Since we humans are fallible, any interpretation we make on our own could have the potential of being misguided, askew or flat out wrong.
Since the church is made up of preacher/pastor/priest/minister, which are MEN, who are also fallible, they could and have been guilty of incorrect instruction to their congregation, flock, parishioners etc.
So, I believe that if we, as individuals ask Him for Divine Guidance, Understanding and Wisdom, He is faithful to grant us the ability to discern His Word by ourselves. He knows if we seek Him in honesty and truth, for He knows our heart.
We don't require a middle man to intercede for us, for we have DIRECT ACCESS since the veil was torn from the top to the bottom, in the Temple, when Jesus was crucified.
Hallelujah! DIRECT ACCESS! No need to confess our sins to another MAN, for He made it possible to access Him directly. PRAISE THE LORD!
I used to go to a Catholic church, and they never mentioned having a personal relationship with God. I didn't discover that this was possible until I went to a different church with a friend. Since then, I don't consider myself any type of Christian, but just a Christian.
I'm sincerely glad that you accepted the invitation to go to that other church with your friend. For it is possible to have a personal relationship with Jesus and how sweet it is!!! When He gave up the ghost and His spirit ascended to His Father, the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. That meant that mankind now had DIRECT ACCESS to the Father, through His Son and that established freedom from the Pharisees & Sadducees.
No MAN has the Power to forgive sin, only the Father through His Son can absolve and forgive man's sin.
That kinda' blows a hole in the Catholic dogma. That's exactly why Martin Luther started the Protestant movement, the fact that he had Scripture to back him up only helped and empowered his position.
i cant wrap me head around the concept of religion . say for the sake of this question we are all standing naked before god , will she then seperate us for our beliefs and tell many of us how bad we screwed up and send the losers to hell . if thats the case church dogma makes sense . but if all believers are accepted into heaven no matter what their faith be , then religion has no real meaning .
Since the church is made up of preacher/pastor/priest/minister, which are MEN, who are also fallible, they could and have been guilty of incorrect instruction to their congregation, flock, parishioners etc.
So, I believe that if we, as individuals ask Him for Divine Guidance, Understanding and Wisdom, He is faithful to grant us the ability to discern His Word by ourselves. He knows if we seek Him in honesty and truth, for He knows our heart.
We don't require a middle man to intercede for us, for we have DIRECT ACCESS since the veil was torn from the top to the bottom, in the Temple, when Jesus was crucified.
Hallelujah! DIRECT ACCESS! No need to confess our sins to another MAN, for He made it possible to access Him directly. PRAISE THE LORD!
No MAN has the Power to forgive sin, only the Father through His Son can absolve and forgive man's sin.
That kinda' blows a hole in the Catholic dogma. That's exactly why Martin Luther started the Protestant movement, the fact that he had Scripture to back him up only helped and empowered his position.