Heck, even the priest mentions getting tired of reading endless quotations
Way I look at it, if it's too much for sanctus, it has to be too much for me.
Sanctus is a good man, but the true measure of a man is Jesus. If one is to compare anyone, then compare them to Jesus. For He is to whom we are trying to conform to.
Seriously though, that raises an interesting point for me. AJ, seriously, do you find a difference in Catholicism and Protestantism in the sense of Bible quotations?
Yes! And I’ll explain why. Catholics of which I once was, (Devoted for a time) knows only what they are instructed by the church. Which is OK, but not sufficient to know all that God wants us to know.
That is good for the beginnings of our journey towards God like people.
To really understand who God is, one must seek Him where He can best be found, and that is His word.
The word (Bible) is His revelation to us of who He is, and how He relates to us.
My education in the knowledge of the word grants me the use of the word to show others the same things I have been given to know. (Sharing)
And the same goes for everybody else. A discussion of the word is like honing one’s sword, getting sharper, meaning understanding more.
If your serious about learning more about God, then just keep on studying the word on your own, and with time and experience, you to will be spouting out scriptures as well.
But, let me warn you, it comes with a price. Ridicule, harassment, slander and many other things people can think of.
But you just consume it all up! With: love. Let them exhaust themselves, because your love is endless.
And that is Christ’s message, turn the other cheek. Take it, and love in return.
Love conquers all.
I mean, my brother is an Anglican priest, a branch of Catholicism, and sanctus is a Catholic. Sanctus answers questions directly, without once making you think he does not believe. Same as my brother. Yet neither loads their comments with bible quotes. I mean, in my mind it isn't necessary. For example, I assume sanctus knows the Bible, and if not he's in the wrong vocation
He can reference his points without a list of quotes. (sorry for centring you out sanctus!)
If Sanctus understood what I understood, he too would quote scripture.
Catholics quote the Catholic Church; therefore, no scripture is used.
I quote God’s word, therefore, I use scripture.
Yet every "born-again" I know quotes the bible over and over and over, making me wonder if they forgot that God gave us free will. I assume that means he does not want tape recorders repeating the same information over and over. Instead, I assume he wants us to use our minds, hopefully on his behalf I suppose.
Everybody who is born again, will not quote anything else but the source by which they claim their knowledge from. So it is natural to do so.
But, again, that does not mean that that makes them “Mature” in word the word, for there are still many things to learn and apply them to our lives to indicate our growth.
That is why you see many born again Christians on fire for the Lord, spouting out scriptures, because they are new babes in Christ. They are all exited with their new found Jesus that they are all consumed with Him and must tell somebody.
But that wears off after awhile and reality sinks in again. And at that point, is where we have to thread water to get from point A to point B in understanding of God.
As we grow in maturity, we learn to love our neighbors and accept all who would come to God as brothers and sisters without any discrimination as to religious beliefs, colr or race.
My question, do you suppose this is why the Catholic Church still remains the largest Christian denomination, in that they are able, despite their "F-up's", to actually minister to people without bashing them about the head with the bible?
The body of Christ is not in religious organizations, it is in the hearts of people.
If the heart of the worlds peoples change, the world changes.
I'm on a ramble here, because the more I think about it the more true this seems. I used to volunteer at a food bank and one of the other volunteers was a Catholic nun.
We all knew she was a nun and believed in her faith, but I can't recall once ever hearing her give off lists of bible quotes. Especially: to the patrons of the food bank.
So, if all are in agreement, then there’s no need to discuss any scripture, is there?
But, that food bank does give an opportunity to introduce God to folks who do not have nor had the opportunity to know Him.
I mean where suppose all the goodness comes from that you demonstrate? God: of course.
Do you think sancus might have a point, and that Jesus wants us to minister with our hands and not with our mouths?
