It occurred to me that the Reformation was really about who had authority over the Bible. Instead of one person, or group, some would have us believe that there is no authority; that in essence, each of us is our own authority. That instead of one supreme authority, there are billions. So many have bought into this and it is frightening.
What those same people would have us believe is that while there is no authority over the Bible, their interpretation is the correct one. Some might even call their interpretation...authoritative.
So how do we reconcile this with what God wants? Because, ultimately, and I am sure that everybody would agree, it doesn't matter what any person says. It only matter what God wants. I think it is best to ask ourselves a few questions.
1) Who is the "pillar and foundation of truth?"
2) Who has authority to interpret the Bible?
3) If it is truly as simple as praying and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, how are so many people coming up with so many different interpretations?
4) How do we know who is right?
If those opposed to authority are right, then God has set up anarchy. There is nobody to look to for understanding. We know that fools will twist scripture to their own destruction and yet we fail to see the fool in ourselves. There are any number of "Christians" who claim to teach God's word alone. They look to the Bible, read, interpret and teach. And any number of those teachers, who ardently and honestly, prayed for understanding to the Holy Spirit, who asked for guidance as they read, have come away with a vastly different number of interpretations. Here is a sample of what I have heard.
1) You are free from sin. Christ gives you power over sin. He paid the price for your transgressions.
2) If the King James Bible was good enough for St. Paul, then it is good enough for me.
3) Revelation tells us that God the Mother will come down at end times.
4) Baptism does not save you.
5) All you have to do is repent and accept Jesus as your savior.
6) The Earth was created 6,000 years ago.
7) Jesus was a prophet and he never claimed to be God.
8) Priests are not in the Bible.
9) Christ did not rise in Sunday.
10) We should only worship on the Sabath.
You might agree with every single one of those statements or you might disagree with every single one of them. You might be inclined to some and disregard others. That's not the point of the exercise, though. The point is that it doesn't matter which of those you choose to believe or disagree with. At the end of the day what we have to come to terms with is that all of those statement were made by well meaning and thoughtful Christians. These were Christians who ardently studied the Bible and could rattle off scripture verse after scripture verse.
I have met passionate Christians who were living their every breath for the Lord say things like, "If you read the Bible carefully, you will see that the Bible also talks about God the Mother."
I have met honest Christians contradict what Jesus himself said. I have met Christians who believe that asking Jesus into their hearts is enough to guarantee salvation forever and others who think that if you don't live the right way, you will be cast into Hell. I have met some who believe that Jesus is God and others who don't. I have met Chrsitians who think that the rapture will be an event as described in books like "Left Behind" and some who believe that the rapture will be nothing like that.
And here is the frightening thing. If those who don't believe in a true authority are right. If those that say the church is in each of us are right. If they are right, then all of those interpretations are right. If there is no authority, then we are all an authority. And if we are all authorities then we are all speaking truth. But if we are all speaking truth and our truths contradict, then I guess, in reality, there is no truth. Because I know this about truth. Truth doesn't shift or sway. It doesn't change. Truth stands firmly against lies and misinformation. Truth doesn't contradict itself and truth doesn't bend itself to fit multiple meaning. Truth is truth. And I firmly, proudly, and unapologetically say that those who would have us believe that there is no truth, are wrong. There is an authority and it is the Catholic Church. The Church was left by God to make sure that there would always be a guide for us. That we could turn to this guide to truly understand God's word as written in the Bible and truly know what it means to be Christian.
God Bless!