I most certainly have been exegeting the Scripture - I simply grow tired of repeating the same thing over again. Would it change your mind if I continued? No and your incessant protestations will not change mine.
If you stick to the passage at hand and not go off on tangents that are not possibly related to this topic we might make some progress. You have to admit that using Christ as an example is way off topic. No false teacher or organization compelled Christ to fast or to abstain from eating food. That argument is completely bogus. Please admit to that much.
If you exegete the text there is no possible way that you can come to any such conclusion as that. So "exegesis" involves rightly dividing the word of truth (2Tim.2:15), and coming to the right conclusions of what the Bible is saying.
Look - there is simply no way that you or anyone here can take those passages that Paul was clearly directing at heretics of the day, then skew them, torture them, and direct them to the RCC with any shred of credibility - especially when you freely admit your utter disdain for them.
My view of the RCC is irrelevant. The RCC is simply one religion that forbids certain of their members to marry, as the SDA (and we have some on our board) forbid their members to abstain from eating certain foods--the two doctrines mentioned here as doctrines as demons.
Are their others that have the same practice?
The Mormons command their members to abstain from certain foods, even coffee and tea.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church bishops are not permitted to marry.
The Essenes, in the time of Christ,
did not permit marriage among any of their members. Propagation of their sect was by conversion (or by adoption). They were ascetics. And as such they were vegetarians, thus they also commanded to abstain from certain foods, that being all meat.
--Paul could have been referring directly to this group at that time. But the application is made to all groups who have the same teaching. The Bible is not a static book.
The Shakers did not advocate marriage. They slowly declined in numbers.
All of the above teach doctrines of demons. It is not just the RCC. I don't have a hatred for the RCC, but only for their doctrines. I don't hate my extended family--all RCC, but only the false doctrine that they are caught up in.
I know. I know. You don't believe that Roman Catholics are Christians and that is certainly your right. But to show such hatred and contempt is, in my opinion, VERY un-Christ like behavior. And yes – they are our brothers and sisters – whether you like it or not.
What contempt? What hatred? I have never shown any contempt or hatred to any Roman Catholic, to the doctrine of the RCC, yes; but not to the individual. As I said, most of my relatives are RCC. How can I hate them? I stand strong against the false teaching that is sending them to hell. Salvation is by grace through faith and it is not of works. They believe that it is of works. They are wrong.
Thus far, it has been my experience here that many of you never pass up the opportunity to pounce on the RCC – a fact made even more egregious by their under or non-representation here.
The doctrine, not the person.
But then again, I have only used the RCC in this discussion as an example. The SDA I have used just as much as an example. Why have you not complained about them? Now I have given you plenty of others who also teach doctrines of demons.