Hyperveneration

 

1. What do you think of this analogy of salvation? "It was impossible for man to ever merit heaven on His own. But God lowers a long rope that almost reaches us, and we build and climb a short ladder to reach it.

 

2. How about this one? "Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, and by our lives we pay Him back."

 

 

3. How about this one? We were totally undeserving of salvation. God gave unmerited grace to some (the elect) and it was just too bad for all others. The ones receiving grace will live godly lives, and go to heaven.

 

4. How about this one? Jesus died for everyone in the entire world. For His grace to do us any good, we have to accept it. All who accept His grace will want to live pleasing to God. Their works do not help their merit, but their works are evidence, like a beating heart, of life.

 

5. How about this one? We could not merit salvation before Jesus came. Now by the unmerited grace given to us through (Jesus/the sacraments) God and us work together so that we can now work to merit salvation.

 

 

1. What do you believe is the Bible's teaching about grace and works?

 

 

2. What about "cheap grace?" "What about salvation by works.?"

 

 

3. Do you have any good analogies you use about grace and works?

 

 

4. What do you believe about "merit" and stores of merit.

 

 

5. Would you call Mary a mediatrix or redemptrix? What is your definition of these terms?

 

 

6. In your opinion, what is the difference between veneration and hyperveneration of Mary?

 

 

7. Of the saints?

 

 

8. What do you believe about the relative authority of the Bible, Papal decrees, church councils, and other traditions?

 

 

9. Hypothetically speaking, if you found a conflict between the different authorities of the church, what would you do? Which has precedence?

 

 

10. What key (true) doctrines do you feel have been added to Christianity by Papal decrees and church councils?

 

11. Leo XIII (1878-1903) in a papal decree called Protestants "enemies of the Christian name." Yet in Vatican II other Christians are called a very different term: "separated brethren." Leo X (1513-21) said burning heretics was a divine appointment. Pius IX (1846-78) decreed papal infallibility, condemned all Bible societies, and proclaimed the right to suppress heresy by force. Please explain your view of the infallibility and papal decrees.

 

 

12. Please explain your view of the authority of Church Councils. You might think about Nicea I (325 A.D.) as a godly example, and Constance (1415 A.D.) as an evil example.

 

 

13. I do not think anyone would say Martin Luther was either totally perfect in his views or totally bad. What do you think of him?


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by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.