Hello friends,
I’d like to offer some clarifying thoughts on the last post about roadblocks to the faith, tradition, Scripture, and dogma.
First, not all traditions are wrong, as I showed, some traditions of Jesus weren’t in Scripture.
Second, anytime Paul speaks of tradition gone array, it’s festivals, not much else.
Third, I think it’s wrong to dogmatize everything, I think that the core of the faith should be things that pertain to Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit — that is to say, I don’t think dogma around Mary is Traditional, Scriptural, or valid.
Now, I’m one person, who am I to suggest what is and what isn’t? We are a body, a collective of minds, that should be able to voice such concerns. That’s the point of these blogs lately.
I’ve been told it’s a grave sin to take the Eucharist, which I desire deeply because I don’t adhere to 100% of the 255 dogmas of Rome. However, I believe in the grace of Jesus, the commands of Jesus, the power of Apostolic Succession, and so forth. Therefore, this leads me to a few options (currently, as of today).
I can go to my protestant church, get the grapey grape, get the cracker, and beg God to perform the Eucharist miracle within that.
I can say screw it, keep going to mass, take the Eucharist (psst, I’ve done this already), and just remain silent and not let anyone know. This doesn’t feel honest.
I can defy my conscience which is supposed to be the guiding light when submitted to God (this is itself is so freaking nuanced) and agree to all 255 dogmas of the Catholic faith and just join through their RCIA - thingy.
I can just keep missing out.
I can listen to Paul
His yoke is easy, His burden is light. This is where I stand currently. I abhor the veil that’s been rebuilt, I abhor the walls keeping people from Jesus, and I abhor the fact that we’ve now made a new “holy of holies” and deny those who are active temples of the Spirit a chance to unify.
Burdensome.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Doesn’t say: “Go through this program” “Stand before us and attest to these dogmas” or “Let me evaluate you”. Rather, it says that one must examine himself, come before the Lord with a contrite heart, and confess sins. “If we judge ourselves truly, we would not be judged”. These people he’s speaking to have only been Baptized and confessed the Lord as God — nothing more or less.
Therefore, discern your heart before your God.
Take, eat, and remain in Him.
Good luck.