RE: Are you a father? Protect your family by being steadfast in the Lord. 🙏 ...

There may be some confusion over what is meant when I said

I don't listen to the teaching of any man, just God's word.

This simply means I do not place tradition or one mans words above Scripture. There’s a big difference that may have been poorly worded. God's word is the final authority. It is how God has decided to reveal Himself to us over the generations. I will always hear out others, but I'm not letting any word go above God's word from Scripture. This is simply iron sharpening iron. This is not division this is discussion.

What I asked you for was simple:
a single verse from Scripture that teaches humans can choose good on their own or contribute to salvation.

Instead of showing Scripture, you are now saying:

“There is no point in responding,”
“Ask God directly,”
“God is above Scripture.”

Brother/sister, Scripture is God’s Word.
We do not hear God by bypassing Scripture. He hear Him through Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

If a doctrine cannot be demonstrated from the Bible, then it must not be taught (Deut. 4:2; Mark 7:7–13).

I’m not asking for your tradition.
I’m not asking for Protestant or Catholic teaching.
I’m simply asking:

Where does the Bible teach what you believe?
Chapter and verse.

If you cannot answer that, then please just say so.
Because “go ask God” is not a biblical substitute for Scripture that we have already been given.

When you say

“Just ask God directly. He is above Scripture, right?”

This is a theological error.

God is not “above Scripture” in the sense that He contradicts it or replaces it.
Scripture is God's breathed-out Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

“All Scripture is God-breathed… that the man of God may be complete.”

Saying “ask God apart from Scripture” is literally what false prophets in the OT did.

Brother/Sister I have to address that we are getting into dangerous spiritual territory if you believe that "Going to God" trumps scripture. That would be an inconsistent God, and our God is not inconsistent.

Deuteronomy 13:1–3 warns

If someone claims revelation “from God” that contradicts what He has spoken, they are not from Him.

God bless you as well.

This is the Protestant problem, always looking for chapter and verse. Again, I am not the expert you want me to be. You are asking the wrong person. As mentioned, all the answers to your questions are online. Do not ask someone who is not capable of giving you the answer you are looking for.

Going to God is better than just believing in the Bible alone imho. God is above the Bible, don't you agree? Or do you put the Bible above anything else even God Himself? Do you not pray at all? Do you not spend time with Him in prayer daily? Do you not pray even weekly at least? Not even fasting? If you only read the Bible and do not pray then why ask me for chapter and verse? Do you not trust God to reveal Himself and answer your questions? Even Jesus prayed so why can't you?

This simply means I do not place tradition or one mans words above Scripture.

I would rather point you to people you can read about but again, you just said you don't trust what any man says. I already said I am not the best person to answer your questions and yet you insist. No amount of explaining will suffice to you guys. That's just how Protestants are. Look up Blessed John Duns Scotus and check on his writings. But again even if I give you stuff to read you'd just scoff at it so what is the point of this conversation? Let us end it here because you will never be content with anything I say. 😁 If you say this is iron sharpening iron, then I hope you have also been sharpened by this conversation in some way. Again, may God bless your spiritual journey. 🙏

P. S. If you don't want to protect your family with prayer (and sacraments if Lutherans have 'em) and penance, that's your choice. I shared what dads can do for family protection and if you don't agree that's fine by me. Such info and reminders aren't for everyone especially those who don't agree God can protect their family in such a way. Sad but hey that's life.