I am sure you mean well, but in a world full of deception should you not listen to scripture that tells you only to listen to those who are "sent" , to the faith handed down by them , and to the decisions JESUS makes when he uses his councils to resolve disputes on doctrine, which is the power to bind and loose. Jesus did not allow the devil to prevail over HIS church. He steers it through councils and popes.
It is expected that men will defend the religion they have adopted, just as the Jews who adopted the religious sect of the Pharisees, defended theirs.
They also believed they were sent by God to promote a religion whose religious traditions cause those who adopt them to transgress God's Commandments, just as this world's religion who come in Christ's Name does.
Jesus specifically warned of men "Who come in Christ's Name", who call Jesus Lord, Lord, but "work" iniquity.
Paul also warns of religious men who "
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate".
And again;
Col. 2:
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
"Many" cling to the words of Constantine, and the religion he established known as the RCC. Others cling to words of other men and have created a religious business promoting a different philosophy. They are just a zealous for their adopted religion as the Pharisees or the members of the RCC does.
What I am advocating for, is trusting those who the Christ Inspired, when HE was up where HE was before, as well as those who He chose, when HE became a man in the person of Jesus. I reject the teaching that God cannot guide me by His Word. But I understand what this Truth would do to all the religious businesses who have created so much wealth and power for themselves. If I can know God without them, that would pretty much destroy the religious businesses of this world. So I can see how they would work so hard to discourage such a belief.
You are told to take disputes to the church, the pillar of truth, because of the power to bind and loose, not rely on your own understanding of scripture. Without the church you do not even know what is scripture!
I am well aware that the mother of mainstream Christianity, takes credit for saving the world through Constantine and the Council of Nicaea.
For me, I believe God preserved His Word just as HE promised. That He used Pharoah, or a Donkey, or the RCC for His Purpose, doesn't mean Pharoah, the donkey or the RCC is God, or God's Spokesman.
But the religious philosophy that I can't know God, unless I adopt the religious beliefs of the Pharisees, or the religious beliefs of the RCC, or the religious beliefs of Islam, or any of "many" religious sects of this world is nothing new. Even Abraham was born into religions that the Christ instructed him to leave. Even Caleb was surrounded by men who Professed to know God but were disobedient to Him. Even Jesus and Peter were born into a world in which religions existed, that Transgressed God's Commandments by their own manmade religious Traditions.
The RCC broke away from the Pharisees religion but kept many of their religious traditions. They created manmade shrines of worship. They created their own judgments, their own sabbaths, their own high days. They adopted the business and marketing strategy of the Pharisees, and created one of the largest religious businesses this world has ever seen. A religious business that is joined to the hip of this world. The Church of God defined in the Holy scriptures was not of this world.
These things are simply true. Do they matter? Maybe not. Nevertheless, they are true.
Tell me. If sola scriptura worked, where you all make up your own meaning for scripture, why do protestants all disagree on the meaning?
The Protestant religions, in like manner, broke away from the RCC, but kept "many" of her religious traditions, like the business and marketing strategy, which includes building large shrines of worship, and creating religious businesses and corporations which must compete with the RCC for butts to fill the seats,
whose money is required for the religious business to even succeed. They kept the manmade Sabbath of the RCC, and her High Days and many of her philosophies.
But like the Pharisees, they also transgress God's commandments by their own religious traditions. What Protest religion is founded on "Sola Scriptura"? They may SAY such things, but it doesn't take long to identify, by their works, that they don't.
I don't usually spend much time in debate with those who have adopted the religious sect of the RCC because of what the Scriptures say.
Hos. 4:
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. 18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
At least you admit that your religion is not based in Scripture. And Jesus said "Offenses must come". Eve also was placed into a world in which God's Voice, and "another voice" who quoted some of God's Word, existed. And she was also given the opportunity to choose which voice she would "Yield herself" a Servant to obey. So I know these religions of this world must exist.
I'm simply advocating that God is able to direct those who SEEK His Kingdom and HIS Righteousness, as the Jesus "of the Bible" instructs, without me having to choose between all these "Many" other voices. After all, Jesus did say, and you ignored, "
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead"
Polar opposites on much of it. Are there 10000 holy spirits guiding you in opposite directions?
They are not guiding me, nor did they guide Paul, nor Jesus, although they existed in the world they were born into.
I agree that there are 10,000 different spirits, "
ministers also transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works", and that you have adopted one of them. And others have adopted different ministers than you have. Just as some had adopted the religious sect of the Pharisees, and some the religious sect of the Sadducees who guided people in different, sometimes opposite directions.
But for me, "
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all". Abel, Abraham Caleb, Zacharias, Simeon, Peter, James, and EVERY Example of faithful man in the entire Bible belonged to this One Body.
And this Body did not "
Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition", while the "Churches" of this world, including the RCC, most clearly does.
Again, do these Words of the Christ "of the Bible" matter? Is the image of God your adopted religion created, truly the God who leads men out of Spiritual Egypt?
It is my understanding that we will all find out one day. In the meantime, I will follow the advice of the Apostle that the Christ "of the Bible" inspired, and trust the Holy scriptures "
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
Others are free to "yield themselves" servants to obey another voice if they so choose.
