Subject: Follow up Peter first Pope |
Bible Note: Nolan You say you are following the path of Jesus and Him alone. I say that you are following Martin Luthers path of Jesus. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven ML had 95 complaints or disagreements with the Catholic Church which led to him leaving the Church. Which, for all practical purpose was based upon money - indulgences and Church wealth. Was he right? If he was, then the quote that what the Church looses on earth, will also be lost in heaven, applies. The fractionalization of the Church can be viewed as a loss. Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall If the Pope makes a mistake while leading the Church, then people like ML will divide the Church. Wouldn't ML had done a better service to God and to his fellow Catholics if he had continued to try to guide the Church leaders out of selling indulgences and back onto the correct course of serving God. His victories may not have been numerous, but the number of people affected by his efforts would have been incredible. Instead, ML left the Catholic Church and built his own Church based upon two premises, which continue through today - love God and hate Catholics. How can any true Church, which uses hate or distrust as one of its cornerstones, be properly serving God. By the way, in reading the 95 Thesis, ML clearly did not have a disagreement with the leadership role of the Pope, his issues were related to how the Pope used his powers. Again, when a Pope abuses or misuses his powers or authority, it is a loss on earth and in heaven. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. If a single or a string of Popes misuse their authority, does it mean the existence of the Catholic Church is wrong and the leadership role of the Church is wrong, no it does not. It means a single Pope or a string of Popes misused their authority, but in the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church - I believe more good leaders existed. Now, was ML wiser for dividing the Church instead of working to heal it? |