggest is that you pray for guidance to God. That he grants you his grace, so that you may embrace the truth.
We have a Catholic Social Group here, I am sending you an invite. Feel free to post there and ask any questions you may have about Catholicism.
God Bless,
Evo
I don't know about you, but when I sometimes think about all the different views out there, it does get rather confusing and I could wish that there was just One Church which had the truth all defined and explained and we wouldn't need so much confusion.
It does gets rather confusing doesn't it? But, is God the author of confusion? I think not (1 Corinthians 14:33). Is he, loving and all wise as he is, going to leave us on our own, to struggle with a book so that each of us come up with his own interpretation of it? Do you think that if he wants us to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), he would just drop a book, of which there are countless translations and editions, and leave us with no sure guide to that truth which he wants us to know? Again, I think not. I actually think that would be rather sloppy and irresponsible of a God to do, specially if knowing and living that truth is the means by which we are saved.
I like to think that I am in the truth and right with God, but can anyone truly know though? I say I have assurance because of the witness of the Holy Spirit, but the heretic down the street can say the same thing.
I would say that the fact that you realize the problem with the many different views and how confusing it is, is a sign that you are on the right track.
I also don't understand why the First Century church had the apostles to direct them, but we have no one to listen to and take as an authority?
We do, at least that is what I believe as a Catholic. I believe that when Lord Jesus said "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20) and that the spirit "will teach you all truth" (John 16:13), he spoke about his continuous involvement in directing and guiding his Church. The original apostles eventually died and went to Heaven to enjoy God, but they appointed other people as their successors and those did the same afterwards. We have the wittings of many of them, several of whom were alive even during the time of the apostles. The Catholic Church traces herself down this line of apostolic succession all the way down to St. Peter, upon whose person we believe Lord Jesus founded her (Matthew 16:17-19).
We do have someone to take as an authority, it is that same authority who determined the canon, stating which wittings were inspired and canonical and which not. But when it comes to submitting to an authority other than ourselves (or our own interpretation of Scripture) pride often proves to be a stumbling block. Some see it as "following men", yet it was Lord Jesus who said "he who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16) to the apostles and God all the way back to the Old Testament up to the New, always uses men to communicate his commands and prophecies to the multitude and to handle spiritual matters.
If the Apostle Paul was alive today where would he go? What denomination, church, or movement?
Do you think that he would say the same that Joseph Smith said? That God told him that finds all the churches an abomination in his eyes? If you notice, very much all of the Protestant denominations and groups like the Mormons, assume that the faith has been corrupted and they intend to "fix" things or "go back" to some original faith that has been lost. And how do they propose to do this? Well, "let's read the Scriptures" they say, but you already know what the result of each man wrestling the Scriptures on his own is.
Well, I hope any of this was helpful in some way to you. But over and above all, what I suggest is that you pray for guidance to God. That he grants you his grace, so that you may embrace the truth.
We have a Catholic Social Group here, I am sending you an invite. Feel free to post there and ask any questions you may have about Catholicism.
God Bless,
Evo