Is Questioning my faith a sin??

BUT WHY??

We all believe that we have the rights to question and criticize in life
we criticize our political paties for imporvements,
and we have to rights to question any uncertainty

From history, the only people that are not allowed to question more importantly criticizing are Hitler, Mao and other kings or rulers.

why not criticze or question the flaws and doubts of our religion

Many success in the past comes from improvements, and improvements started from questioning and Criticizing

Our quality of life at the moment comes from questioning and criticizing throughout the entire history

Finally have a look at this video from youtube

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(Editorial note: The above video link has been removed. The administator deleted it because of its swearing. If not for that it would have been allowed it. As a Christian I am not afraid to face those that oppose themselves in regard to the truth.)

I support free thought (but not gross swearing), and I hope you do to. Here is a link to a fair debate on the existence of God, rather than your link to some silly blasphemer.

Click on the audio links. The debate is well done, and well worth your time listening to.

http://richarddawkins.net/audio/dawkins-lennox_part1.mov

http://richarddawkins.net/audio/dawkins-lennox_part2.mov

http://richarddawkins.net/audio/dawkins-lennox_part3.mov

Even questioning the existence of God is blasphemy. If we are allowing thoughts to enter our mind which introduce doubt into our hearts then we are sinning.
All kinds of penalties result from sin.
We understand that allowing thoughts of greed, lust, envy etc. are sin. Surely therefore allowing thoughts or reading books or watching youtube or website links which question God's existence is an equally grave sin.
We are playing with fire if we sully our childlike faith in God with the clever words of the world.
Also I am astonished that this thread is in the Just for Fun forum.
This is a very serious subject and should not be addressed in a light hearted way.

I haven't watched or read any of the links but the comments above lead to me to warn that there are many films, TV shows and books etc which poke fun at God, biblical and Christian themes. Some of these are outright blasphemous but I would like to suggest that we avoid even light-hearted banter eg. Peter at the pearly gates type humour.

We must remember that this is the Holy God Almighty who we live and breath before. Lighten up excubitor I hear many say. God has a sense of humour. Sure he does but we must know there is a line which must not be crossed. I allow my son to have fun and laughs with me but I do not allow him to make fun or jokes of me. I am his father and that authority of a father over a son is appointed by God. How would we feel if we caught our son watching and laughing along to a video which mocked us? We would feel betrayed and hurt. And yet very often we do the very same thing to our heavenly father in his full view.

We need to fear God. Now that is the trembling kind of fear bordering on terror. This is what many of the fathers such as Abraham experienced when they had visions from God. In fact Paul even mentions this terror
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

We all have to appear before the judgement seat to account for the things we say, the things we watch and indulge in, and also the thoughts that we allow and foster which dishonour God by questioning his existence or making light of or mocking him.

He is our eternal glorious, magnificent Holy and divine Father beyond all comparison before whom we must utterly be laid low and humble.

You're not alone, Nudgee. I've questioned my faith a lot lately. It's amazing I have some reminant left after going through the ringer, and its not done it seems.

Yes, question your faith, if you like, but don't question the faith of another. Only thieves question the faith of others.

I think it's healthy to question your faith, as in the end, your faith is strengthened by the ordeal. Jesus did not advocate holding questions in your heart to boil up. If a question pops in your mind, it should be dealt with, so that if you're asked the same question by someone else, you're ready to defend your faith, as you've been instructed to do.

In response again, I don't fear God because I love God. We should not fall to the ground in fear in His presence, but fall to the ground in thanks and praise!

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." - 1 John 4:18

A religious life entered into without examination has no more merit than any other kind of life entered into without examination.

[quote name='Humble Bob' date='Oct 16 2007, 08:44 PM' post='124520']

[/quote]

Yes, question your faith, if you like, but don't question the faith of another. Only thieves question the faith of others.
[/quote]

thanks for your advise.

By the way, anyone else here has questioned their faith in the past?

I'm a believer that has never doubted until once

I doubted big time...Not that God and an Jesus existed or the validity of the Bible ...

but l doubt the years of proof l was given.

It was horrible..

God redirected me personally.
I've never quite gotten over it.

I'm a believer. The only thing l doubt now is my own interpretations.

There are times I cannot but believe,and there are times I have trouble believing. We are feeble folk.

Sometimes I wish I did not believe, because then I would not have to graple with the doctine of hell. My sense of justice recoils against it. But I cannot deny what the bible evidently teaches. So I tell God what I think in my heart about hell, for I know that He knows it already. I tell Him that I think it is most unjust and unfair.

But, at the same time, I know that I am just a man, and He is God, and what do I know compared to Him --- nothing! So I sigh and move on. For I know that God is, and that He is the God of the bible, and not some other, and I know this based upon a great many reasons, so I cannot let one or two difficulties in my mind make me give up on God, for I know deep down that He truly truly is. And I have seen His glory. I only wish certain things in the bible were not so, such as hell, and the fact that not all will be saved, etc. But I do not deny what the bible says about these thiings.

I applaud you, Shekel. That was a very couragous thing to admit. I too sometimes had feelings that I thought it be better that I did not believe, but of course I would be wrong about that if I did not believe.

As for people going to hell, there is a greater truth than that.

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

and

Matthew 19:26
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

so, it doesn't matter how I may interpret this scripture or for anyone else to interpret it, for it will come true letter for letter, word for word.

I applaud you Humble Bob for applauding Shekel.

Admitting that we have weaknesses is courageous. However weaknesses of faith are not excusable and must be repented of. God is constantly at work strengthening our faith.
Unbelief is one of the worst of all sins for which Jesus upbraided his disciples. Unbelief or any other sin must not be tolerated by Christians and must be vigorously rooted out through prayer and fasting.

Ex...I can testify to this...never have l slipped deeper than to doubt the work of the Holy Spirit in my life..

But l nailed my excuses to the cross. Now l am what l am...Nothing with out the shed blood of Christ.

May l ever cleave to that mercy and work with the Spirit to make my life a living sacrifice.

It's really not so hard when you're yoked to him.

(But we believe the liar).

there is no sin that I can undo. I confess my unbelief many times to God.

Take care, brethren, when taking a stand and refusing to tolerate faith that you do not forget to always act in love and show love to the sinner. For we are all sinners, and breaking one point of the law is the same as breaking all points of the law. None of us are perfect, so no man is better than any other.

It seems like this is a matter of personal perception and personal religion values. I think no one except for GOD was authorized to judge our sins. (But maybe something was clearly written in the bible that i wasn't aware of)

Clearly you are not embarassed though by your unbelief. Would you confess on a public forum if you had lusted after another man's wife many times? Of course not because you would be utterly ashamed and embarassed by such a sin and would seek to conceal it. However doubt and unbelief is sported like a badge in Christianity and even condoned as normal. It is not normal for a true Christian to doubt. Christians DO NOT doubt. They have an unshakeable faith. So we need to really nail down this aspect of doubt and questioning our faith. We must consider such sins as appalling and horrendous, shameful thoughts which need to be purged as they are direct deceptions of the enemy sent by him to cause us to stumble and fall.
So the minute we feel the tempting prompt of Satan to doubt in Jesus and the gospel, we must reject that thought and seek God in prayer. Dwelling on doubts and questions is sin, and sin when it is fully accomplished brings death. James 1:15

Bravo. You are a quick learner.

Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

however, a small but no minor detail should be noted. It is Christ who shall judge.

John 5:26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

But there's a kicker to this and blessed be the person who hears it and believes.

My shame is within me and I give it to Christ that he may take it away, for I am not the power to take my own sins away nor my shame. What is impossible for man is not impossible for God.

This includes my doubt to Christ and of him. But each time I fall he lifts me and I do not understand his great love for me, that his grace is a pouring like the blood from his body when he was crucified. He forgives me each time and it is a wonder that puts me in awe. The Lord is good.

But death, my dear, comes by way of a spirit that blinds the hearts of men.

What beautiful and sanctimonius words.

Please do not be discouraged by some here that would condemn you rather than encourage you. Here is a scripture that proves that we can all sometimes doubt. We doubt, but we can also ask for help. The only sin would be to stay in it and not ask the Lord for help.


Mar 9:23 And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.
Mar 9:24 Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mar 9:25 And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

See? The father of the child believed, but also had doubt. What did he do? He asked Jesus for help in his unbelief. What did Jesus do? He healed his child.
love C

Don't forget....Abraham doubted God and impregnated Hagar who bore Ishmael. God forgave him and Sarah had Isaac.

Don't forget...John the Baptist heard the voice of God saying, "This is my beloved Son..." and he still doubted and sent his disciples asking if Jesus was the One.

Don't forget...Peter still denied Christ even after being warned that he would do so.....God forgave and restored him.

Don't forget....the disciples doubted the resurrection after Mary Madelene told them He had risen. God forgave them and filled them with His Spirit.

Christians DO have doubts at times.....but we are to GROW in our faith by the grace of God. We can't stay in unbelief and enter the Kingdom. Ask God for faith....without this GIFT NONE of us would be Christians.

Why would one not admit that he lusted? Are we not to confess our sins to our brothers in Christ as well as to God? We are brothers, here to help one another grow in love, not to judge on another or make one another feel bad. When I recognize a sin, I try to tell people as well as confess to God. I am a sinner, and I know this. Shame is inevitable but is not an excuse, in my mind, to hold it in and keep from seeking help. Christ offered his helpful powers through prayer, but also left us with a multitude of brethren so that we could help one another through difficult times by praying for each other and sharing testimonies as to how we overcame certain sins.

Strange isnt it. It's OK to confess your sins on a public forum where thousands of guests login and where nobody really knows us. And its OK to confess your sins to a brother in one of those accountability pacts. But somehow its a great affront to the Holy God to confess your sins in the confessional to your priest. What a strange world. Also I hardly think that HB was seeking help.

I tried to confess to a catholic priest but he just wanted to fondle me. Now I confess to my High Priest, Jesus Christ Try it sometime.

Which is exactly what I am advocating to the OP. That unbelief is inexcusable except by the forgiveness of God by the blood of Jesus Christ. Anyone found doubting or questioning needs to respond with tears and pleading to Jesus to help them with their unbelief. The urgency and emotion of this father is what I am insisting is required. Complacence or tolerance for doubt is extremely destructive.

It is outrageous to suggest that anyone here is condemning the OP. I have simply answered his question that doubt and questioning of faith is sin and needs to be repented of.

If we repent then God will certainly forgive and not condemn as Brother Jon demonstrated in his post.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

The fact that God forgives should not in any way be interpreted that God condones sin. Sin which is unrepented of results in death as I pointed out in my previous post.

Click here: Rom. 5:6-11 - While we were still sinners
http://www.opensourcetheology.net/bible/node/1275

: " We are called out of darkness " ( 1 Peter 2:9 )

This is why we are in the world, not of the world . . .

Our new titles are :
Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (special) people(1 Peter 2:9)

This is the difference in continuance of sin(sinner) and daily sanctification. The sinner is saved by grace. We are `now`justified. Not sinners ! Our sanctification and justification, connects to
our souls being sealed. The grace is when we believed Jesus is
the Son of God.

Just as the "Prodigal Son" in the Gospel, we must become aware of our sinful condition, take responsibility for our behavior, repent of our sins and arise and return to our Father. And the "Compassionate One, Full of Mercy" will meet us on the way offering healing and reconciliation.
http://www.stmaron.org/reconcil.html


When we commit purpose based sin, ( the act of sin ), we ask for repentance.
In the New Testament, the word translated as 'repentance' is the Greek word μετάνοια (metanoia), "after/behind one's mind", ( to feel sorrow ).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repentance


Like Paul, we must die unto the flesh daily. We are no longer sinners.
The acceptance of the gift of grace, changed our title from sinner, to
justified and/or reconciled to God our Father.

We were sinners ( we, yet being sinners ) . . ." now " having been justified
in his blood . . .through him we received reconciliation. (see Romans 5:6-11)

We are sealed :
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

Rom. 5:6-11
6 For still Christ, we being weak, still in due time died for the ungodly.

7 For only rarely for a righteous man will anyone die - for a good man possibly someone dares even to die.

8 But God demonstrates his own love to us because we yet being sinners Christ died for our sakes.

9 Much more then, now having been justified in his blood, shall we be saved through him from the wrath.

10 For if being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his life;

11 and not only that, but also boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom now we received reconciliation.


http://www.mpubs.org/html/sinners_saved_by_grace_.html


"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (special) people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" 1 Peter 2:9

BrotherJon, if yours is not a jest, I am sorry you went through that, and to admit that here is quite courageous of you.

But you speak a good word, BrotherJon. Thanks.


-excubitor...(sigh) you spelled sanctimonious wrong

Exactly true seven,
These are the words of truth

thanks bob....i can't hide my disdain for the Catholic church and its vile false doctrines, false worship, wickedness, goddess worship, evolution acceptance, new world order acceptance........the spirit of Elijah confronts the False Prophet........

The fact that you have to ask whether or not it is a jest should tell you something about Brother Jon. What a thing to jest about on a public forum. If it is jest then it is in extremely poor taste. Even if it is true, the trite off-hand way in which it was stated is itself in very poor taste. It shows a lack of shame and discretion on the part of Brother Jon. It certainly does not show courage. I suspect that this did not happen to Brother Jon at all, and that he is using this stereotypical slur to undermine the Catholic church and bring false reproach against it. If so then this is a grevious sin. A breach of the commandment to not bring false witness.

In a confessional the priest is seperated from the confessor by a wall so there is no opportunity to fondle. If you were trying to confess to the priest you would have gone to the confessional booth where you are sealed off from the priest. This is further evidence to show how implausible Jon's account is. Even if it is true, to even imagine that this point of paedophilia has any bearing on the catholic practice of confession is outright dishonest. I could just as easily argue that because some priests are paedophiles that therefore it is wrong to have priests in the church at all. How ludicrous. Brother Jon has behaved unspeakably shamefully. I warn him that for every idle word which we speak we must give an account in the day of Judgement.

The difference between confessing your sins to your brothers in Christ and confessing your sins to a man who, in direct defiance of the Bible, takes on the title of "Father", and gives you menial tasks to facilitate your forgiveness, should be obvious. Forgiveness can come from the one and only Father, through the advocacy of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Also, out of pure curiosity, why are you suspicious of the intentions of the people on this board? I realize that we are all sinners, but we are all equal in sin. No man is righteous.

I cover the issue of calling the priest Father in this thread here. http://www.christian-forum.net/index.php?s...c=12617&hl= . Your point about menial tasks trivialises the rite of penance. If you are truly interested in this subject I recommend that you read some Catholic literature on it for a balance view of the subject http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm .

As for your point about me being suspicious of others. There are several here who advance false teaching. I have also encountered some appalling displays of behaviour here. If anybody does well I praise without fear or favour and when someone does badly then I correct also without fear or favour. I will not stand idly by and allow false teaching to flourish. Also I often defend other individuals and church denominations who are falsely accused on this forum. Your statement that we are all equal in sin is not true. There are wicked people in the church who are bent on destroying the church. They pass themselves off as angels of light. There are people such as this on this forum and their sin is grave.

I answered the question which the OP posted and showed that it is wrong to doubt. I did not say this to cast suspicion on others. I said this to speak the truth, to give wise advice to a doubting brother. I said this to provide myself as an example which the OP could follow. Did the apostle Paul ever doubt? Then if you are disgusted at the idea of following me, then follow Paul. I don't care. I just want every Christian here to experience the joy and security of living a life free from doubt, soundly grounded on the faith of Jesus Christ.

If our faith shakes in these good times of peace then how shall it stand in the great day of the trial of the church.

I was really shocked about the RCC, since the subject seems to have turned the topic on the RCC, Catholic priests and "the church."

Part of my shock is from what is out there on the Internet that talks about God and the RCC, some people might discount it and to others to believe it is the truth.

Here's a link, some of you might have seen it, and I am certain that for some visiting this site will object to it's content. But since a certain rudeness prevails in attitudes here (at least in this thread) I think its fair to present what might be at the least very thought provoking.

http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/anti1.htm

Now, I am only posting what I came across a few years back, and since then my spirit has been moved. I did not write it, or author this website, but it was shocking to me.

Comments of course are welcomed, but be nice. Whatever may be the truth it should be tested or at least discussed in a civil manner.

Brothers and Sisters, this topic is getting a little extreme. Please don't be upset with each and others, because we're friends in a way.

Rebuked by a loving nudgee.

Ex... I understand your expressions about doubt...

Sometimes l think.."Those who doubt have never really believed.

Bother Jon testified the way l do sometimes...Things just pop into your mind and you speak.

Abuse spreads far and wide from the hidden rooms of the church. Generation after generation.
Confession is good for the soul.

Ex, let me reiterate that it was a mere curiosity. I don't mean to be divisive.

I've read the two articles. I considered myself a catholic for years. I don't have a problem with specific catholics, as I know that we all sin. I do, however, have a problem with an entire church having false doctrines as important as these. I believe them to be false doctrines for several reasons.

I. The church takes too much liberty in building an entire law around a mistranslated John 20:23 and an abuse of the power given to the apostles in Matthew 16:19 and 18:18. In John 20:23, as in any verse that someone decides to build an entire doctrine around, one should examine the ancient Greek, which in this case, you would find, reads, "Those whose sins you forgive have already been forgiven; those whose sins you do not forgive have not been forgiven." God does not forgive people's sins because we do! God is not our slave! Also, in both verses in Matthew, Jesus was speaking to the apostles giving authority to all believers! There are no clergy and lay separations in the body of Christ: indeed the body of Christ should never be divided!

II. Some of the tasks given in this "rite of penance", in fact most, are not biblically based. I was told to pray to God, not God's mom, for help and forgiveness.

III. Titles should not be taken by anyone for religious reasons. Father, Rabbi, and Teacher are the ones that Jesus warned against specifically. When the apostles referred to themselves, they didn't title themselves in order to give themselves glory. Only God deserves the glory. They merely added a descriptor after their names (ie John the elder, rather than Elder John; or Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, rather than Apostle Paul). We are all brothers in the body of Christ. We were all saved with the same grace. No man deserves glory. I give glory to God. This means that we believers are ALL saints! Not just those who the pope says are saints.

IV. Catholicism teaches that not all sins are equal, but the Bible teaches otherwise. The Bible says that breaking one part of the Law is breaking the whole Law. Catholicism uses books which are only used by themselves to prove their doctrine. In the New Testament, Jesus never quotes from Wisdom, Sirach, Meccabees, or any others. If they were so essential in doctrine, why didn't Jesus think so?

No one can come to the Father but through the Son. I don't see Biblical evidence for the exaltation of catholic clergy. Nor do I see evidence that I cannot ask God for forgiveness myself.

Thanks Brian, Sorry if I am a bit touchy. I get like this if I am spending too much time on the forum. I will probably be cutting right back for a while on my posts. You have raised some good points. I really cannot add much to the excellent article which I linked to which explained the Rite of Penance. I have to admit that as soon as I here the words "mistranslation" I basically tune out. I believe that the Bible is perfect and inerrant and that only one scripture is sufficient to establish a doctrine. I just cannot deny the scripture by hiding behind the mistranslation excuse. I have even seen a guy trying to argue that there is no eternal hell on the basis of a mistranslation. I warn everybody to prick up there ears when they hear "mistranslation" because false teaching will invariably follow.

The article which explains the rite does quote extra-biblical sources. However it does this not to establish the doctrine as true. The doctrine is established as true on the basis of the passage in John 20. It quotes extra-biblical sources in order to demonstrate that the rite was in regular usage in the very earliest times of the Christian church. This is an extremely valuable technique. Let me give you an example. Baptism by sprinkling or immersion. Some churches prohibit baptism by sprinkling. To test their case we can go back to see where did this idea of prohibiting baptism by sprinkling begin? It turns out that the Anabaptists were the first to come up with this idea in the 1500's. When you look back throughout all of history, sprinkling was regularly and continually practiced by the church. So if we are to argue that sprinkling is prohibited by scripture we must then ask the question How did the false and corrupt practice of sprinkling become introduced into the church? Where in history is the massive controversy when sprinkling started. Where are the records of the immersion lobby contending with the sprinkling lobby. Its just not there. The massive controversy began in the 1500's and escalated with the Baptists later on. The only possible reason that there is no controversy of an introduction of sprinkling is that THE CHURCH ALWAYS PRACTICED SPRINKLING in addition to immersion.

This same principle can be applied to the Rite of Penance where we find NO CONTROVERSY in history at the introduction of the confessional until very recent protestant times. We know that there is plenty of controversy on a variety of issues in the early church and yet absolutely no controversy about the Rite of Penance. The church has ALWAYS practiced it right from the earlies times as instituted by the Apostles in the first century. ALL orthodox Christian faiths prior to the reformation practiced it. Even many Anglican churches also practice it.

I urge you to go back and read the article. It is my greatest desire to be at unity with the Body of Christ. But not just in unity with my little group with which I fellowship with at church on Sunday. I seek to be at unity with the entire church going back through all of history.

Also your claim that titles should not be given or used is crazy. It is unworkable. We use titles ALL THE TIME in society to describe the roles in which people operator. I am the System Administrator at work so if the computer fails people get a message "Contact the System Administrator". Oooooooh I must be important. I puff myself up with my big chest and swan about because I am the administrator. Or else I could recognise that this title is not engrandising me it is simply describing my role in the organisation and that any authority which that position may contain is simply an exercising of the authority of my employer by proxy. And that my employer exercises authority over me as ordained by almighty God who gave him greater position and responsibility than he gave me. So all authority comes from God and when we obey those who have rule over us then we obey God who ordained that authority over us. Did you not read the thread which I linked to? To say that titles are wrong is ludicrous and unworkable. Everybody has roles in the church. Paul refers to this when he speaks about all the members of the body, foot eye head etc each with their own roles in 1 Cor 12. Paul teaches us to give the same or more honour to those who have humble roles to offset the natural and worldly habit of honouring those who have the important leadership roles of the church. This is effectively the same principle which Jesus was expressing when he said "Call no man Father,Rabbi,Master". Paul then lists the titles of the roles in the body.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities [6] of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Notice that God sets men in these positions. So are you saying that there can be roles in the church but we cannot give them titles to vocalise those roles.

I suppose if you believe the King James or whatever other translation is more true and perfect than the original Greek, then we're at a standstill. I can handle people accusing me of being a liar. I was warned by God that I would be attacked for His sake.

I felt I needed to defend my faith, and I believe I have. I'll do it again. I'm not trying to attack you or separate myself from you as a Christian in any way.

I am not saying that we cannot vocalize roles within the Body of Christ. We are told to do so. I'm simply saying that we are all equal and that only God should be honored. Nobody is "reverend" or "his excellency" or anything else like that except God.

While you're on the subject of documentation, I'd like to see the documentation that the original apostles instituted the right of penance as you describe it, and confession to a priest (other than God) who has the power to absolve sins.

I'm sorry that you think mistranslation is an excuse. I don't. I think it's a poor mistake that should be rectified, but people seem to value the word of James more than they do the word of Jesus these days.

I think I see where you're coming from, BK...my understanding from what your wrote as to rely wholly on Christ than on a book.

Though, I feel KJV is probably the safest path to tread on. I've come to distrust the literal translation of other Bibles, or at least my propensity to misunderstand their translation.

I do think it wrong to rely soley on the Bible and not on Christ, which I think can cause religiosity, but nothing wrong with relying soley on Christ and not the Bible, after all Christ is the Word.

So, if that is what you meant, I'll have to agree with you there.