Calling Protestantism heresy is a pant load. No more heretical than a church that recites liturgy and recitations when the Bible clearly states do not pray in meaningless repetition and without emotion. Also by what right do certain men think that their interpretation of the Bible is better than anyone else?
Sheesh do certain people ever get tired of being so paranoid and arrogant at the same time that they condemn other believers that follow only the Bible to make themselves feel better?
Honestly, I don’t give a flying butt what any religion thinks of me. Look at the definition of heresy...
Noun
S: (n) unorthodoxy, heterodoxy, heresy (any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position)
S: (n) heresy, unorthodoxy (a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion)
So, anyone outside of the Roman Catholic church can define me as a heretic. I think I might even be proud if some churches called me that.
I am a Heretic and an Infidel to some. Who cares, Our Lord loves me!
Ritual prayer is based on Scripture. In Matt. 26:44, for example, Jesus prayed a third time in the garden of Gethsemane, saying the exact same words again. It is not the repetition that is the issue. It's the vanity. God looks into our heart, not solely at our words. And in Luke 18:13, the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying "God be merciful to me, a sinner." This repetitive prayer was pleasing to God because it was offered with a sincere and repentant heart. Even the Book of Revelation demonstrates ritualistic prayer (Rev. 4:8) where the angels pray day and night without cessation the same words "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." This is repetitious prayer that is pleasing to God.
by what right do certain men think that their interpretation of the Bible is better than anyone else?
Is private interpretation of the Bible condoned in the Bible Itself? No, it is not 2 Peter 1:20. Was individual interpretation of Scripture practiced by the early Christians or the Jews? Again, "NO" (Acts 8:29-35). The assertion that individuals can correctly interpret Scripture is false. Even the "founder" of Sola Scriptura (Martin Luther), near the end of his life, was afraid that "any milkmaid who could read" would found a new Christian denomination based on his or her "interpretation" of the Bible. Luther opened a "Pandora's Box" when he insisted that the Bible could be interpreted by individuals and that It is the sole authority of Christianity.
Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible? No. The word "truth" is used several times in the New Testament. However, the plural version of the word "truth" never appears in Scripture. Therefore, there can only be one Truth. So how can there be over 20,000 non-Catholic Christian denominations all claiming to have the "Truth" (i.e., the correct interpretation of the Bible)? For that matter, aren't ALL non-Catholic Christians as individuals claiming "infallibility" when it comes to interpreting the Bible? Catholics only believe in the infallibility of the Papacy as an office.
Which is more believable - one office holding infallibility or 400 million non-Catholic Christians who can't agree on the interpretation of Scripture all claiming "infallibility?" When it comes to interpreting Scripture, individual non-Catholic Christians claim the same infallibility as the Papacy. If one were to put two persons of the "same" non-Catholic Christian denomination (i.e., two Presybterians, two Lutherans, two Baptists, etc.) in separate rooms with a Bible and a notepad and ask them to write down their "interpretation" of the Bible, passage for passage, shouldn't they then produce the exact same interpretation? If guided by the Holy Spirit as Scripture states, the answer should be "Yes." But would that really happen? History has shown that the answer is "No." Now, in the case of Catholics, the Church which Christ founded and is with forever (Matthew 28:20) interprets the Bible, as guided by the Holy Spirit, (Mark 13:11) for the "sheep" (the faithful). The Church (not individuals) interpret Scripture. In Catholicism, Scripture is there for meditation, prayer and inspiration, not for individual interpretation to formulate doctrine or dogma. cf.
Catholic liturgies are neither mindless nor emotionless.
Good answer, rc. M