Argumentative essay
Christianity as a religion has many teachings, which relatively differ in their teaching and how each perceives, obey and acknowledge its leadership. The Roman Catholics and other protestant denominations, for example, differ in the number of books that the bible contains; the Catholics include the Apocryphal books (The Scots Confession A. D. 1560). The differences, however, accept the canonical books that makeup the Old and the New Testaments. However, these differences do not represent an outright disagreement or difference on their faith and believe in the true living God. They represent the holiness and the source of the regulation, foundation and the establishment of the Christian faith. The Christian bible, despite having substantial differences, in all denominations acknowledges the existence of God a supreme being who rules the universe.
As the Belgic confession article state in the faith and confession of the existence of a single God who is eternal, infinite, wise and almighty, so does scots confession (Modern History Sourcebook: The Belgic Confession, 1561 (1619 version; The Scots Confession 1560). Under such believes and teachings, therefore, the similarity is clear that indeed there is one supreme God the creator of the universe everything in it and the Lord Jesus Christ his son whom we all acknowledged as the founder of the church. The leadership of the church and the set rule for each denomination differ and the teachings on how much respect or/ and mighty the leader of the church is different across denominations. While some church sees its leader as the gate pass to God, others believe in a more direct divine connection to God through the trinity or Jesus Christ.
As Martin Luther argues, the perception of the Pope by Roman Catholics is wrong, and their teachings towards the supremacy of the pope’s position are misleading according to the teachings of the Bible (Luther, Address, 1996). Their belief that the pope, priests and other spiritual lords are spiritual estates is an artful lie and a hypocritical device. The bible indicates that all who believe in God are part of the same body with different functions. A single man cannot carry the righteousness of the church and his interpretation of the scripture may not be entirely true but the revelation of the Holy Spirit that was sent by Christ to be our helper as we sojourn this journey of faith. In that accord, no single individual can stand and have the power to say what is wrong or right on the matters of faith except that which is written to be so in the scripture (Luther, Address, 1996).
If no one is, therefore, above the word of God, anyone is subjected to rightful judgment according to the word. If anyone, including the Pope, is acting contrary to the Holy Scriptures, then as the Lord Christ command, he must be punished. The failure to observe the scriptures or God’s command is sin. As the first man, Adam failed to obey God’s command and committed the first sin, and therefore, he was punished and fell short of the glory of God (Luther, Address, 1996).. Regaining that favor to be called sons of God is through faith that comes through Christ and the grasp of his grace and blessing that, in him we are promised.
Nevertheless, the leadership of the denomination and its rules and supremacy can be self-imposed or set in accordance to spiritual teachings that in them have the wisdom of the Holy Scriptures as Ignatius Loyola teaches. Similarly, a leadership position of the church can be self-imposed as did King Henry VIII of England (The Act of Supremacy, 1965). This act, however, is for self-gain and its justification may not be in accordance to the Christian teachings. The king’s intention in occupying the church leadership position was not to lead the church to righteousness and godliness but to fulfill his personal needs of divorcing his wife that the church does not condone. Such violations of the doctrines of Christ are punishable for the lord choices who shall lead his sheep as he chose Peter. Self-imposed priests are unholy and not allowed to offer the holy sacrament as they contaminate the sacred feast with their unrighteousness.
Works Cited
"The Act of Supremacy." Then Again. .. From: Milton Viorst, Ed. The Great Documents of Western Civilization (New York; Barnes and Noble, 1965) pp. 97-98.Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
"Luther, Address." Hanover College History Department: History Department: Hanover College. Martin Luther Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (1520) J.H. Robinson, ed. Readings in European History (Boston: Ginn, 1906), 2: Hanover Historical Texts Project Scanned and proofread by Monica Banas, 1996.,Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
Modern History Sourcebook: The Belgic Confession, 1561 (1619 version). "Internet History Sourcebooks." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
Paul Halsall . "From the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola." Medieval Sourcebook: St. Ignatius Loyola: Spiritual Exercises. Nov. 1996. Web. <origin.web.fordham.edu/TESTING_SITE/Halsall%20Transition%202011/source/loyola-spirex.asp>.
"The Scots Confession." Creeds of Christendom. The Scots Confession A. D. 1560 - John Knox, Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
