So in essence what you are saying is that it's ok to pray kneeling in front of a statue of a garden gnome while doing the gardening. But not ok to kneel and pray in front of a statue of the Blessed Mary. Nor anything that is remotely Catholic no doubt.
No, I never said nor implied that. That is a straw man you are attempting to create as it is easier to argue against than what I actually said. Kneeling in your garden while gardening, regardless of what statues you have in your garden, is not bowing and praying before a statue (unless you actually stop and bow and pray before a statue), its gardening.
The root of your problem CM appears to be your anti Catholic sectarianism gone mad.*
What exactly do you mean by anti-Catholic? I have issues with Catholic doctrines and traditions but the people are my brothers and sisters in Christ.
For the record, I am not a MADist. I am what is considered a Conversationalist.
CM wishes to contend that our apostle St. Paul who is called by God "your father through the gospel" in 1 Corinthians 4:15 was doing what 'God said not to do'. Unbelievable!
Paul, chosen and anointed by Christ, was given special privilege. As priests and popes are not chosen in the same way that Saul was, I am more inclined to follow what Jesus taught than trying to justify a tradition that cannot be justified.
St. Paul is an*appointed "preacher, apostle and teacher" of the Lord God in*2 Timothy 1:11. But*according to CM's erroneous understanding of scripture: St. Paul 'is not to be called father'?
Here is CM's reasoning behind that statement..
'we are not call spiritual leaders and teachers father. God has reserved that use of the word exclusively for Himself'.*
RUBBISH!
Scripture makes rubbish of CM's claims in 1 Corinthians 4:15*"I am your father through the gospel" Gods word confirms for us that our Church teachers and leaders ARE to be called "father".
In the light of scripture that clearly proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that CM's understanding of "call no man on earth your father" in Matthew 23:9 is woefully wrong, we should give CM a chance to retract his erroneous statements.
You seem to be forgetting this scripture as taught by Jesus Himself:
Matthew 23:8-12New International Version (NIV)
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9
And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Please confirm your answers to the following 3 questions CM with either a Yes or No answer.
1.Do you accept the word of God when He says of St. Paul "I am your father through the gospel" in*1 Corinthians 4:15. Yes or No?
I think Paul was in error. It would not be the first time an Apostle made an error. Ask Peter about that.
2.Do you accept that you were wrong when you stated:*'we are not call spiritual leaders and teachers father. God has reserved that use of the word exclusively for Himself'. Yes or No?
Given that Jesus clearly and plainly states we are to call no man father, no, I am not wrong.
3.Do you also accept that you are wrong to state: 'But if call our pastor or any other church leader father we are doing exactly what God said not to do'. Yes or No?
No, I am not wrong. What Jesus actually said carries more weight than an Apostles letter.
Jesus is obviously making a hyperbolic point with “call no man on earth your father” (Matthew 23:9) to let us all know that we only have one Heavenly Father. We can have many fathers but we only have one Father who is the Father of us all "Our" Father.
God Bless!
I don't think He was, I think Jesus said exactly what He meant to say. Within the context of the passage, Jesus is addressing people about their relationships with their spiritual teachers. Jesus says to call no man Rabbi, Father or Instructor within your group of spiritual leaders.
