Bible Question:
Emmaus, but again, it seems from Teragram123's comments and quotes that the rules established for absolving the temporal consequences of sin can become quite arbitrary. I would understand if the penance required would be to wash the walls of the church for those who graffiti'd, or buying and replanting the neighbor's flowers if they were ruined. But saying a rosary however many times? How does that help? If I as a Christian have sinned against my brother in Christ, then my brother is free to approach me directly about my sin. If I do not confess to God and am not willing to make restitution to my brother, then my brother must bring with him at least one more Christian to approach me again. If I still am not willing to confess to *God* and to my brother, then the church must get involved and make a decision to BIBLICALLY remove me from the church (Matt 18). No where that I see is anyone who is NOT God allowed to say ok, you've done the time for your crime, so even though you didn't confess to God and or to the person involved, you're free. In answer to your question about who is wrong, the teacher or the individual, it is the teacher, for teachers are held to a much stricter standard than pupils (James 3:1). If the teacher tells his students that they *must* go before a priest regardless of whether the sin has been made right with the involved parties, the teacher is forcing the student into a no-win situation. Why does Catholicism require its participants to go the extra mile when Jesus has already done so? Yet another question, where in the 66 books of the Bible is purgatory mentioned? In Christ, Estelle |
Bible Answer: I believe you misunderstood me about doctrine and words being true. I was quoting from your statement. “Catholics believe the atoning blood of Christ and only the blood of Christ washes us clean and achieves for us eternal salvation.” The words... the Blood cleanses is altogether true... but If as a Catholic, had I truly believed in the blood’s saving and cleansing power, my faith would have prevented me from confessing to the priest, and doing the penances to alleviate the pain of sin that required a term in purgatory. If I had believed as you were saying, my faith would have shown by my works... and those works would NOT have been vain works. Faith frees the soul of the fear for the need of added works above the Blood. What can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus. |