he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'
(Luk 8:10)
And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
(Mat 13:11)
Mysteries (Scofield)
A "mystery" in Scripture is a previously hidden truth, now divinely revealed; but in which a supernatural element still remains despite the revelation. The greater mysteries are:
1) The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mat_13:3-50).
(2) the mystery of Israel's blindness during this age (Rom_11:25) (with context);
(3) the mystery of the translation of living saints at the end of this age (1Co_15:51-52); (1Th_4:14-17).
(4) the mystery of New Testament church as one body composed of Jew and Gentile (Eph_3:1-11); (Rom_16:25); (Eph_6:19); (Col_4:3).
(5) the mystery of the church as the bride of Christ (Eph_5:28-32).
(6) the mystery of the inliving Christ (Gal_2:20); (Col_1:26-27).
(7) the "mystery of God even Christ," that is, Christ as the incarnate fullness of the Godhead embodied, in whom all the divine wisdom for man subsists (Col_2:2); (Col_2:9); (1Co_2:7).
(8) the mystery of the processes by which godlikeness is restored to man (1Ti_3:16).
(9) the mystery of iniquity (2Th_2:7); (Mat_13:33).
(10) the mystery of the seven stars (Rev_1:20).
(11) the mystery of Babylon (Rev_17:5); (Rev_17:7).
Well, before ... you know, before obtaining Grace, I considered the Bible a thick book of contradictions and fables. An old book, somewhat strange, somewhat scary, but belonging to the past together with other treasures of human development.
My personal experience with the Roman Catholic Church did not improve and develop this childish understanding of Scriptures. I do not attempt to judge - maybe it is different nowadays, maybe the children and youngsters are more biblicaly trained than before, but from what I hear, this horse is still dead, and in spite of this predicament there are many deceived souls clinging to its tail hoping to be borne to heaven by it.
Anyway, this horse was already dead long ago. It does not help when its riders try to revive it with their theology of works and offers. It does not help when popularity numbers shoot up because of an ever-travelling (late) pope. It is a straw fire - quick and short. You cannot even get burned by it.
I am in no way a wise enough person to debate upon the reasons. But this one reason is obvious:
And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
(Mat 13:11)
Because how can one otherwise explain the complete stubbornness and complete blindness of romanists when they are confronted with the pure message of the Gospel of Jesus?
'Yes', they say, 'we see it, but it is not enough to persuade us.'
Yes, they see the blasphemy, they see the errors, they see the corruption, but they are still clinging to that dead horse.
You know, this horse is dead, but oh, how powerful still. Before it died, it put a spell on them, a spell of fear and anathema, a spell of blind obedience to a man and his tradition.
We have to pray for their freedom. Reviving this horse means whipping him off of all sediments of unbiblical teachings. But God is mighty and able, capable of dragging the horse to the Cross.
7 comments:
You got it sister!
When speaking to a Romanist about the Bible, you will always hear them reply:
"Yes, BUT..."
And follows the "but" is something totally contrary to the Word.
My pastor started calling Romanism the "but-religion".
LOL
Rand
I really appreciated this post, because my teenage daughter attends a Roman Catholic high school (it's academically a better school than the public school) and she has come across lots of "issues."
Hi Ann, dont really get the gist of your current post. It makes me laugh out loud when I read simplifications of "Romanist" theology as Rand has indicated. Catholicism is not a "yes, but" religion nor is it an "either/or" faith. It is a "both/and" faith. We accept the validity both of scripture and tradition.
The problem of reformed theology is that it has many layers of tradion that it fails to clearly own.
It always amazes me how people can accept the bible but never understand where they got it from. After all it was the early catholic church who compiled the books of the gospels and canon of the New Testament. I
believe that New Testament Scripture is born out of a community of believers who recorded thier testamony about Christ. That community called themselves catholic, as far as my history tells me. Just my thought about it! :0)
Leonard, you say:
"We accept the validity both of scripture and tradition."
What is this 'tradition', then? Because last time I checked, nobody was able to give a concise and respectful answer. It seems that your tradition is 'anything goes' as long as it is forged by Rome or by some premonitions.
The question about wher does the Bible canon come from is an old one and a very tired one. Scriptures do not come from Rome.
I am really fed up with the CRC usurping the only authority and innerancy on matters of Scripture. Especially when it does not follo the Scriptural teachings.
I think CRC is all-inclusive theology, as long as it suits its purpose.
Ann,
The question of where the cannon of the bible comes from is very relevant no matter how well hashed it may be. Most people I speak to who claim the bible alone theory never really question how the bible came to be in their hand prior to the reformation or never ask how they came to faith.
They say they came to faith in Jesus through the bible. But in reality they did so through a pastor who led them in a particular direction. In other word, through an Oral Tradition and a Written Tradition, drawn from the Reformation. The bible did not just plonk down into the hands of a believer.
Unfortunately fundamentalist Christians fail to admit the presence of Tradition in their Christian experience and only state that Catholics acknowledge the presence of real Tradition in their experience of which they say is man made!
To me Tradition is the experience of acknowledging a community of faith that gives me the lived experience of faith in Jesus. We are converted to Jesus by witnesses to the Resurrection, who are the living Word among us. Christ dwells in them and we recognise this fact by a gift of the Holy Spirit. I see the written Word of God as a work of the Holy Spirit but also His presence in the community who write the scripture and pass it on. They form the Church, the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I would say that Tradition is defined as the experience of Christians, as you might read in the Book of Acts, written down. It has come from the lived experience of those Christians who have been formed by the Holy Spirit. Tradition to me is a living reality witnessing to the Resurrection of Christ. Tradition is the work of the Holy Spirit.
I don’t understand the term CRC…Do you see any parallels with faith in Christ with a relationship with a Christian community or do you believe it is possible to ‘go it alone?’
Thanks, thats my opinion!
Leonard
I do not deny the origin of canon. But all transgressions, mistakes, crimes, lies and mischiefs of Catholic roman Church (CRC) cannot be justified and forgiven because of the canon. Or can they? I believe You know the history. I certainly do - it is one of my passions. How many crimes were done in the name of Christ by the CRC? Many. How many saints (in the protestant meaning) were persecuted and murdered because CRC wanted them out? Enough of that. By their fruit, right?
If one believes the Word of God, one must shrug at Your interpretation of "a pastor who led them in a particular direction". It is God Himself who draws the sinner. What tradition are You talking about? Of reading the Bible? I am sure it is inconceivable to a catholic to accept that a plain person may read and understand. And yet it is precisely what happens, time after time. I am very thankful to those who decided on canon. But this does not in any way make me condone of the terrible history of their followers. Especially considering the fake ground of the institution of papacy. I have been to Rome. I have lived through all the years of the late pope.
I am Polish. I do know. What I see now in my home country, is an immense idolatry of JPII and Mary. Out of proportion. What I hear is that children being prepared to their first communion have to memorize certain prayers and have oral tests on them. What I hear is that priests behave ungodly, are gay, abuse children, ar disrespectful towards their flocks.
"Unfortunately fundamentalist Christians fail to admit the presence of Tradition in their Christian experience"
Well, what are you talking about? We do not have another authority except the Bible. We respect every word of it. And what is Your view on it? You judge the accuracy of Scriptures according to Your tradition AND according to the winds of science. So now evolution is ok for a catholic. How can that be paired together with Christ and His offer is beyond me.
"Tradition to me is a living reality witnessing to the Resurrection of Christ"
Right. But it has been written and sealed in the Bible, those witnesses are long past dead now!
All information necessary for salvation is given.
I see it possible to go alone. Surprisingly, yes. But because I see many Christians walking the same narrow path, I join them. In the biblical worship, in the biblical teaching, in the biblical evangelisation.
Very informative...this post and the discussion here in comments.
I'm hanging on each word, as my sil is Catholic, and as my children grow up watching their cousins believe this religion, it's getting harder and harder to remain silent.
One thing the Catholic church has going for them, is that they ensure their follwers are committed by indoctrinating them early on...and thoroughly. Would that we Christians taught our offspring so diligently.
Of course, I got in trouble once for lumping "religions" to one side and "Christianity" to another in front of my sil. She is adamant about Catholicism being a Christian faith.
Online, I've met people who claim to attend both your typical Christian church as well as a Catholic mass. They like the fellowship of Christian churches and the liturgy/rituals of the Catholic ones. Shows how strong a hold "works" have when they go hand in hand with "religion".
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