Why Rome Can Only Appreciate, Rather than Prove the Immaculate Conception

>>If a person debating the beliefs of the Catholic Church doesn’t understand the significance of Luther and the rise of non-Catholic Christians, then there really can’t be much of a discussion.<<

Phoooey!! The only reason Catholics depend so much on Luther is that they can't defend their beliefs with scripture alone. They have to change the timeline thinking they then establish that base as before Luther. Luther is nothing more than a straw man for them. If Catholics could defend their beliefs with scripture they wouldn't need Luther.

Scripture alone is a false premise. No where in the Bible does it say anything like “You must use the volume of books alone.” Why? Because the volume of books didn’t exist!

But back to the topic so easily dismissed. If a person doesn’t know where they come from, they certainly don’t know where they are going. If a person doesn’t have a basic sense of why they believe what they believe, then they are likely to believe anything.

All Catholic beliefs can be proven by Scripture. Unfortunately, many chose not to believe the proof when presented, under the guise of misinterpretation.

Several times, I have presented any number of Scriptural references for refutation. The response is a resounding claim of misinterpretation.

Can’t a person see how everybody interpreting the scriptures as they see fit leads to spiritual anarchy? There is only one truth. Who is telling it?

>>Scripture alone is a false premise. No where in the Bible does it say anything like “You must use the volume of books alone.”<<

Galatians 1:9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Now, if you know of any infallible source other than scripture for what the apostles taught please show it.

>>All Catholic beliefs can be proven by Scripture.<<

Please show from scripture the teaching of the assumption of Mary.

>>There is only one truth. Who is telling it?<<

The Holy Spirit through scripture.

Again, I refuse to accept your premise of Scripture alone, as it is not a Biblical principle. Rather, it is a circular argument. How could a volume, which hadn’t been assembled, direct a group to assemble the said volume? Making it easier, what individual book in the Bible provides a table of contents for the Bible itself and then says, only to use the said volume, not previously assembled as the sole arbiter of truth? It doesn’t make any sense.

For anybody interested, Paul’s letter to the Galatians is written after Paul had preached there. A sect of former Jews was making demands on the new Christians to be circumcised, etc. At council in Jerusalem, four years prior, it was decided the physical and legal demands of Judaism were not required of Gentile converts.

Paul reminds them that he himself is an Apostle, appointed by God, and they should listen to him. In verse 9, he warns of the punishment due to those of this group who would direct them away from the teachings of Paul.

Feel free to go back through all of my posts and read every Scriptural reference I have given. I reference previous posts where the 4 Gospel writers, as well as Peter and Paul explicitly say other things were taught and not recorded.

As for the distraction about the Assumption, I have already demonstrated the improper use of the term “infallible.” Second, I direct anyone to Papal document, “Munificentissimus Deus,” which defines the doctrine. http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html

A person truly interested in understanding a different point of view would read the document, taking time to observe the 40 plus footnotes, which include Scriptural references.

Finally, as demonstrated by the data below, the 25 largest groups of Christians don’t agree on the same definition of truth, the Gospel and theology. For one to presume a single, currently living, human fully knows the exact interpretation of the Holy Bible is a bit of a stretch.

Largest 25 Denominations/Communions from the 2012 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.

Total church membership reported in the 2012 Yearbook is 145,691,446 members, down 1.15 percent over 2011.

1. The Catholic Church 68,202,492, [ranked 1 in 2011] , down 0.44 percent.
2. Southern Baptist Convention 16,136,044, [ranked 2 in 2011] , down 0.15 percent.
** Since the 2010 census of nondenominational/independent congregations, we now know that this grouping of churches, if taken together, would be the second largest Protestant group in the country with over 35,000 congregations and over 12,200,000 adherents.
3. The United Methodist Church 7,679,850, [ranked 3 in 2011] , down 1.22 percent.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 6,157,238, [ranked 4 in 2011], up 1.62 percent.
5. The Church of God in Christ 5,499,875, [ranked 5 in 2011] , no update reported.
6. National Baptist Convention , U.S.A. , Inc. 5,197,512, [ranked 6 in 2011] , up 3.95 percent.
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 4,274,855, [ranked 7 in 2011] , down 5.90 percent.
8. National Baptist Convention of America , Inc. 3,500,000, [ranked 8 in 2011] , no update reported.
9. Assemblies of God 3,030,944, [ranked 9 in 2011] , up 3.99 percent.
10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 2,675,873, [ranked 10 in 2011] , down 3.42 percent.
11. African Methodist Episcopal Church 2,500,000, [ranked 11 in 2011] , no update reported.
12. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America 2,500,000, [ranked 11 in 2011] , no update reported.
13. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS) 2,278,586, [ranked 13 in 2011] , down 1.45 percent.
14. The Episcopal Church 1,951,907, [ranked 14 in 2011] , down 2.71 percent.
15. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. 1,800,000, ranked 15 [ranked 17 in 2011] , up 20 percent.
16. Churches of Christ 1,639,495, [ranked 15 in 2011] , no update reported.
17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 1,500,000 , [ranked 16 in 2011] , no update reported.
18. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 1,400,000, [ranked 18 in 2011] , no update reported.
19. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. 1,308,054, [ranked 19 in 2011] , down 0.19 percent.
20. Jehovah’s Witnesses 1,184,249, [ranked 20 in 2011] , up 1.85 percent.
21. Church of God ( Cleveland , Tennessee ) 1,074,047, [ranked 22 in 2011] , down 0.21 percent.
22. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 1,071,616, [ranked 23 in 2011] , no update reported.
23. Seventh-day Adventist Church 1,060,386, [ranked 24 in 2011] , up 1.61 percent.
24. United Church of Christ 1,058,423, [ranked 21 in 2011], down 2.02 percent.
25. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. 1,010,000, [ranked 25 in 2011 ], no update reported.
Total membership in top 25 churches: 145,691,446, down 1.15 percent.

http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html

There are 4 separate types of Baptists listed. How is a Baptist to know which one is right? Each of these groups believes their group alone holds the fullness of Christian truth. How is that possible? How is it possible an individual can make such a claim?

And this is my final point for the thread: The Catholic Church, instituted by Jesus Christ, holds the fullness of Christian truth. It alone, given the authority by Jesus Christ, has spread the Gospel for the last 2000 years. It is the only, independently verifiable group present today who had members as disciples of the Apostles. It is the group that organized and codified the canon of Scripture over 1500 years ago.

It is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. It is universally recognized, present in every inhabited country, proclaiming the Gospel, serving the needy, every day.

I urge all who seek the Truth, to come, especially this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, to a Catholic Church, as we remember the Last Supper, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord.

I wish all Christians, believers, and non-believers a Blessed Holy Week, and a very special and blessed Easter.

God loves each and every one of us, as we are His creation.

All that typing and still you can't show an infallible source for what the apostles taught other than what is found in scripture.

>>I reference previous posts where the 4 Gospel writers, as well as Peter and Paul explicitly say other things were taught and not recorded.<<

Taught and not recorded? I think not. You showed verses that said Jesus did things that were not recorded. Why change the words of scripture to change the meaning?

>>Second, I direct anyone to Papal document, “Munificentissimus Deus,” which defines the doctrine.<<

I have read it. It specifically says in that document that Mary died yet we have RCs here who claim the Catholic Church doesn't claim she did. Plus, no where in that document does it give scriptural reference that shows the apostles taught the assumption of Mary.

Bottom line is that the Catholic Church has constructed beliefs that the apostles did NOT teach and per Paul are to be considered accursed.