Why Protestant pastors give long explanations (sermons) of the verses in the Bible?

Question

If, according to their teaching, everyone is inspired by the Spirit, then they should only read the verses they´ve chosen and then close the Bible and tell everyone to go home to meditate on the words.

Isn´t the practice of preaching (even contradictory things) a proof that a Magisterium is needed ? (consider that when Christ said "the Spirit will guide you to all truth" he was talking to the apostles, not to the crowd)

Hate Boy
You are way off the mark. The primting press was invented by Guttemberg in Germany about 50 years before Luther launch his "reformation". The first book printed in mass was the Bible, so uit couldn´t have been Luther. It was published by the Catholic Church. That´s a strange way of keeping people away from the Bible, don´t you think?
It is true that the Bible was printed in latin, and Luther published it in german, but at that time most of the people could not read either language and those who could read German were also able to read Latin,

Hansel: It seems you dont believe Jesus, since he said that "the gates of hell would not PREVAIL against his Church" (cfr. Mt. 16.18). Breaking from it and forming your own doctrine is a long shot. You claim you get the truth by inspiration of the Spirit. A Jehova Witness and a Mormon can make the same claim and they dońt believe in those non-negotiables you state (which we Catholics also share). But what you call non-essentials are the real cause of division to the point that there are 33,000+ denominations. Read Lutheŕs words in a letter to Heinrich Zwingli. "There are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads; this one will not admit Baptism; that one rejects the Sacrament of the altar; another places another world between the present one and the day of judgment; some teach that Christ is not God. There is not an individual, however clownish he may be who does not claim to be inspired by the Holy Ghost...

Answer 1

Hey, if you got paid a ridiculous amount of money to tell people whatever you wanted, you'd go on and on too, right? Especially if you went to school for a long time and didn't learn fully about the one textbook you were supposed to be studying; I know I'd probably give long drawn out sermons and use my degrees in theology to back myself up.

Answer 2

Last I checked, the Magisterium was a tool to try and claim that nobody but selected officials could possibly understand the Bible. That sounds much more like a device of tyranny rather than one of God. If God is incapable of making Himself clear, then man has no hope of doing so.

There are some churches who spend hours interpreting a verse in the Bible. I agree with you. This is proof that they have no true connection to God.

But don't confuse talking ABOUT a verse in the Bible with re-interpreting it. As you may recall, it was a Protestant (Martin Luther) who first tried to actually even mass-produce Bibles so everyone could read them and so the Catholic Church wouldn't be able to decieve the public about its contents as they had been doing for centuries.

Answer 3

No. Here's the thing. Even though protestants disagree on some issues or different theologies, no one professes that other preaches heresy. They all agree on a few key, non-negotiable points, such as the divinity of Christ, and salvation through Christ and not ourselves, and Jesus as our only mediator. The other things are not as important. This idea that only certain people will understand God's word is contrary to scripture. The disciples were simple fisherman, and yet they could comprehend the truths Jesus taught. Even little children can grasp Biblical concepts.
That false idea originated from the Catholic Church trying to keep control and power over the common man. If the commoner was too dumb to understand scripture, the Church could tell him whatever they wanted and he would be none the wiser. When people began to be able to read the Bible in their own language, people began to see that Catholic Church relied on man made tradition. Most of which were of pagan origin. In order to stem the tide of dissent, the Church began killing en-mass those who possessed illegal Bibles. And burned at the stake people who did their best to serve what they knew was right.(It really happened, and it really was performed by the Catholic Church) How can anyone excuse those events and still claim that that Church is infallible? Those are not even human mistakes, those are demonic actions.

Have you forgotten what the Church does when it has power? It abuses it. It is a corrupt organization that is like a chameleon, changing its skin to fit public opinion in order to stay alive. It writes its own laws and ignores Gods.
I will not for one second let a Magisterium tell me what to believe. I will would rather rely on the Holy Spirit and God's word to teach me his precepts instead of a man on a golden pompous throne claiming to be God's representative on earth.
I am not trying to be inflammatory towards Catholics, but instead calling out the Catholic Church for the damage it has done to the cause of Christianity. And for forsaking Jesus' teaching that his kingdom is not of this world and instead setting up one of the most extravagant and corrupt political establishments known to man. And don't anyone for one second tell me that saying this is un-Christianlike. If I am not mistaken Jesus turned over a few coffers with a whip in his hand. I am simply filled with righteous anger at someone claiming a Scripture filled sermon is unbiblical.

Answer 4

Jemayne,

You asked 2 questions....

"consider that when Christ said "the Spirit will guide you to all truth" he was talking to the apostles, not to the crowd"????

So when Jesus said "...I go to prepare a place for you" he was ONLY talking to the apostles?? Its a shame how many people, dont think there statements through.
and no, its not proof that a Magisterium is needed.

Answer 5

If one thing changes in a money making ritual, the ritual itself begins to crumble. The organized churches will fight, damn, and condemn all who would change the mind set in congregations (flocks) they have built since the Gentle Ribbe died.

Answer 6

cuz, people are stupid and really bored at church and the pastor's preaching everything he can in the hopes that some small part of it will get into their skulls.