I understand all that. I also understand the fervency you have for the Word. What I question is the validity with which you apply your Scriptural test. And this for a number of reasons.
Certainly, if Protestants applied the same standard of punctiliousness for "serve" as they do for "call no man Father," there would be no one left to call Protestant.
Indeed, among the Children of the Reformation, there are a great many meta-doctrines, anecdotes, and aphorisms on how closely to apply various texts that are in no way authorized by the text itself.
These extra-biblical "doctrines" are used to permit convenient latitude on matters such as divorce and remarriage, attire and comportment of women, qualifications of leadership, what kind of leadership, treatment of heresies, heretics and unrepentant sinners...etc.
Usually, these "work-arounds" are granted an informal kind of authorization attributed to a "leading of the Holy Spirit." The problem with that glib "explanation" is there is precious little uniformity of these "authorizations" across the various Protestant sects.
Next, despite many scriptural warnings against seeking to be justified by law, Protestants have in many ways made the Bible into a de facto "law" in itself, though usually for the purposes of condemnation of dissenters rather than justification for themselves.
Finally, I question the validity of the "test" you apply, because invariably Protestants will look only to like minded people to answer the question of whether the test was applied correctly, ignoring or condemning those who don't agree, quickly followed by all manner of chauvinistic accusations as to *why* there was disagreement.
Personally, I believe it is the highest form of "straining at gnats, and swallowing camels" when a Christian of any sect takes obvious relish in acting the "accuser of our brethren."
I am not a ‘protestant’ anymore is my point, if protestant means Roman Catholic vs Protestant..(which is the debate that happens here a lot)
I realized my debates within the Catholic vs Protestant circle was first founded on a false premise that I used to accept. I do not accept that premise anymore thanks to Him.
The false premise is that Rome has any authority or standing with the God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob or His Beloved Son..
They do not.
They have counterfeited the things of God..cleverly.. A vessel for the enemy,like Islam is- and like Judaism is...all babel..
And until one sees that, the Catholic vs Protestant debate is simply a circling fire line with circular reasoning started with a false premise, that will lead no one to genuine Truth..
I am no longer a ‘protestant’ debating Roman Catholics about their Jesus and their Mary. They created them. They own them.
I do ‘protest’ Rome and I guess by extension Roman Christianity (which is the whole thing these days) because of the counterfeiting that has taken place.
He showed me that Rome’s Jesus and Mary are counterfeits to Truth.
Bottom line? All the protestants you debate accept Rome’s authority and Rome’s Jesus and Rome’s Mary .
I do not anymore. That is why I have had protestants defending Rome in an odd twist at times on the forum.
Protestants and the world needs Rome.. They need them to tell them what day it is. They need to tell them when to work and when to worship.
I used to. But I am free..
You and I don’t start with the same premise so you and I won’t agree on anything.
I am not a part of Roman Christianity, or Islam, or judiasm or any other sect/denomination that begins with Rome having any authority on times, laws, or the Creator of the Universe.
You have a right to feel wronged and attacked by protestant daughters that haven’t done the testing He led me to do..
They protest things without wondering how much of their foundation is founded on Rome and not Him.. Blinded from it.
And I has humbled in that process..
But again, I see today as His 3rd Day. Not like those protestant neighbors of mine who mock and ridicule a Roman Catholic Pope on one side of their mouth, all the while trusting Rome’s calendar named after a Pope (Pope Gregory-gregorian) to tell them when to work and worship on the other side of their mouth.
Again, prophetic..
He showed me my own hypocrisy.. And I repented.
And I have been greatly blessed by Him for it.