Could someone please explain why, in every Christian forum, there are always two or three people who are obsessed with (indeed possessed by) a need to attack the Roman Catholic Church and to demonize the head of that church, the pope.
They usually have a storehouse full of quotes and scriptures, all taken out of their historical, cultural, political, and literary context, to "prove" that their obsession is, not only reasonable, but, important. And, being convinced that they are doing an important work for the glory of God, they zealously carry out what they apparently believe is their calling and gift of the Holy Spirit.
Does not this obsession fly in the face of Jesus' words?
Mat 7:1- 5
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Rather than spending so much energy making sure that every real and imagined wrong ever committed by any pope be broadcast to the whole world, would it not be better to pursue the virtue of humility and to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;"? (Phl 2:12)
Is not the choice to encourage hatred and despising against the RCC very much like the arrogance of the Pharisee in Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector?
Luke 18:10-14
Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Can anyone explain why the obsessive love of this anti-Christian behavior (John 17:20-21) designed to perpetuate the demonically-inspired divisions in the Body of Christ, which is the Church, is so important to so many people who call themselves "Christian"?
Jesus said that a kingdom divided against itself will not stand yet these people are obsessed (possessed?) with a need to perpetuate the sorrowful division of the church into warring factions. (Mat 12:25, Luke 11:17) Should we not, rather, be weeping for this rebellion against the will of the Lord Jesus Christ being perpetuated?
Paul's instruction concerning divisive people was quite clear.
Tit 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Can anyone explain why, rather than praying for those who take such pride in this sin, it is tolerated among Christians? (Or why it is tolerated in "Christian forums")
Anyone?
And, no, I have no interest in anyone's excuses for insisting on perpetuating this sin against the body of Christ so please don't recite the mantra of the evils of the RCC 'cause I won't give them any more attention than they deserve.
They usually have a storehouse full of quotes and scriptures, all taken out of their historical, cultural, political, and literary context, to "prove" that their obsession is, not only reasonable, but, important. And, being convinced that they are doing an important work for the glory of God, they zealously carry out what they apparently believe is their calling and gift of the Holy Spirit.
Does not this obsession fly in the face of Jesus' words?
Mat 7:1- 5
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Rather than spending so much energy making sure that every real and imagined wrong ever committed by any pope be broadcast to the whole world, would it not be better to pursue the virtue of humility and to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;"? (Phl 2:12)
Is not the choice to encourage hatred and despising against the RCC very much like the arrogance of the Pharisee in Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector?
Luke 18:10-14
Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Can anyone explain why the obsessive love of this anti-Christian behavior (John 17:20-21) designed to perpetuate the demonically-inspired divisions in the Body of Christ, which is the Church, is so important to so many people who call themselves "Christian"?
Jesus said that a kingdom divided against itself will not stand yet these people are obsessed (possessed?) with a need to perpetuate the sorrowful division of the church into warring factions. (Mat 12:25, Luke 11:17) Should we not, rather, be weeping for this rebellion against the will of the Lord Jesus Christ being perpetuated?
Paul's instruction concerning divisive people was quite clear.
Tit 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Can anyone explain why, rather than praying for those who take such pride in this sin, it is tolerated among Christians? (Or why it is tolerated in "Christian forums")
Anyone?
And, no, I have no interest in anyone's excuses for insisting on perpetuating this sin against the body of Christ so please don't recite the mantra of the evils of the RCC 'cause I won't give them any more attention than they deserve.
