7-28-08 Bible Study

Well, I have been kind of lazy and so today I shall fight against it and type up my notes! In an effort to be as productive as possible, I have a program going in the background that is downloading a bunch of images off of the net so that I can make mosaics!

This last Bible study was a continuation of discernment and heavily emphasized the role of the Church in history, the differences in types of doctrine and the role that these doctrines play in our lives.

Here are my notes from the session.

1) Continuation of discernment.

a) You can’t accept God w/o knowing what God says.

b) You can’t look at any church doctrine and dissent from it.

i) Heretical, sign of rejection.

ii) Root of dissent is pride in oneself.

c) Humans by nature do not have divine faith

i) Faith in God is not like having human faith

ii) The Church is the vehicle to tell us what to believe about God.

iii) How can you know that the Bible is accurate unless someone tells you?

(1) One cant since that requires teaching.

(2) Bible assembled by the Catholic Church and therefore the authority to teach about the meaning comes from the Church.

iv) The only way you can know God by faith is to have the Holy Spirit fill you first.

v) Faith allows you to surrender your life to Christ.

(1) Personal surrender in response to the donation of God the Son.

vi) Mental faith is not good enough.

(1) Actions and living the faith required as well.

vii) We will never fully understand the mysteries of God, but the more we submit to Him, the more understandable they will be.

d) On Protestantism

i) “Sola Fide” (Faith alone) can separate personal and doctrinal attitudes.

ii) Protestants don’t have doctrinal authority

(1) Ultimately, all religious knowledge rests on their own personal interpretation.

(2) “Church shopping” is common. Searching for “personalities”

(3) Explains the highly schismatic nature of the Protestant faiths.

iii) What is the point of the Church if you already deciding doctrine against all the evidence?

e) Magisterium alone is entrusted with correct interpretation of Bible.

i) Scripture itself does not call itself Scripture.

ii) Magisterium tells us how to live our lives in light of new developments.

(1) Nothing new is revealed, it only becomes clearer.

(2) Only the Magisterium has the ability to teach infallibly.

(a) The ultimate purpose is to “protect the Church Christ founded from deviations and guaranteeing Catholics the “objective possibility of professing the authentic faith free from error, at all times and in diverse situations”

iii) Three types of Magisterial documents.

(1) Dogmatic

(a) infallible teachings on faith and morals.

(b) Permanent and ever-living.

(2) Pastoral

(a) Not infallible since it isn’t on faith and morals.

(b) More of how to practice the faith.

(3) Decree

(a) Still not infallible.

(b) These state ideas, etc.

(c) Can be retracted at any time.

(i) E.g. Ecumenicism.

iv) While the levels of teaching are all different, a Catholic cannot on his own or in a group decide to ignore the agendas of the Magisterium until the Magisterium changes said agendas.

f) Supernatural vs. Preternatural

i) Supernatural

(1) God.

(2) Does not exercise anything, He simply wills it to happen.

ii) Preternatural

(1) Satan or human spirit.

(2) Satan is not unlimited in power.

(a) Must exercise through the human medium, cannot will anything on his own.

g) Three types of –ations

i) Consolation

(1) Pleasurable feelings brought about by praying, etc.

ii) Desolation

(1) “Dry periods”- you pray but don’t feel anything.

iii) Inspiration

(1) A feeling about something

(2) Repeatedly brought to your attention.

h) Purpose of the Crucifix vs. Cross

i) Protestants see the Crucifix as a brooding element.

ii) Catholics have known the Crucifix/Cross is to show the love shown by God, not the pain inflicted.

Moving to 1 John 4...7-21-08

So 1 John 3 has been completed and thus 1 John 4 is now going to be attacked. Here are my condensed notes from this study session. Please understand that some of the stuff that was said I couldn't take notes on as I didn't know where to put them. There is also an 18 page dissertation written by the guy that leads the study about 1 John 4 that I am going to ask if I can publish on this blog, it is an insane read and quite informative!

Again, my head is spinning 1/2 the time with the amount of history and Scripture that is being cross referenced, supported and juxtaposed at the time and I try my best to capture the essence of it all. I am getting better but just bear with me for a little while.

1) 1 Jn 4:1-6

a) Test- “diakresis”. Literally, “discernment”

i) This is about the authentication of teaching.

ii) Not specifically about revelations.

iii) John’s churches not as charismatic at Paul’s churches.

(1) Glossalia, etc.

iv) John is the last remaining apostle.

(1) He wants to make sure the authority he has is passed down in the correct manner.

b) The hierarchy of authority.

i) In the OT, Jewish priesthood was by birth in the correct family and correct tribe (Levites)

ii) In the NT, apostolic succession is outlined.

iii) OT has physical succession (fatheràson)

iv) NT has spiritual succession.

(1) The Gospel is passed down in this way. He Gospel will never take the place of Tradition, only be a part of it.

c) Three kinds of spirits.

i) Supernatural- God.

ii) Preternatural- (spirit world)- Devil and followers.

iii) Natural- the human heart.

(1) This one leans towards the prior two spirits.

d) 1 Corinthians 2:6

i) Speaks of a person that is beyond a child in faith but should be mature in their faith.

ii) “leaders” can mean both secular and spiritual leaders (Devil and fallen angels)

iii) This adds credence to “point b”

e) The discernment of heresies.

i) Those who deny the Incarnation of Christ must be denied and were not sent by God.

(1) Incarnation= Jesus Christ is truly 100% man and truly 100% divine.

ii) To water down Christ is a sign of the coming tribulation of the Anti Christ.

iii) Practical discernment

(1) Not speculative, not theoretical

(2) Knowing what Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium have to say, how do I address it in concrete terms?

f) The understanding of Tradition

i) Jewish Scripture

ii) Apostolic Succession

(1) The Mass

(a) Archaeologists have uncovered a house/church (house converted to a church) that is dated around AD 20.

(i) Hs a raised platform with altar, baptismal fountain, etc.

(b) AD 140, earliest written description of the Mass by Polycarp.

(2) Didache

(a) Earliest church fathers talking about how to perform certain rituals in the correct manner.

(b) Was considered for Canon of Scripture but was not placed into the Canon of Scripture (Third Council of Carthage, 397AD) it for various reasons. Instead, it is considered an important document held in parallel with the Bible.

(c) Written in 100AD, around the time of John.

So with that, I will depart and try to start some reading on stuff. Peace out for now!

-N8

My questions to Protestants...

While at work today, I composed a list of questions that I feel necessary to ask of Protestants/Evangelicals/Related Schismatic Factions when I am in dialogue with them about matters of theology.

1) If Christ is the One True God, would it not make sense to have One True Church?
2) Having answered that, is Christ divided?
3) With that, can you explain why there are 30,000+ Protestant denominations?
3) How can you endorse and practice sola scriptura when the Bible did not become widespread until the 15th century with the advent of the printing press?
4) Since sola scriptura necessitates the rejection of so-called "human traditions," how do you explain the Bible? Where in the Bible does it say to actually ASSEMBLE the Bible? Nowhere that I can find it in Scripture.
5) Where in the Bible does it say that faith alone will save you?
6) If everything in the religious life is to be Bible based, then where can I find the outline for a marriage ceremony? (Hint: most of a marriage ceremony is pagan)
7) Assuming Christianity is a "fellowship," why am I, a Catholic, not part of it?
8) If the Canon of Scripture was set down in 397 and affirmed several more times before Martin Luther edited Romans 3:28 and took out what displeased him, why is the Catholic church accused of adding to the Bible?
9) If you accept the Bible as infallible/inerrant/perfect, then how do you come to terms with the fact that it says the Earth is flat with 4 corners, that bats have feathers and hares/rabbits chew a cud, not to mention the fact that the order of creation is different (but close!) than what the fossil record shows us?
10) Where does it say that if you accept the Good Lord, Jesus Christ, as your personal Lord and Savior that you are saved forever, regardless of works?
11) To add emphasis to point number 4, where in the Bible is the Trinity explained or the Eucharist mentioned by that name? (Hint: Christ revealed these things to us, but we Christians, more specifically the Catholics, wrote a doctrine to explain them)
12) If none of the theology that exists in Protestant/Evangelical/Fundamentalist circles existed before the advent of Calvin and Luther, then how is it that the Catholic church is accused of creating man-made traditions?

Well, that is my piece for the night. I am going to play a little bit of Quake while I wait for Quake III to transfer over so I can play my brother.

-N8

Bible Study 7-14-08

As you can see, this was written 2 days after I attended the last bible study, but luckily I always take notes on the subject :) More relevant though is that today I went into work 2hrs early (drove sister to school) and I finished reading Luke and I am half way through John... my oh my, the things one can find in the Bible!

Also, I am fairly new to the whole biblical scene so my posts might not be the most coherent at the moment but I promise you that they will become more coherent as I progress in my studies.

Anyways, the Bible study for the 14th was basically finishing up 1 John 3. Here is what generally gathered from the discussion.

1. There is no neutrality in spirituality.

A. Two choice

a) Further kingdom of God.

b) Increase rebellion against Him

2. Cain and Abel reference

A. Verses 11 and 12 refer to Christians, not non believers.

B. Analysis of Cain and Abel

a) Cain killed brother (Christian community)

b) Lack of Faith (Cain)

i. Cain gave excess

ii. Abel gave his firstling, the best of the best.

iii. Shows greater faith since he has to put his entire trust in God to survive.

c) Cain hates Abel because of his righteousness.

d) Murderer" changed to mean someone that hates another.

i. Reflected in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew.

3. The 5 types of love

A. In the Jewish language, there are 5 words for love, only one of which is used to describe Jesus. Here are 4 of the 5 words used.

a) Epithumia/epithemia- lust, sexual passion, physical desire. Modern=Libido

b) Fillia- friendship. Bond between friends, friendship.

c) Storgay (sp?)- Camaraderie. Fillia without affection or concern.

d) Eros- Loving desire (“rockstar love”)

i. Many people confuse eros with epithumia.

B. THE ONLY WORD USED TO DESCRIBE JESUS IS….

a) Greek: Agape

b) Latin: Keritas (Charity)

c) No word in English to describe it.

d) Its only description can be said to be the “total, unconditional, self-giving concern for the welfare of another without expectation of return.

e) This type of love is unattainable by humans, even the saints have faltered.

There are a couple asundery notes that were written about other specific passages relating to the one at hand but I do not have the quotes to put them into context.

Until the next Bible study…

I heard an awesome sermon today...

I decided to go to San Rafael today down in RB as a way to change up my routine and possibly see what another church has to offer in terms of potential dates (a few, but none compare...) and a different expression of the Liturgy.

This church is not like other Catholic churches, as it is of a more modern build. The building is octagonal in shape but round on the interior, the evidence of octagonality left in the ceiling and overhanging walls. At first, I thought this church was a Protestant one since there were no kneelers in the pews, but a quick look around showed me that I was indeed at home; The crucifix, holy water, the stained glass, the Stations of the Cross, all reminders of my holy place. I guess I should have realized it was a Catholic church all along because the only way I found it was because of a statue of Mary in front of the garden. :)

The sermon I heard today was, to put it lightly, amazing. The Gospel dealt with the parable of the seeds and finding fertile ground.

Matthew 13:3-8

"Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

The priest talked about the power of just one seed and what one seed can have on the world. He spoke of the implications of trees to parallel this parable and spoke of how it affected us.

Somehow or another, he got into the subject of Creation and how the 6 day theory was an explanation by the ancient writers how to comprehend God the best way they knew how. He said that the 6 day theory only limits God to human terms and does not encompass his infinite reach. He quoted Romans 8:22-23 as a supplement to this:

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies."

He went on to talk how Creation is STILL going on in everything, such as the shape and size of humans throughout history, the discovery of new species, the adaptations that have evolved, everything! It tells me that the Word of God is a LIVING word but not all-encompassing and not totalitarian in edict. To me, this speaks of a great and many liberating thoughts. This gives me my faithful resolve. This gives me hope. :)

As I was listening to this sermon, I couldn't help but think of my estranged love. I remembered all the times I sat and talked with her about this very thing, but I never knew just the right words to say. I then thought of her smile and her frown, her look of protest and of glee, our trip to Big Bear and watching movies on the couch, all the good times and the weird ones too. During these sermon-induced flashbacks, a strange feeling of hope came over me and I smiled, despite holding back a few tears. I felt hope that all will be OK again, that maybe my feelings aren't misplaced, that I still have a chance.

I will know in October, God willing. He knows I am praying and hoping but it is His will and I will follow it wherever it may take me.

I just wish she were here to share it with me.

-N8

More on 1 John 3... 6-30-08

I had to backdate this one to get it to fit in its sequence but this was made on 6-30-08, not 7-13-08.

1) More on 1 John 3

a) We share in the Glory of God.

i) Mary and saints are not just human, but glorified human

(1) She shares in the Glory of God w/o being God.

(2) See 2 Peter 1:3-5

b) Who is a Christian?

i) Term Christian isn’t actually used.

(1) Really, “Children of God”

ii) It is not a nice title

(1) Something in our very being makes us Christian

(2) Something that God bestowed upon us.

c) The role of God

i) OT: God=Creator (lowercase “father”)

ii) NT: God= internal self.

iii) Intimate union between God and Christians in John

(1) Eucharist, etc.

iv) Points ii and iii are salvific

v) Point i is NOT salvific. (Just because you’re made doesn’t mean you’re saved)

vi) It is Paternity vs. Fatherhood

(1) Relationship with someone who is your father is different than someone who is your “birthgiver”

vii) No one can come to the Father without going through the Son.

viii) We need to have a personal relationship eith God.

ix) “Children of God” is not synonymous w/ human being.

d) John 1: 10-13

i) Being born is not good enough

ii) You only become a child of God through grace.

iii) Jews thought they had it made by being just Jewish.

iv) Jesus said it takes more than birth and circumcision, however.

e) Working through God

i) Idea and exclusivity of God did not come from humans, it is from God.

ii) We are not saved by works, but works of love through charity and by faith.

iii) God cannot be impressed.

iv) He gives grace because he loves you.

v) Love is not a duty, it is a desire.

vi) Biggest tension=difference between outward appearance and internal self.

vii) By living through the sacraments, etc. we find out joy and grace.

f) God of Israwl revealed himself as holy.

i) Moral being

ii) Standards

iii) Much emphasis placed on externals to show holiness.

iv) Defined Personal God.

(1) “no longer do I call you slaves, but now I call you friends” (end of last supper)

(2) “we do not know when it is revealed, but we shall be like Him” (Johns understanding of f, iv, (1))

(a) Beautific vision

g) 1 Corinthians 15:12

i) Even saints who have reached the highest level of mystical experience admit what they see on this earth is through faith.

ii) We will see him like he is, face to face.

(1) OT: you see God, you die.

(a) Even seeing a part of His Glory means you die.

(b) He gave the chance for humans to see God but they messed up

(c) Everything is through angels now

(i) Exodus, Leviticus, etc.

(d) This is why Jews cover their eyes when looking at the Wailing Wall,

(2) NT: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”

(a) We saw God through the Incarnation in His Son, so that we might see God but not die.

(i) E.g. message to Thomas

1. I am the perfect reflection of God.

(3) The Eucharist

(a) Gives Catholics the Living God.

2) 1 John 3: 4-10

a) What is being a child of God?

i) Everyone who commits sin commits “lawlessness”

ii) Affects one’s entire relationship with God.

iii) He defines what a Christian CANNOT be.

iv) You cannot be submissive to God and be in an attitude of selfishness.

v) Term: Docile=teachable.

vi) All sin is rebellion

vii) All sins are against God through others, but all people sin.

viii) Child of God comes from Genesis 3:15

(1) 3 battles of this verse

(a) You (Satan) and woman

(b) Your (Satan) offspring (children of Satan) vs. woman’s offspring.

(c) Satan stroked at his foot vs. his strike at your head.

ix) When children of God sin, it is usually some weakness of the flesh.

b) Children of the devil

i) Humans of the world.

ii) To live a Christian life, you must have a “Biblical mindset”

(1) Look at the world through Scripture.

iii) Children of Satan not developed in OT.

(1) There is the idea, however, of women killing children of Satan while striking at their heads.

(a) Several stories, one of them about a woman driving a tent spike through the head of a sleeping man! YOWZAH!

iv) New Testament on Children of Satan.

(1) “You brood of Vipers (you children of serpents!) Matthew 3:7

(2) Matthew 12:34

(3) Revelation 12 reflects Gen 13:15

v) Every sin committed, you build the city of Satan.

vi) Every time we try to deny or change God’s will is like Satan.

(1) God rebuked Peter when Peter tried to talk him out of going forth with his ministries.

c) Do not love the things of this world

6-23-08 Bible Study

Ok, these are the notes from my first Bible study. I backdated this one so it will show up in the right place after the first post but before the second, but in reality it was written on 6-23-08.

Here we go.

1) 1 John 3

a) Full possession of the Spirit resides in the Church of Christ.

i) Chapter 2 reduces confusion.

ii) Let what you heard from the beginning stay with you.

(1) Beginnings of apostolic church

b) Heretics turned Christianity upside down

i) Have lost the Spirit

ii) Lose belief in the Father, you lose belief in the Son.

(1) To lose one is to lose all.

(2) Referred to as “pseudos”

iii) Apostasy (giving up Christianity) is worst form of intellectual sin

iv) Mental denial of Christ is the worst form of mental sin.

c) Point B and all applicable subpoints are considered part of “darkness”

d) People possessing the Spirit.

i) From the Church

ii) Biblically speaking

(1) Spirit is a special gift given for a specific mission

(2) Always given with anointing.

(3) Kings, priests, prophets and champions (special class of warrior)

(a) Spirit given to these people and then it left when the task was completed.

e) Prophets on the Messiah

i) Prophets speak clearly and specifically of the Messiah

ii) Messiah+Spirit=New Convenant.

iii) Jer 31:31 outlines New Covenant.

(1) 1 John 3 is saying that, based on Jeremiah, the moment you are baptized the Spirit is in you and you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

iv) Anything after Christ is irrelevant.

(1) Nothing new to be added.

(2) There are no new spins, no secret messages.

(3) Revelation can only become clearer, not anything new.

v) Joel 3- Reflection of the Spirit.

(1) Servants=Slaves.

f) Isiah 11

i) Jesse=father of David.

ii) “Stump of Jesse” since everything was conquered BUT the kingly line descended.

g) Luke 3

i) Moment of baptism, his mission begins.

ii) Through the sacraments, Jesus lives through us again and again.

h) Luke 4

i) Purgation, facing the devil.

ii) When temptation is finished, Luke 4:14 prefaces Like 4:21

(1) He is now the Messiah

iii) Jesus doesn’t convince friends.

i) Acts of the Apostles

i) It is after the Resurrection.

ii) Pentecost=50^th (50^th after Passover)

iii) Peter quotes Joel in Acts 2:17

(1) All prophets make sense when it converges upon Jesus.

j) Works of the Spirit

i) 1^st work, purification of Mary

(1) Perfect vessel

(2) Mother was menopausal

ii) Conception of John the Baptist

(1) Brought about by Holy Spirit.

(2) Mother was menopausal as well.

(3) John points out the person (Jesus)

(4) None greater than John the Baptist, since he recognized the Savior.

iii) Difference between John and Mary

(1) Mary was CONCEIVED without sin

(2) John was BORN without sin.

iv) Birth of Jesus Christ

(1) Spirit filling you.

v) Check crappy graphic below to illustrate Spirit distribution.

k) Power of the Bishops.

i) “To retain sin” is to excommunicate, etc.

ii) Only bishops can elect bishops, pope, etc.

iii) Bishops control marriage and approve/disapprove of nearly everything below them.

(1) They meter out the Spirit.

iv) Have active teaching authority

(1) Articulate the teachings of the Church

v) Only bishops hold the Magisterium.

l) Power of the Lay people

i) Faithful and non-ordained have a passive teaching role

ii) “Sensus fidelium”

iii) We are given the spirit to hear the truth and RECOGNIZE it.

iv) We cannot in any aspect teach infallibly.

m) The Human Aspect

i) Bible

(1) It is human made but it is the Word of God.

ii) Sacraments

(1) Human and earthly, but convey the grace of God.

n) Infallibility

i) The WHOLE CHURCH is infallible.

ii) Manifested through the pope

(1) Mouth piece.

o) The Three Great Feasts Reflected in Old and New Testament

i) All the feasts in the Bible have an agricultural and a spiritual/historical facet to them

ii) Are mandatory Jewish feasts

iii) Women cannot prepare anything at all for these feasts by Mosaic law.

(1) Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover)

(a) Crops planted at this time

(b) Israelites freed from Egyptians

(2) Feast of the Grain Harvest (Pentecost weeks)

(a) 7x7+1(sacredness in numbers, since Pentecost=50)

(b) 1^st grains coming in (little 1^st fruits)

(c) Church is born on Pentecost (NT)

(d) Jewish people=People of God (OT)

(3) Feast of the Full Harvest (Booths/Tabernacles)

(a) Tabernacle means “tent” (like circus tent)

(b) End of year, full harvest.

(c) Commemorates day Josh went into Promised Land (OT)

(d) The Second Coming (NT)

(e) Can’t be celebrated since it has not happened.

iv) Reflection of the Three Harvests

(1) Christ has died

(2) Christ has risen

(3) Christ will come again

p) Heretics

i) Heresis means “to pick and choose”

ii) We must reject any teaching that seeks to add, subtract or modify the teachings of the Church.