Why do Catholics take the word of man over the Word of God?

Question

If we start listening to man, where would it stop?

everyday; again I say, even the devil can quote scripture and even the demons believe

Answer 1

Interesting, that's the same beef Jesus had with the Pharisees and Saducees of his day.

Answer 2

The Bible was not put together until the 4th century. Before that time, the only Word of God available was the Old Testament (the complete one, not the edited version you have). At the time Peter preached to the people at Pentacost, his words were NOT part of Scripture. Should the people NOT have listened to Peter since his words were not from the Old Testament?

Jesus Christ did not leave a Bible with His disciples. He gave them the Holy Spirit to guide them and to give them the words to say. The Holy Spirit continues to guide the Catholic Church.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22). This is how I judge if I, a church or anyone else is being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

Catholics follow the full Word of God which was what Jesus gave His disciples since He is the Eternal Word of God Incarnate.
Jesus did not hand out KJV New Testaments at His Ascension but He gave us the Church,His oral teachings and the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave us His Church,guided by the Holy Spirit, to interpret and apply the Apostolic Oral Teaching and the Old Testament( and its Mosaic tradition and then later the written New Testament,whose books were chosen by the Church to be in the Bible).
The Bible and the Oral tradition out of which it came (and pulled out of which the Bible can be made to say anything anybody wants) are not to be separated from each other or the Church that Jesus founded on Peter.

Are you trying to tell me that the 35000+ Bible Alone denominations and groups are not very much prefering the "traditions of men" when they interpret the Bible? Think about it.

Answer 4

We do not take the word of man over the Word of God. But we do listen to the Holy Spirit guiding us through the centuries.

I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. (John 16:12-13)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 80 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

They don't. The Catholic Church was founded upon the Word of God, and preached the Word of God for 15 centuries before the plague of denominationalism appeared upon the earth. The Catholic Church today continues to preach the Word of God, complete and unadulterated, while manmade denominational churches continue to tear the Word of God apart, discarding parts they don't care for, adding doctrinal errors never dreamed of by the apostles, and conflicting with one another on every possible point of doctrinal belief, in direct violation of the stated will of God, "that they all may be ONE".

Answer 6

The answer to the question depends entirely on definition...as in all theology....which means "words about God". Words must have common definition.

Unless you understand what it is that Catholics believe about "the Church"...being, as St. Paul says, "the Body of Christ"...then we would be talking in circles....

For Catholics, the Church is organic...and the Word of God (as it says in Hebrews) - is "living and active". It lives through the Body, the Church.

You really should go and take a class.

Answer 7

I am Catholic and I listen to God's Word all the time. Are you saying that I've been doing it wrong all these years?

Darn it. That's another day I must have missed in Catechism class.

Answer 8

Who gave you that nutty idea?

Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible, we have a minimum of 3 bible readings at each Mass.

Maybe you should listen less to whoever is telling you these lies and find out what we REALLY believe.

Peace be with you.

P.S. I saw on another answer you claim to be a "True Christian" but your questions do not reflect the love of Jesus, and bearing false witness is against the 10 commandments. I know you are not doing this on purpose but are we not charged with the responsibility to know what we are charging others of? Our true beliefs are not in hiding, and I have no problem with people that question our faith. I just wish they would do it with a true basic knowledge of it.

I am not judging you just suggesting that you learn more about our faith if you are going to make claims against it.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Answer 9

They do?
What is up with the Catholic bashing today anyways. Learn how the Church works before you judge.

Answer 10

If believing that church tradition is equal in authority to Scripture, then they are certainly guilty of that!

Answer 11

Not too sure where you heard this-but it is not true. We read the Bible and follow people that are direct leaders in the Catholic Religion.