First of all you must realise I am not critising the catholic church of today but the catholic church of 500 years ago.
It is the same church and the same teachings.
I see no evidence the Jesus said it is better to stay unmarried in order to serve god, he said some may choose to stay unmarried to serve god but generally gods original plan for man was.
It's kind of incorrect to say better, however we can say that an unmarried person can devote himself to God. The priest has basically has married the Church. Isaiah 3-5, "...Nor let the eunuch say, 'See, I am a dry tree.' For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who observe my sabbaths and choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant, I will give, in my hous and within my walls, a monument and a name Better than sons and daughters; an eternal, imperishable name will I give them." The priest must care for his children of God. However an married priest would be tempted to put his own family first, yet Jesus said that his brother, sister and mother were those who follow the word of God.
Paul was talking about that in the political environment at that time where persecution was prevalent in the early church it would be better to remain unmarried as it was very likely that leaders and important people in the early church may be martyred.
There will be persecution in this age as well.
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
John 6:56 "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me." So we are to become one with God just as Jesus is one with the Father. We are the brides and Christ is the bridegroom.
I generally don't find and evidence of purgatory contained in the bible.
Your old testament is missing the Maccabees books. Most of the early christians used the septuagint which included the Maccabees books. There is one part where they offer prayers to the dead. Jesus says "blasphemy against the holy spirit cannot be forgiven in this life or the next". So how can we be forgiven in the next life? Luke 12:59 "I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." You also must know that there is no where in the bible where it says to go sola-scripture. In fact to the contrary, Revelation mentions there being two prophets. So the God's word continues but there won't be any more public revelation. Also Tradition not men's tradition but God's is important. In 1 corintheans 11:23 Paul says "For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' So his instructions about the Eucharist were handed down to the Corinthians before he put them into writings. And we are well aware that the Spirit of Truth, not the bible, will lead us to all truth. Don't be confused here that I don't think the bible is important. Just that we cannot go sola-scriptura and still have a correct interpretation as history proves by the number of sects.
You must understand that martin Luther tried to bring changes from within the church Lutherans were thrown out but the pope and bishops at the time they did not leave with the intention of destroying the Catholic Church.
You haven't read any of Luther's insulting writings?
From <a href="http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/letsinsbe.txt">here</a>
"No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day." This directly contradicts God's word about blasphemy against the holy spirit. This is not good advice. He's obviously making salvation seem like some sort of game. Something so serious should not be treated lightly by a man of God.
Another piece which show himself calling the Jews demons. Should we blame him for Hitler? Perhaps not. But if he had written something more forgiving and loving towards the Jews he may have put a end to German anti-semitism.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/luther-jews.html
there has been splits in the church for over 2000 years the catholic church was not the same church that started it all 2000 years ago and exactly would you refer to as successful? Both the protestant and catholic churches have growing churches which contribute to the growing body of Christ how is that not a success on both parts?
It is clearly not a success. Islam has had better luck staying together. Are you telling me that God wants divison? He has stated that a house divided will fall. Success is the grace of God not how many members are in particular church. Society today is almost entirely corrupted.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast
Nothing we can do will save us, no works, for grace is a gift not something we must earn we must merely be willing to accept it.
You are being to literal in your interpretation. What consistutes "work?" Is saying yes to God work? What about leting Jesus' yes being within us. Is listening to God work? What about following Jesus? As to faith. Everyone who is not condemned has faith, only perhaps it's the size of the mustard tree. Otherwise Jesus would never instruct us to do anything. Sloth is abhored by Jesus and the servent who keeps his mina will have it taken away. Jesus said "ask and ye shall recieve". Is asking work? I think this amounts to something more like the chicken before the egg type of argument. Grace is certainly necessary and so is faith, but at some point we have to have freewill to accept or reject and this consitutes our own action. It is not really our own though. It is following what Jesus commands within us or opening the door to Jesus knocking. This is not something that I would seperate from the Church because of though.
Enlighten me on what books were thrown away? Lutherans New Testament and the catholic New Testament are identical.
Martin Luther almost threw out James. I don't think he can be considered truely sola-scriptura. More like throw out everything that he didn't agree with. Nevertheless it was more his ideas that were exploited and used by Satan.
http://www.staycatholic.com/the_canon_of_scripture.htm
I am not aware where in revelations it says that please direct me to it.
Your translation might read differently from mine.
Revelation 2:3 "Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first."
Revelation 2:19 "I know your works, your love, faith, service and endurance and that your last works are greater than your first."
Revelation 14:13 "let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them."
Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds."
Ok you seem a bit bitter but your pope said himself that if Luther came to the Catholic Church today he would be welcomed with open arms.
I don't want this to resort to ad-hominen attacks because neither of us know Martin Luther. However I look at his writings and they disagree with the bible and common sense. The Church acccepts all people with open arms.
