Lmfao imagine being in this cult
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Jesus said, "And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it." Peter is Greek for Rock. It is the founding of God's church on earth. The word the title, 'pope' didn't come till long after. The word means 'father' in Greek. It wasn't the title that was given by Jesus. Just the position of leadership to lead His flock on earth.
Cool. Then what? What happens when Peter dies? Did Jesus say a bunch of men in red will get to pick another person and can give that man the same authority? I can't seem to find that anywhere. Not everyone that succeeded Peter was a good man and worthy either. Jesus also said "church" - not religion. Church - as in a building or a house of worship.
By the way - I don't care which religion anyone chooses. What's important is that they are worshiping. I don't think any organized religion is "the one true religion" anyway. God didn't make every country/continent the same, with the same weather, the same food, the same language, or even the same races. It is normal that many different religions developed all over the world. God knows all. I don't believe he would plan out a world with humans, knowing they would develop differently as they were geographically separated for a LONG time, and then expect them to somehow all converge and agree on one religion. He expected them to worship him.
The biggest thing that bothers me about Catholicism is that Catholics tend to say exactly what you did. Jesus didn't say anything about building a religion and how to run it, or anything about the traditions. He put one mortal man (that will by definition die) in charge of continuing on with his ministry. I'm behind that 100%. The stuff that it morphed into over the centuries was added by men based on what they wanted.
I was raised in the Assemblies of God as a small child (that was pretty scary for a toddler when someone started speaking in tongues), and later ended up in a Methodist church as a pre-teen and teen. My Military Dog Tags say Methodist. I stayed with that for a long time until they started changing and becoming woke. My old church now has 2 women pastors and does LGBTQ stuff. The Methodist denomination split in 2 factions. I guess I'm the third. My wife keeps trying to get me to go to non-denominational services at her church. I go every once in a while (went on Easter) but I can't take it for long. I can't even enter a Rainforest Cafe for the same reason. The "modern Christian music" is not what I want and ends up giving me anxiety attacks with the sound volume, the thumping of the speakers, and repeating the same verses over and over. It's sad too, because I really like the minister and his sermons. I do like that they wear whatever they want, and most men are wearing baseball or cowboy hats. I left last Sunday after the sermon - before they started up with the band and the next 15 minutes of music. I'll probably just start watching the sermon on their website from now on.
All religions have been changed over the centuries, and created their own traditions, practices, and dogma/doctrine. Nobody alive today would even know if any of it came from the original founding of those religions. Example - when did the Catholics start sending white smoke signals when a new Pope is chosen? We all have to take the word of the religious doctrine passed down by mere mortals who could've put in or left out whatever they wanted to. Even the Bible has been translated so many times it can look completely different (with different meaning) depending on how words or passages were translated. People said the King James version was "too difficult to understand". Now if you compare verses between the KJV and NIV some passages can have completely different meanings because of the use of "easier" words.
Sorry for the long rant. It is not against you personally. My uncle was an Assemblies minister, a dean of a bible college, a Dr of Theology, and a published religious author (he died of MS about a decade ago). We used to talk about stuff like this, and he is where I got my curiosity and interest in the different religions. I still miss that.
The way I see it is the Bible is said to be the Word of God. Not just people's interpretation of God's thoughts, but actually God speaking through the authors'. In the same way, Peter, in direct contact with Jesus, understood God's intentions more than any other. He was told that he'd be the foundation for the Church. The apostles and Peter were given the gift of tongues to share God's message in all languages to all people and bring them into the church, to become 'fishers of men'. Now, I personally believe this wasn't just for the next 70 years when the last of the apostles died, but for them to continue the mission by ordaining new 'apostles' (priests) and for Peter, as head of the Church, to have a new head of the Church to succeed him. Again, it is my opinion. I can't see the wisdom behind God (Jesus) saying, 'Okay. Peter, do this role until you die and then no need for the next 2000 years or really, forever. I'm sure it'll catch on after only 35 years of your reign ( after you are martyred).' But, that's why there are different Christian sects. Different opinions. As long as you listen to Jesus's words, that "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That that leads to salvation. But.. it is only my opinion! lol
I agree with you that the churches have pretty much followed right behind the world incorporating the songs that don't tell the old, old story of Jesus and His sacrifice for mankind. And the watered-down versions of "God's Word which do in fact change the meaning of verses by switching out words and entire phrases. This has been all a part of Satan's plan to destroy the true meaning of Christianity and making it easier for people to not take accountability for their actions. It is the reason our world is in the condition it is in because sin is rampant and we have left God out of our lives. It is time to turn back to God and ask for His blessings and healing of our broken society and world.
I was sure that would be the Scripture you would cite, but in no way in name or position does that make Peter the first pope. As one of the twelve disciples, Peter was to help the new church as established in the Book of Acts to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who came to seek and to save lost sinners. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works of baptism or church membership or keeping of rituals. We never needed a pope to interpret the Scriptures for us. We have needed local church pastors to lead the flock and teach the Scriptures as written. There are specific verses that teach the qualifications and duties of the local pastors.