Thank you for that excellent response. You are right in fact that we can not blindly trust all Church ministers to correctly interpret sacred scripture. There have been countless heretics throughout the age. The Council of Jerusalem in AD 50 (recorded by St. Luke in Acts) is a great example of the Apostles having to fight Heresies.
While the Church Fathers, including St. Ignatius and St. Polycarp were not infalible by the Holy Spirit, But they did strictly follow and express the teachings of the Apostles and defended the Church’s teachings against pagans and heretics.
When Arias began spreading his infamous heresy, it took the Church a very difficult effort to combat and a very long time to correct and end the heresy, finally officiating her statement at Nicaea.
While all of this is true, we must remember that the Church herself, and especially her pope and magisterium are guided by the Holy Spirit and are thus infalible. We believe this sino,y because we trust Jesus when He told the Apostles “I will give you the Spirit of Truth, Who will guide you in all truth,” and when He told St. Peter, “Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven.”
So yes, while many heretics have hurt the Church’s message throughout the age, we must remember that she herself is not a church of men, but rather the Church of God.
Hi Thomas.
Thank you for your reply.
I agree with your good remarks of how the early Church defended The Faith against heretics.
I have reservations regarding your view of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC).
I do agree that Lord Jesus founded the Church through His 12 Apostles, with Peter as the leader, whom Christ sent forth.
I also believe that the Spirit of Christ opened the doors, through Peter, to grant the Sameritans, and then to the Gentiles, salvation through the Gospel just as the Book of Acts records, and also giving Peter special leadership in the Church, as Christ promised to Peter.
The Foundation for the Faith has now been laid. We have the Founding Documents in the New Testament, God's Revelation of the Gospel that fully reveals and explains that Faith that are now entrusted to the Church, and by which the Church stands. So any interpretation by the Church Magisterium must not go beyond the revelation of Holy Scripture of which the RCC agrees:
CCC 85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."[47] This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.
CCC 86 "Yet this Magisterium is
not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit,
it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."[48]
And we know the the Holy Scripture completely revealed that Revelation by God's Command, to give us complete understanding.
All the Fullness of Divine Revelation has now been plainly revealed in Writing by the Command of God:
Romans 16:25 Now to HIM who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to revelation of the Mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but
now revealed and made known through the Prophetic Writings by the Command of the Eternal God,
so that ALL nations might believe and obey HIM - 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Christ Jesus! Amen.
Ephesians 3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it
has now been revealed by the
Spirit of God's holy Apostles and Prophets.
Colossians 2:1-8
1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally (so it has to be in writing). 2 My purpose is that they may have the
full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the Mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4
I tell you this so that no one may deceive you with find sounding arguements.
. . . 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
The manifold wisdom of God is now fully revealed and entrusted with the Church. This manifold wisdom is the Founding Documents of our Faith which God gave to us through His Apostles in writing.
Ephesians 3:8-14 (NIV)
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to
make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now,
through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
IF a supposed organization claims to be the Church of Christ, but then directs us to believe a deeper revelation then what God has already entrusted to us through the Prophets and Apostles,
then shouldn't this be a red flag?
I addressed this issue regarding the RCC in an earlier post in response to another post in the following link...
What saves a person?
Please read and let me know if I am amiss in my understanding.