Why do we need priests?

[Philip James]

. The CCC from which I quoted is right on the Vatican website, therefore authoritative Catholic teaching.

Indeed, so perhaps you should read what it actually says instead of twisting it to what you want it to say?

Christ is risen!
Alleluia!

 

[GodsGrace]

I believe everything is consiststent with the Bible.
I do not think the Holy Spirit ever stops correcting and teaching the Church.
He also never contradicts Himself , thus what was True in 100 ad, 200 ad... 500 ad... 1000 ad... Must still be True today.
Our understanding of some Truth may have been deepened or clarified, but cannot suddenly become untrue.

Peace!

Without getting into specifics, I do not believe the above.
For instance:
Is the Assumption consistent? Was Mary truly born without sin? (O.S.)
Is purgatory in the bible?
Did men confess themselves to a priest in 100 AD?

 

[GodsGrace]

Am I believing *what I want* or did I quote exactly what is written in the CCC? So now if you (or any Catholic) wants to wilfully deny the truth, you answer to God. To blatantly claim that words don't mean what they say is rather serious. And you claim that Philip James is right!

So this is an excellent example how Catholics turn around and make liars out of those who actually show them their false doctrines. This has been going on forever.

You could go ahead and read the CCC and quote it.

How do you know it's telling the truth as is believed today?
And please don't worry about me and God....He knows all.

As I've said,,,YOU can believe what you want to believe...
and anyone else here...

What YOU believe does not make the truth.
The CCC is about 30 years old.
Things have changed.

 

[GodsGrace]

You don't have to make excuses for the CCC or the RCC. The CCC from which I quoted is right on the Vatican website, therefore authoritative Catholic teaching. You also claimed that the Council of Trent does not apply any more and my quotations showed that indeed it does.

Read what is written and accept it for what it teaches. And if you don't believe this then read Fifty Years in the Church of Rome by former Catholic priest Charles Chinquy.

Oh, excuse me.
It's right on the Vatican website.
Gee. I guess you missed seeing my copy of the CCC...
I don't need the website.

The Council of Trent is 500 years ago.
Much has changed since them.
Because YOU do not want to accept this, does not make it untrue.

As to posting links....
I make a statement...
you don't agree....
It's up to you to show why you don't agree.
I can't prove everything I state. If you don't think it's right, then you prove it.

 

[marksman]

Why do we need priests?

I was pondering this question in my mind yesterday. I can understand why the unsaved or unbelievers might need priests to act as intermediaries between them and God but I can’t understand why those of us who are born again in Christ need priests as the bible calls us a Royal Priesthood. We have direct access to the Father’s throne so we do not need anybody else to access him for us.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

We do however, need people to be there with us and for us; to hold up our arms, to wipe our tears and to share our joy. We do need a support network of other Christians; people who will pray with us and for us, encourage, inspire and help us. We need teachers and preachers and we definitely need wise counsellors and inspirational leaders with passion, vision and enthusiasm.

But we do not need priests.

The priesthood recognized in the New Testament is the priesthood of ALL believers. That means you and me.

1Peter 2:5 you also as living stones are being built a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:9 But you are "an elect race," "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation," "a people for possession," so that "you may openly speak of the virtues" of the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

marksman 1 is marksman until I can get marksman1 deleted which the moderators seem unwilling to do.

 

[Willie T]

I might even take this a step further. While I can understand the reasons, even "need" for a congregational head and teacher..…. What in the world kind of "need" are we feeding by the exaggerated garb most of the people who occupy the pulpit (or, indeed, ANY position forward of those little wooden "fences" so many churches erect) adorn and drape themselves with? (The robes, sashes, belts, hats, censors, bells, etc)

A wise person once told me that they dressed that way because if they didn't, it would be totally impossible to distinguish them from any other ordinary sinner. LOL

 

[Giuliano]

Let me ask a question. I believe there is some doctrine in the answer. Who were the priests mentioned as being present when Moses went up Mount Sinai?

Exodus 19:21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.
22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.
23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
24 And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them.
25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

Why were the priests allowed to come closer than the other people? Who were they since there was no Levitical priesthood yet? If they already had priests, why was the Levitical priesthood created?

 

[Pearl]

The priesthood recognized in the New Testament is the priesthood of ALL believers. That means you and me.

Absolutely!

 

[Pearl]

I might even take this a step further. While I can understand the reasons, even "need" for a congregational head and teacher..…. What in the world kind of "need" are we feeding by the exaggerated garb most of the people who occupy the pulpit (or, indeed, ANY position forward of those little wooden "fences" so many churches erect) adorn and drape themselves with? (The robes, sashes, belts, hats, censors, bells, etc)

A wise person once told me that they dressed that way because if they didn't, it would be totally impossible to distinguish them from any other ordinary sinner. LOL

I agree, we do need teachers and leaders. I believe a 'priest' to be a person who was meant to speak to the people on behalf of God and to God on behalf of the people but as we ourselves are now called to be priests - a Holy Priesthood - we do not need priests and can speak to and hear from him directly.

As for the 'priestly robes' I don't believe in them either. In my church a visitor wouldn't know which of us was the church leader - we don't even call him 'pastor'.

 

[Philip James]

Without getting into specifics, I do not believe the above.
For instance:
Is the Assumption consistent?

Yes

Was Mary truly born without sin? (O.S.)

Possibly. Considering the care taken in the construction and cleansing of the ark of the old covenant, i am not surprised that even more care would be taken in the formation of the ark of the new. I see no reason to doubt this.

Is purgatory in the bible?

Yes

Did men confess themselves to a priest in 100 AD?

Yes.

Peace!

 

[Giuliano]

The priesthood recognized in the New Testament is the priesthood of ALL believers. That means you and me.

1Peter 2:5 you also as living stones are being built a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:9 But you are "an elect race," "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation," "a people for possession," so that "you may openly speak of the virtues" of the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

marksman 1 is marksman until I can get marksman1 deleted which the moderators seem unwilling to do.

Who are they priests for?

 

[Philip James]

The priesthood recognized in the New Testament is the priesthood of ALL believers. That means you and me

Just as the priesthood of all the Israelites was recognized in the old.

Exodus 19:6
You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. That is what you must tell the Israelites."

Peace!

 

[Willie T]

BTW, "Purgatory" is nowhere in the Bible. All that exists is the idea of "purging" us, here on Earth, of sinful things. It was Augustine who officially invented the concept of a stopping-off, holding area before arrival in Heaven so that people could be made good enough to enter Heaven. (However, there were some writings by other people about the "idea" earlier.)

 

[Willie T]

It is striking how many "facts" have developed from people reading a word or two in the Bible, and then building on that to invent some of the most "remarkable" fabrications. If I am not mistaken (and I could be) I think the Mormons built the whole idea of many Gods from one small statement in Genesis: "Let us make man in 'OUR' image."

 

[Giuliano]

BTW, "Purgatory" is nowhere in the Bible. All that exists is the idea of "purging" us, here on Earth, of sinful things. It was Augustine who officially invented the concept of a stopping-off, holding area before arrival in Heaven so that people could be made good enough to enter Heaven. (However, there were some writings by other people about the "idea" earlier.)

Catholics may not say so; but their idea of Purgatory is almost identical to the Jewish idea about Gehinnom -- where souls go to be purged of their sinful urges. Jews would have known what Jesus was talking about when he spoke of Gehinnom. Many Christians don't know what the word meant then and now to Jews.

 

[Willie T]

Catholics may not say so; but their idea of Purgatory is almost identical to the Jewish idea about Gehinnom -- where souls go to be purged of their sinful urges. Jews would have known what Jesus was talking about when he spoke of Gehinnom. Many Christians don't know what the word meant then and now to Jews.

The Jews had a trick up their sleeves there: (As they usually did) The time in Gehinnom was limited to only a maximum of 12 months (not including Sabbath days).

 

[Giuliano]

The Jews had a trick up their sleeves there: (As they usually did) The time in Gehinnom was limited to only a maximum of 12 months (not including Sabbath days).

That should be long enough, I'd think.

 

[Pearl]

Why do those who have been washed in the blood of Christ need to be purged? We are already whiter than snow.

 

[Philip James]

Why do those who have been washed in the blood of Christ need to be purged? We are already whiter than snow.

the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work.

If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage.

But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

Is it possible to have all that is not of him purged in this life? Yes. But make no mistake, nothing that is not of Him, will abide in His presence..

Peace be with you!

 

[Willie T]

the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work.

If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage.

But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

Is it possible to have all that is not of him purged in this life? Yes. But make no mistake, nothing that is not of Him, will abide in His presence..

Peace be with you!

Kinda Gnostic sounding....