I have seen this "anger" or whatever you want to call it myself. From time to time the teachings come up in your open, free to reply at anytime, Sunday School Classes. It is a fact that those they have come from the RCC, do speak with anger about it now. Some even get red in the face. I get the idea that they do not like it for they feel is if they were "tricked"..mislead whatever...for years. And their anger is still there because they see the RCC still doing the same today.
At Sunday Mass in every Catholic church, there are two scripture readings, one from the OT and one from the NT. The priest or deacon reads the Gospel. The homily is focused around the Gospel reading for that day. At daily Mass, there is a scripture reading from the OT and a Gospel reading. If you attend Mass everyday for three years, you will have had the entire Bible read to you and explain to you in the Homily.
I'm not sure if this was meant to prove that Catholics study the Bible, but I see it as saying they still as a whole, do not. In every Baptist or Baptist type church that I have been in, the pastor nearly every week compels us to GET INTO THE WORD on our own. We are also told to make sure he (the pastor) stays true to the Word. The reason....salvation is a relationship between me and my heavely Father. I talk to HIM when I pray. He talks to me when I read His Word. It is a love relationship. He loved me, before I loved Him. Therefore, it is this love that makes me worship Him, pray to Him, and read His Word. Though Church is good for followship, it can never replace my relationship with my God. Its good to talk about doctrine with other believers, yet Gods Word is the end of the matter. If my pastor does not lineup with Gods Word, I tell him. So far there have been no biggies and I pray there never is.
Catholics do not worship Mary, we admire her. We pray to Mary to be an intercessor just as you would be if you prayed for me. When we pray to Mary, we are asking her to pray for us to God.
Catholics teach that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. They also believe that at the end of her life she “was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 966). Catholics refer to Mary as “the Holy Mother of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 975). They view her as a comediator of God’s grace and as a collaborator with the salvation of Jesus her Son (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 510, 973). According to Pope Paul VI, “
The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 971).
In my relationship with God, I understand that, unlike Catholic teaching, the Bible does not teach that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life...she indeed had other children
Ps. 69 8
I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
Matt 12:46
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Matt 28:10
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Mark 3:31
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
John 7:3
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest
Nor does the Bible indicate that Mary was conceived without original sin or that she was bodily ascended into heaven
Luke 1:47
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
The Bible does not refer to Mary as the Holy Mother of God. The offering of adoration and prayers to Mary (and to other dead saints) is both unscriptural and an act unacceptable to God. Where as, you can ask me to pray for you, for I too am a saint and I am alive.
Rev. 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
I read the Bible and I read the writings of apologists who explain the scriptures in a way that I, as an accountant, can understand. I can read a scripture in the Bible and not understand the full meaning as taken in context with all other scripture. When you read Revelations for the first time, did you understand it? I am not a theologian and am not qualified to interpret the Bible as a whole.
GOOD. This as you know is rare in the RCC. But it is becoming rare in all churches. This is why we now have the "name it claim it" false teaching....the KJVO semi-cult..and other full cults that have come around. The followers of these simply do not know Gods Word and have not held their leader/leaders in check with the Bible. But if you take the Bible only, you too will find many teachings of the RCC not in the Bible.
In Christ...James
