Originally Posted by
CaliforniaJosiah
How does one "prove" a practice? How would you "prove" your typically driving on the right hand side of the road or "prove" answering the phone with "hello" or "prove" sending your mother a card on Mother's Day? How do you suggest one "proves" a practice?
You prove a practice by it's fruits.
I see....
So, I study a cult. It has SOLID unity and FULL agreement with itself - no disagreements at all with itself, and all in it are in full, quiet, docilic, submission to it. This proves it is correct?
Yes - I can look at the RC, EO, OO, LDS and a host of cults all rejecting the the Rule of Scripture, all insisting that self is the sole authority, infallible/unaccountable, "Apostolic", when self speaks God speaks, and the practice is to just quietly, docilicly, submit to itself as unto God. And I can look at the "fruit" of this.
Friend, I think I would be a LOT happier comparing my teachings with my ubercalvinist friend both under the Rule of Scripture than you would be comparing your views with my uberLDS friend both using the denomination's "Tradition" and the rubric of quiet, docilic, submission to the denomination as unto God for when that specific, singualar denomination speaks - God speaks (actually, the LDS droped that extreme rubric about 100 years ago - my LDS friend would not be nearly as extreme on this as that).
What is the goal of using such a practice
To provide a sound norma normans for the evaluation of doctrines among us - particularly disputed ones. Read the link I've provided for you, it will help you a lot.
What is the "goal" of calling all to exempt self from the question of truth and to be in "quiet, docilic, submission" to self?
Has the acceptance of this rule led to more unity or more division of faith and practice?
Is the "goal" a big denomination or truth? What has been accomplished by exempting self from the question of truth? Have you studied any of the cults? What is accomplished by the reality that your denomination agrees with NONE but itself? What "unity" are you talking about, with self alone (as is the case with your denomination)?
IF you are trying to say, "It's easier to just lay aside the issue of Truth and smile" then I don't really disagree with you. Gaining a solid consensus on what is true is rarely the easiest pursuit. And I agree, if truth is moot - then why pursue at all? Why not just join Pontius Pilate in his satire: "what is truth?" Yes - this is hard work. Yes - it involves prayer, humility, worship, study, discussion, prayer, humility, confession, work, study, discussion, prayer, study, discussion, humility, worship, prayer - perhaps for centuries. Perhaps for milenniums. Perhaps it will NEVER be that we
sinful, fallible, limited creatures will ever attain the goal of 100% of Chrsitians agreeing with 100% of Christians on 100% of issues 100% of the time. May never happen. It may not even happen among Eastern Orthodox Christians. Or LCMS Christians. Doesn't mean truth is moot or unity doesn't matter, IMO. Or that we join Pontius Pilate's satire (as you seem to be doing).
Yes - I know. Your denomination agrees with NONE but itself: it has a grand unity of just one - self, the one self alone sees in the mirror. Okay. I agree - yours is in good company, but you can hardly rebuke others for what your denomination is AT LEAST as "guilty."
Again, IF you know of something MORE inspired, MORE reliable, MORE objectively knowable by all and alterable by none, MORE ecumenically embraced (say than 50,000 denominations), MORE historically embraced (say before 1400 BC) than is Scripture - please (pray, please) present it so we can discuss it, so we can determine if it is more than Scripture, so we can see how often Jesus and the Apostles used such as the norma normans. What's your alternative (other than just quiet, docilic submission to your singular denomination or joining Pilate's satire, both essentially throwing in the towel, so to speak)? Let's discuss it.
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