Taking A Stand

[1watchman]

There are those who stand for a concept of Conservatism or Fundamentalism or Orthodox sects, or some Humanism, or ones claiming to be the Original church in the world; but I must again and again exhort faithful saints of God to look and consider the scriptural church as shown in Bible-only for all who truly want to be conformed to the mind of God. Friends, we cannot otherwise know anything about pleasing God.

I do not wish to quarrel with any Christians, but urge all to cease from innovations and be sure we all are in accord with Holy Scripture. That is the standard, would you also say?

 

[Simon_Templar]

There are those who stand for a concept of Conservatism or Fundamentalism or Orthodox sects, or some Humanism, or ones claiming to be the Original church in the world; but I must again and again exhort faithful saints of God to look and consider the scriptural church as shown in Bible-only for all who truly want to be conformed to the mind of God. Friends, we cannot otherwise know anything about pleasing God.

I do not wish to quarrel with any Christians, but urge all to cease from innovations and be sure we all are in accord with Holy Scripture. That is the standard, would you also say?

I believe in the authority of Holy Scripture. Can you show me where in Holy Scripture it says "Bible-only"?

 

[Albion]

There are those who stand for a concept of Conservatism or Fundamentalism or Orthodox sects, or some Humanism, or ones claiming to be the Original church in the world; but I must again and again exhort faithful saints of God to look and consider the scriptural church as shown in Bible-only for all who truly want to be conformed to the mind of God. Friends, we cannot otherwise know anything about pleasing God.

I do not wish to quarrel with any Christians, but urge all to cease from innovations and be sure we all are in accord with Holy Scripture. That is the standard, would you also say?

I would say. But to do so is usually what will get you considered Conservative, certainly Fundamentalistic, and possibly Orthodox in the religious world of today.

 

[Albion]

I believe in the authority of Holy Scripture. Can you show me where in Holy Scripture it says "Bible-only"?

Is that something you've picked up since your conversion? I sometimes think we need to catalog these tag lines that are used on Protestants. Then the speaker can just say "Number four" and we'll know, for example, that he means "The Bible is just a book" or "The Bible says that my church is the 'pillar and foundation,' etc. Too bad about yours," etc.

 

[Job8]

I would say. But to do so is usually what will get you considered Conservative, certainly Fundamentalistic, and possibly Orthodox in the religious world of today.

That's correct. "Bible-only" means any of those, but we have to go beyond "Bible-only" to determine where we stand in relation to others who also claim to be "Bible-only".

The Reformers had the "Sola Scriptura" (Bible-only) slogan, but then carried over quite a bit of baggage from the RCC (e.g. infant baptism), as well as from Augustine (Amillenialism).

The Westminster Confession is supposedly "Bible-only" but it lays down Calvinism as "Bible-only" doctrine, even though it can be clearly refuted from the Bible.

The Brethren claim that they are Bible-only, but fail to financially support elders, even though Scripture clearly teaches that those who labor in the Word and doctrine are worthy of "double honour" (1 Tim 5:17,18). As you can see, there is a lot more involved.

 

[Albion]

The Reformers had the "Sola Scriptura" (Bible-only) slogan, but then carried over quite a bit of baggage from the RCC (e.g. infant baptism), as well as from Augustine (Amillenialism).

That's because those matters are supported by Scripture, so Sola Scriptura is completely in harmony with them. Now, to be sure, if you think that Scripture is saying something else, you and we are still using Scripture Alone in order to determine doctrine--and that is much preferable to substituting Man's word for the Word of God. It's just a matter of getting the correct interpretation.

Don't fall for the Roman Catholic view that since the Bible is interpreted differently by different groups of men, we might do better to just go with something other than divine revelation.

 

[Simon_Templar]

Is that something you've picked up since your conversion? I sometimes think we need to catalog these tag lines that are used on Protestants. Then the speaker can just say "Number four" and we'll know, for example, that he means "The Bible is just a book" or "The Bible says that my church is the 'pillar and foundation,' etc. Too bad about yours," etc.

Hey Albion, it's been a while

it may be a common statement, or a tag line, but you might then ask why it is...

The answer is that it is a common response, because protestants begin by trotting out their own tagline of sola scriptura, or bible only etc... which is undeniably, an extra-biblical doctrine which at the very least is not found in scripture and, in my opinion, is blatantly contradicted by scripture.

And for the record, I picked that up long before I became Catholic. I picked it up as an Anglican, you know with that whole three legged stool thing.

 

[1watchman]

Certainly, "all the counsel of God" as handed to us in God's Word, and "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (not by religious ideas), shows among other exhortations that God expects the true saints to hold firmly to His Word for all instruction. We will surely be judged by it (note Revelation and all other references to obedience to it). It is foolhardy to reason and think otherwise. I am very sure that my God will not hold me responsible for anything He has not given me in His record for the Bride --the Church in His immutable Word. Many voices will lead souls astray by the deceit of Satan, so one should not depend on the innovations and counsel of men.

We all know of many religious people, systems and organizations in christendom who claim to follow Bible-only, but the claims mostly fail when the doctrines and practices are examined. So, the evidence of reality is not in what one claims, but in what they practice and believe. One might choose to add religious ideas of men and personal preferences, but one is then in danger of suffering loss eternally, as God says. Let each one choose wisely!