How can we understand the supernatural things of God?
One attitude is to be a humble disciple who considers the Catholic Church as the Body of Christ illumined by the Holy Spirit and created by the Father to preserve the Faith.
The other attitude is the innovative explorer who considers himself as the supreme judge of what is. This person takes the ground that man can teach himself with just a Bible and conclusions that he hopes are from the Holy Spirit.
If the Bible and not the Church was meant to be the revealer of truth, then why write books or preach sermons? Why have ordination and Bible Colleges? All someone would need to do is read or hear the Bible and come to the correct conclusion by the power of the Holy Spirit without any human intervention. Everyone would believe the same thing miraculously simply by the words of Scripture.
But what do we see? 22,000 denominations all claiming to read the same Bible. Children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Every heresy started with private interpretation of Scripture.
The Church empowered by the Holy Spirit spread among the nations before the New Testament was written. Even after the Epistles and Gospels appeared, not every community had a copy—the Faith spread by word of mouth under the authority of Bishops taught by the Apostles and annointed to safeguard the Truth. Her Liturgy and Sacraments were established four-hundred years before the New Testament Canon.
One attitude is to be a humble disciple who considers the Catholic Church as the Body of Christ illumined by the Holy Spirit and created by the Father to preserve the Faith.
The other attitude is the innovative explorer who considers himself as the supreme judge of what is. This person takes the ground that man can teach himself with just a Bible and conclusions that he hopes are from the Holy Spirit.
If the Bible and not the Church was meant to be the revealer of truth, then why write books or preach sermons? Why have ordination and Bible Colleges? All someone would need to do is read or hear the Bible and come to the correct conclusion by the power of the Holy Spirit without any human intervention. Everyone would believe the same thing miraculously simply by the words of Scripture.
But what do we see? 22,000 denominations all claiming to read the same Bible. Children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Every heresy started with private interpretation of Scripture.
The Church empowered by the Holy Spirit spread among the nations before the New Testament was written. Even after the Epistles and Gospels appeared, not every community had a copy—the Faith spread by word of mouth under the authority of Bishops taught by the Apostles and annointed to safeguard the Truth. Her Liturgy and Sacraments were established four-hundred years before the New Testament Canon.
The Church was established by the blood of martyrs not by ink and paper. Wherever the early Church went, she went not as bearer of the New Testament, but as authoritative teacher of the truth. She was charged by Christ to go into the world and make disciples empowered by the Holy Spirit.
So what attitude do you have? Will you come to the Temple of the Spirit built with living stones on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets with Jesus as the Cornerstone? Will you trust in the Lord with all your heart or lean on your own understanding?
So what attitude do you have? Will you come to the Temple of the Spirit built with living stones on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets with Jesus as the Cornerstone? Will you trust in the Lord with all your heart or lean on your own understanding?
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