Hey Matt, I wanted to start by thanking you for the kind words the other day, and I’ve been keeping up with the conversation since. This whole “omitted words” argument you’ve been presenting could just as easily be pointed right back at you. We can also add pope, rosary, purgatory, penance, Baby baptisms, Eucharist, mass, Indulgence, and Sacraments to the list as well. No? Let’s hold everyone to the same standard. I see one side saying we can read the scripture and understand it for ourselves, and admittedly this can, has, and will cause problems amongst men as always, but when given a choice between that and having to submit to an “authority” (other than Jesus) over you needed to explain why the bible means the opposite of what it clearly says, because we are just too dumb to get it. I’d go with the first choice, just for the simple reason that the RCC telling me I need them to understand scripture, and all the cases of the RCC teachings being in complete opposition to the words clearly written (graven images for example), is a HUGE red flag as far as I’m concerned. That is strait up cult like behavior, “You need me to really understand, truth ONLY comes from me”, can no one here see this?
I am no expert nor do I claim the perfect answers, but to me this is just as plain as day and unless one swallows all the RCC says while completely disregarding EVERYTHING else, I don’t see how it makes ANY logical sense. Also this isn’t anything more than my observation.