... of sorts for the FReeper Catholic Caucus.
Posted on 04/05/2002 12:57:16 PM PST by father_elijah
that statement is simply not true, in fact, the Bible tells us to study the scriptures ourselves to make sure what we are told is true. "These Jews were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all willingness and examined the scriptures daily to determine whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11 (and that is from your beloved NAB (Roman Catholic approved version)
you also claim that it is important to read the Roman Catholic approved version. i dont think you understand how little difference there is. i have both a NAB version and a KJV in front of me, and there is very little difference between the two. in fact, there are no doctrines that are different between the two versions. the only differences are that the NAB version is put into more modern language so it is easier to understand while the KJV is in more archaic language so the words are kept more. there are pros and cons to both translations, and the reading level of the individual should determine which version is used primarily. there is also the issue of the OT apocryphal (deuterocanonical) books, but we dont need to get into that one now. it is an old Roman Catholic stereotype that protestants changed the Bible when they translated it, but if you sit down to compare the translations, you will realize that they are the same in meaning.
James2: [14] What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? [17] So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. [18] But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder. [20] Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, [23] and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. [25] And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.
Fat chance!
I will pray for God to open your mind to understanding.
Oh and by the way, I've already read the Bible many times and studied it carefully and I have read those same verses you quote and take away from the context of the Bible as a whole to prove your point of thinking. You can talk till you're blue in the face, type until you have blisters on your fingers, and whatever you have to say that is anti-Catholic I've heard it and I'm still a faithful, practicing Catholic who feels closer to God everyday. I see more reverence and worship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit than I've ever seen in any other church.
If you had any idea how ignorant you sound to a Catholic when you come into an obviously Catholic thread and start your Bible-thumping like Catholics haven't ever heard of the Book before you'd be mortified and one of these days either this side or that side of heaven you are going to be so embarrassed!
Every Catholic FReeper should hit the abuse button on you.
My prayers are with the Christians of the Sudan.
One of these days a Protestant is going to include Ephesians 2:10 with this oft quoted verse which completes the message.
Ver. 10. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them."
Allow me to quote St. John Chrysostom
"Not merely that we should begin, but that we should walk in them, for we need a virtue which shall last throughout, and be extended on to our dying day. If we had to travel a road leading to a royal city, and then when we had passed over the greater part of it, were to flag and sit down near the very close, it were of no use to us. This is the hope of our calling; for "for good works" he says. Otherwise it would profit us nothing. "
I know you mean well however, you should not criticize things you don't understand.
Thanks. I have, and I have to say that I don't see what you do. But thanks for caring.
Because Free Republic is a microcosm of our society at large and barely tolerates the Catholic Church as it is ... even out of the public square and off in its own forum.
My guess is that there is not one faithful Catholic moderator among the bunch to help others refrain from their more Subjective "personal opinion" pruning of and editorializing on the forum.
I too failed to see the profanity, the "off-topic" nature of defending Catholics on Catholic thread or perceive even the slightest bit of animosity in the explication of Catholic faith as contrast to Protest-antism.
Agreed!
I beg folks not to hit the abuse button for Catholic-bashing. Not only can we handle our own business but I think it's important to remember how bigoted and hateful "Christians" can be.
... of sorts for the FReeper Catholic Caucus.
http://www.carm.org/questions/faithorworks.htm
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