Post
by popeman » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:48 pm
Hello Tom,
Sorry if I am writing a bit strong on this site, but I get tired of the Protestant hypocrisy and lack of knowledge of their own history. Therefore, it is always nice to remind them when they bring up some obtuse Catholic info as if it is the end-all of anti-Catholic arguments.
As you discuss topics with anti-Catholic Protestants and try to bring up historical fact to faith/doctrine it has been nearly in vein to bring up some issue from the very earliest Christian. That being said, maybe you may want to bring up the historical Christian roots/writings/preaching of the Protestant movement. The only problem is that Protestant theology has changed so dramatically and continues to morph as each new Protestant preacher, born-again believer interprets Scripture in “their” own view.
As Martin Luther (Mary forever virgin), Calvin (multiple births), Zwingli (Mary forever virgin) Bullinger, Wesley, et al had doctrinal beliefs in faith, these doctrinal beliefs/interpretations were slowly morphed over time by more modern “progressive” Protestants (ie, many on this forum discussion point). The lesson that one can take away from this is simple…wait a generation or so, and these modern/progressive doctrinal beliefs will be passé, foolish, completely off-tract just like Protestants today believe of Martin Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Bullinger, Wesley, et al. That is the true nature of a Protestant, to “protest”, never really submit to God, only themselves and their own interpretations.
That is why Acts 15 is so important, Tom. It shows how even the earliest Scriptural Christians submitted to the Church Authority when Christian doctrine interpretation was in doubt. There was a body of Church Authority that “mandated” (that is a scriptural word and it mean to ‘an authoritative order or command, to order or require; make mandatory’) what Paul, Barnabus and the whole congregation at Antioch was to believe … not what “they” interpreted! This discussion about Mary being the Ark is frustrating because many of the arguments have been circular. When they have not been circular then they get one-sided by having to prove by Scripture “verbatim” because “inference” is not tolerated unless it has to do with modern/progressive Protestant doctrine.
For this reason(s), I would love to see Protestants help me find that NT Church in Acts 15 where we (Christians) can go and ask that Church “Hey, what about this Mary thing, what about this Purgatory thing....?” They (that Church with mandating power) can mandate what we are to believe and it would be the end of the story. We know that this Church has to be around and alive because Scripture tells us that the Church will be forever. Protestants do not want to find that Church….not in Scriptural history , in today’s modern world or in the future because it would take away from their ability to “protest”, to self-interpret Scripture to their satisfaction generation after generation after generation after generation….
Peace baby, Popeman