A set of short slogans arose in the 16th century as expressive of the heart of the religion presented by Martin Luther and others who have come to be called Protestants. "The five solas" is what they are sometimes called today. They are:
- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
- Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
- Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
- Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
- Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.
For those reading this thread the question is -
Can a Christian reject one, two, or more of these solas and remain a faithful Christian in your opinion?
For Lutherans the chief Sola is Christ Alone, and from this is Grace Alone and Faith Alone. That the once-and-perfect work of Christ is given as gift (Grace) and is received by faith. "Faith Alone" does not mean "saved by believing the right things" but instead means that the merit and treasure of Christ is received by faith alone--faith alone apprehends the gift of God. Since human action and activity--including the power of the sinful human will--cannot take hold of it, it can only be grasped with faith, which is the gift and power of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Sola Scriptura, or perhaps more accurately Solum Verbum Dei, "Word of God Alone", is not a doctrine that we can only trust Scripture, or that the Bible by itself is the only authority of Christian faith and practice. Rather it serves as call to always be Ad Fontes, at the source: Jesus Christ who gives Himself to us in Word and Sacrament, and that the Scriptures are truly the cradle that holds Christ and proclaims Christ. Sola Scriptura or Solum Verbum are intended to keep our gaze upon Christ and Christ Alone; as opposed to looking toward our own ways, our own ideas, our own desires, and our own efforts to be righteous and therefore fall into the trap of preaching a system of human effort and merit. Lutherans speak of the Norma Normans and the Norma Normata; there is the Unruled Rule (Scripture Alone) and there is the Ruled Rule (the Creeds, the Confessions, the historic and faithfulness teaching and witness of the Church that is ruled by and sustained by Scripture).
Soli Deo Gloria is, arguably, more of a Reformed thing. Not that Lutherans would disagree per se, but that's just not really the point. The point isn't glory, the point is always Jesus. If Soli Deo Gloria means that we recognize that all we have is from God alone, by His grace, on Christ's account then this is perfectly true and right. Though, as a Lutheran, I get quite uncomfortable when the focus is moved away from Christ and toward "The Glory of God" as an abstract concept. And this is because the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, while sharing some common ground, fundamentally operate from very different material perspectives. The material principle of the Reformed tradition is the glory and sovereignty of God over all; but for Lutherans the material principle is that God graciously justifies sinners by His grace which is in Jesus Christ for us sinners.
Which is to say, "The Five Solas" are, generally, a more Reformed concept than a Lutheran one. Though we do share these Solas with them, thought not always understood the same way.
Christ Alone.
Grace Alone.
Faith Alone.
Word Alone.
Would be a more accurate Lutheran list of the Solas.
-CryptoLutheran
