The Tension of Faith

ringo writes:How can you know the intentions and honesty of the messenger without knowing whether the message is true or false?

Phat writes:What if they are right and we are in a spiritual war of ideas and don't know it?

jar writes:I can think of no greater waste of time or energy than a spiritual war of ideas.

GotQuestions.org writes:"The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: ‘Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood.This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.’"In other words, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that once an ordained priest blesses the bread of the Lord's Supper, it is transformed into the actual flesh of Christ (though it retains the appearance, odor, and taste of bread); and when he blesses the wine, it is transformed into the actual blood of Christ (though it retains the appearance, odor, and taste of wine).Is such a concept biblical? There are some Scriptures that, if interpreted strictly literally, would lead to the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine. Examples are John 6:32-58; Matthew 26:26; Luke 22:17-23; and 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. The passage pointed to most frequently is John 6:32-58 and especially verses 53-57, Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.’Roman Catholics interpret this passage literally and apply its message to the Lord’s Supper, which they title the Eucharist or Mass. Those who reject the idea of transubstantiation interpret Jesus’ words in John 6:53-57 figuratively or symbolically. How can we know which interpretation is correct? Thankfully, Jesus made it exceedingly obvious what He meant. John 6:63 declares, The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Jesus specifically stated that His words are spirit. Jesus was using physical concepts, eating and drinking, to teach spiritual truth. Just as consuming physical food and drink sustains our physical bodies, so are our spiritual lives saved and built up by spiritually receiving Him, by grace through faith. Eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully and completely receiving Him in our lives.

Percy writes:Why not just stick to the topic?

It would be a miracle because what has happened is impossible.

The Antichrist according to the Protestant Reformers is the Pope. Not fictional.

Of course if you could invite all the gods to a football field we could have a god-off. It would be pretty televisual and we'd get a result one way or another. But until then I think the point is moot.

jar writes:All of the evidence shows that past teachers from the Buddha to Jesus to John Locke have presented lesson on how to live ones life. And that is what matters.