Are you saying Jesus did not know what He was teaching?
The issue is not what Scripture doesn't or does teach, but the misrepresentation of other believers. Claiming they believe something they don't by twisting their beliefs with your interpretation of Scripture. The issue (and this happens on both sides) is using one's own approach to condemn a different conclusion, when that conclusion didn't use the same approach.
It's one thing to say you disagree with someone based on Scripture. It's another thing to say you disagree with something Catholics don't even confess (claiming they confess it) by using Scripture. It's underhanded, dishonest, and esp uncalled for upon being corrected about spreading lies and widening the division in the Body of Christ. And one thing I DO feel is taught very clearly in the Bible is that those in positions of authority and teaching, will be held to a higher accountability for the divisions in the Church that hinders her mission and purpose, the hypocrisy that causes the Gentiles to blasphmene God.
If being Christian means repenting of sin and calling upon the divine Son of God for salvation, Catholics qualify - notice the lack of other qualifiers, like "
only faith in
only Jesus." Which most Protestants confess, but don't practice, because they say you also
must grow and learn obedience in Christ or you fall away...
Sounds like faith plus works to me. Just because it's called a Sola Fide faith doesn't mean that's what you are teaching. I don't mean we shouldn't actually grow or rebuke each other, but to teach AND practice this radical grace that is preached, you'd have to let go of control and allow believers to dictate their own lives and belief and worship. Few preachers will actually allow believers to arrive at their own intrepretation without being stigmatized. Which... If it's "faith in Christ alone" I'd ask them "why are you kicking me out or harshly rebuking me over a different interpretation on a completely unrelated topic?"
I'm aware of the argument how the works and growth is done by Christ through the believer, so they still get no credit for it. Like you change just because you're a believer and submit to Jesus. That's fine, but to turn around and tell other Christians what they must make of this or that political issue, this or that doctrine... this doesn't reflect an understanding that
Jesus does it all - He needs help, apparently.
I see good points and beliefs on both sides to this divide. But one this I will say about the Catholic Church is they come right out and say upon converting "yeah, you're going to have to change, and yes your decisons does affect your ultimate destination." Protestants don't come right out and say this, in many cases, but that's how they approach life as a believer. You have a set of rules you generally follow through you life, you basic set of central truths and those are not open to flux or questioning (like the Catholic Church on a whole is not open to being rebuked by it's members). Not much different than how Catholics approach worship, but at least they don't beat around the bush and call it something that in principle and practice it clearly isn't.
The Catholic church's doctrine is handed by God and the church guides the truth in that respect. Protestant churches don't come right out and say this concerning what they teach - but they imply it by demonizing other Protestant churches, be it over the gifts of the Spirit, the style or worship, the form of baptizing - these things their church teaches they often treat the same way Catholics treat their church's teachings, handed by God to reveal Scripture to them. If the "cleaf" words of Scripture was really the crux of it all, what is so threatening about hearing what someone else says about Scripture?
On the other hand, I believe the Protestant sentiment of "read it for myself" is healthy for growing believer or anyone wanting to dig deeply into the sacred texts. I believe the church dictaing truth bar none is not good for inquisitive minds. I do not like the idea of the church telling me what to believe and again, I point that out because you often see the same attitudes and approach to authority in individual Protestant denominations.
I could go on about things I appreciate on both sides, but I'll stop here.