Bible Study - April 24th
1 Peter 2:2-10 (New International Version)
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. The Living Stone and a Chosen People As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,”and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Notes: A this very moment the Catholic Cardinals are meeting to choose the next Pope. As we move into the 21st century, a time when religious faith seems to be increasing rather than "withering away" (as was thought to be happening 100 years ago - remember the Death of God movement in the l960's?) the whole question of religious authority is a matter of great concern to everyone. Particularly, the belief of the Catholic Church that it is and always has been the one true church.
The passage of scripture assigned for this Sunday is 1 Peter 2: 2-10 which centers on the idea that the church is a "chosen people" and that Jesus is the "cornerstone" of the church. We are to become "living stones" in the "spiritual sanctuary" which has come into being in Christ.
But which church is the "true church?" Why are there so many different churches all claiming to be the correct one? Why is that Catholicism claims that the following passages designates it to be the foundation for all Christians:
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
This phrase, "Upon this Rock" is the biblical foundation from which Catholics derive their understanding that Peter is the rock upon which the true church of Christ is built. Peter was to recieve the keys of the kingdom of heaven, giving him the authority to make decrees concerning doctrinal truth, tradition, practice, and to exclude or include people from the Kingdom of Heaven. Peter was therefore the first pope and as bishop of Rome he passed on these keys to a succeesor, Linus (the second pope). Roman Catholics are taught that the Catholic church is the only true church. Many believe that salvation is only to be found in the Roman Church. In the Catholic worldview, the Bible derives its authorityfrom the Church and not the other way around. The Bible is merely another tradition of the church - one that was written down.
All this, of course was refuted by the Reformation and by Martin Luther, particularly in his lifting Scripture up to a position of higher authority than the church. Methodists are apt to agree more with Luther than with Catholics although Wesley felt that "Tradition" is one of the fundamental basis for faith. As a result, Methodism does not have a single "pillar" of faith but four basic principals: Scripture, Reason, Tradition, and Experience. This should be food for thought for this coming Sunday.
What is your ultimate basis for knowing God? The teachings of the church? The Bible itself? Human reason and science? Or you own personal religious experience? What is the cornerstone of your faith? How are you a "living stone" in the spiritual edifice we call the "Kingdom of God?"
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. The Living Stone and a Chosen People As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,”and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Notes: A this very moment the Catholic Cardinals are meeting to choose the next Pope. As we move into the 21st century, a time when religious faith seems to be increasing rather than "withering away" (as was thought to be happening 100 years ago - remember the Death of God movement in the l960's?) the whole question of religious authority is a matter of great concern to everyone. Particularly, the belief of the Catholic Church that it is and always has been the one true church.
The passage of scripture assigned for this Sunday is 1 Peter 2: 2-10 which centers on the idea that the church is a "chosen people" and that Jesus is the "cornerstone" of the church. We are to become "living stones" in the "spiritual sanctuary" which has come into being in Christ.
But which church is the "true church?" Why are there so many different churches all claiming to be the correct one? Why is that Catholicism claims that the following passages designates it to be the foundation for all Christians:
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
This phrase, "Upon this Rock" is the biblical foundation from which Catholics derive their understanding that Peter is the rock upon which the true church of Christ is built. Peter was to recieve the keys of the kingdom of heaven, giving him the authority to make decrees concerning doctrinal truth, tradition, practice, and to exclude or include people from the Kingdom of Heaven. Peter was therefore the first pope and as bishop of Rome he passed on these keys to a succeesor, Linus (the second pope). Roman Catholics are taught that the Catholic church is the only true church. Many believe that salvation is only to be found in the Roman Church. In the Catholic worldview, the Bible derives its authorityfrom the Church and not the other way around. The Bible is merely another tradition of the church - one that was written down.
All this, of course was refuted by the Reformation and by Martin Luther, particularly in his lifting Scripture up to a position of higher authority than the church. Methodists are apt to agree more with Luther than with Catholics although Wesley felt that "Tradition" is one of the fundamental basis for faith. As a result, Methodism does not have a single "pillar" of faith but four basic principals: Scripture, Reason, Tradition, and Experience. This should be food for thought for this coming Sunday.
What is your ultimate basis for knowing God? The teachings of the church? The Bible itself? Human reason and science? Or you own personal religious experience? What is the cornerstone of your faith? How are you a "living stone" in the spiritual edifice we call the "Kingdom of God?"
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