<Background: Protestant Christian, from the charasmatic side of things>

I'm going to have to disagree with your thoughts on direct witness books vs. other inspired books...and how a church communication can "clarify" by something else. I'm glad that we can have a theological debate around here. I'm sick and tired of politics, gun control, or topics which drive a hard wedge between people. A nice theological debate between two Christians...I'm all in, as we both realize that we're just sinners saved by grace.

So anyways, I can't agree with someone "clarifying" a book of the Bible. All scripture is God-breathed & inspired. From the law stuff described in the OT to the accounts of Christ in the gospels to the letters to the early church from Paul. God inspired those individuals to write down exactly what was to be written down. They don't "need" clarification.

You'll notice that one of Jesus's major issues of the day with the religious leaders was that they were more concerned with the act of the religion rather then the heart behind it. The commandment to keep the Sabbath turned into a fullblown list of what stuff not to do...walking too far...pulling your animal out of a ditch. The religious leaders read keep the Sabbath and put their words/clarification on it, and missed the point entirely.

I understand the value in learning what other people think and gaining wisdom through discussion with others, but when it comes right down to it, the Bible doesn't need your interpretation. It doesn't need clarification. And quite frankly, none of us here on earth are in a possition to say anything like that with any type of authority. None of us can say something we "think" is inspried by God which would "clarify" or "superceed" the Bible.

The RC church isn't "the" church. It was simply the first organized church. It's been around the longest, and as such, has evolved within itself a theology unique to itself. Notice the list of things that have come up in just this thread... religious leaders getting married, female religious leaders, birth control, gay marriage, abortion. The questions that should be asked would be what does the Bible say about these things?

The Bible never said that religious leaders must be unmarried. Paul said that in some circumstances, it would be a wise thing. The Bible never said that a woman couldn't be a religious leader. In fact, there are many notable women in the Bible who were leaders in both the conventional & spiritual. It never says that Christians aren't supposed to use birth control. The only strictures regarding sex is that it was to be within the marriage commitment. It never even said that sex was to be limited to the intention to get pregnant (in fact, see the opposite in Song of Solomon). In regards to same-sex marriage, the Bible is clear (in both OT & NT) that it wasn't allowed. On a side note, you'll see that the only marriages which the Bible says were blessed by God was one man and woman. There are instances of multiple wives as examples, but you'll never see them as being blessed. Their children may have been blessed, but their marriage was not. In regards to abortion, the Bible does take a very dim view on the killing of innocents.

What I'm trying to say is this. The Bible doesn't need us to clarify it...even if we could. We can read. We can study. We can talk about it. Those are good things. Let the Bible say what it says, and let the Holy Spirit talk with you. The last thing that someone needs is religion (a human institution telling you how to act). Instead, what someone needs is a relationship with Jesus. That relationship with Him will bring about what actions are to be done naturally.

~Jeordam