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The Rule of Scripture ("Sola Scriptura" as Luther and Calvin called it)

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Rick Otto

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Originally Posted by Rick Otto
It would be difficult to imagine that He is changing subjects mid-sentence. It would cause conversational whiplash.
You can suppose these things, but Jesus does not clearly define binding and loosing as powers of the keys. The grammar of the passage does not necessitate such a notion.
If Jesus doesn't, how can anyone? And why would He introduce the subject of the keys & mid-sentence suddenly start talking about binding & loosing? i think what I am asserting is a much more plauseable supposition.
Why should we believe that being free from sin is equivalent to entering the kingdom of heaven?
Not equivalent of, but inclusive with, otherwise why should we believe we need to be sinless?
 
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heymikey80

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I understand, the problem comes when believers disagree over the meaning of scripture, itself.
That's okay, believers still disagree. Roman Catholicism is not one true interpretation, it's an arbitration of many believers disagreeing over what Christianity is and means.

Nothing's changed but the strategy of resolution when the conflict becomes persistent: which strategy is going back to what God's Scripture says, not what the elder at Rome says.

Ultimately the numerous schisms as well as the Protestant schisms shows that this church is not able to control nor resolve things this way. God didn't intend it to work out this way within His church -- else it would have.
 
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fhansen

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That's okay, believers still disagree. Roman Catholicism is not one true interpretation, it's an arbitration of many believers disagreeing over what Christianity is and means.
Roman Catholic teachings are expounded quite plainly in the Catechism. When enough people have disagreed seriously enough measures are taken to resolve the matter.
Nothing's changed but the strategy of resolution when the conflict becomes persistent: which strategy is going back to what God's Scripture says, not what the elder at Rome says.
Who resolves what issues? Where does one go in the Christian world to resolve them?
Ultimately the numerous schisms as well as the Protestant schisms shows that this church is not able to control nor resolve things this way. God didn't intend it to work out this way within His church -- else it would have.
God does not intend evil-He permits it, whether that evil exists within the CC or in other Churches or within ourselves. But His light entered the world and the one thing He guaranteed is that it would not be put out, that the Church He established would endure, in spite of human frailties and sin, to proclaim His message.
 
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sunlover1

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If the Word of God says "the sky is blue", then the sky is blue, regardless of how many times it is found in the Word of God. The Word of God records Jesus promising the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter.
You MUST use logic as well.
The Word of God says that God is a branch, a door etc.
We can't have double standards.
CAll no man father... etc.

kwim?
 
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heymikey80

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Roman Catholic teachings are expounded quite plainly in the Catechism. When enough people have disagreed seriously enough measures are taken to resolve the matter.
By splitting up conscientious objections.
Who resolves what issues? Where does one go in the Christian world to resolve them?
God leaves the conscience of people free of human authority.
God does not intend evil-He permits it, whether that evil exists within the CC or in other Churches or within ourselves. But His light entered the world and the one thing He guaranteed is that it would not be put out, that the Church He established would endure, in spite of human frailties and sin, to proclaim His message.
Yes, but those frailties and sin are present in the authorities in the institutional church, and often God's message has been obscured by those very appointed authorities. Churches emerging generations after their founding by Apostles don't have any lock-hold on God's message. The Old Testament cites numerous leaders of Israel -- where God's visibly present at #1 Temple Street -- who departed God's truth.

People are sinful and don't pick right. God preserves His message in the assembly of people who rely on Him -- that's His Church -- not in the descendants of people who have relied on Him.
 
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fhansen

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God leaves the conscience of people free of human authority.
God leaves the conscience free of all authority-if that's what we want-and that's often what people want. It's easy to pay lip service to God.
Yes, but those frailties and sin are present in the authorities in the institutional church, and often God's message has been obscured by those very appointed authorities. Churches emerging generations after their founding by Apostles don't have any lock-hold on God's message. The Old Testament cites numerous leaders of Israel -- where God's visibly present at #1 Temple Street -- who departed God's truth.
Frailties are guaranteed by a doctrine called Original Sin. But they're also virtually guaranteed to give people excuse to assert their own moral superiority and go their own way, at least until they begin to recognize more of their own frailties. When we join a Church we join with a group of admitted sinners, not a bunch of saints-not yet anyway.
People are sinful and don't pick right. God preserves His message in the assembly of people who rely on Him -- that's His Church -- not in the descendants of people who have relied on Him.
That's specualtion-God preserves His message in spite of people-and I don't see it preserved when SS has produced everything from Lutheranism to Anabaptism to SDAs to JWs.
 
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heymikey80

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God leaves the conscience free of all authority-if that's what we want-and that's often what people want. It's easy to pay lip service to God.
Last I checked Christianity held to a judgment of people by God. God's an authority also -- last I checked.
Frailties are guaranteed by a doctrine called Original Sin. But they're also virtually guaranteed to give people excuse to assert their own moral superiority and go their own way, at least until they begin to recognize more of their own frailties. When we join a Church we join with a group of admitted sinners, not a bunch of saints-not yet anyway.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Ep 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Pp 1:1
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Col 1:1
I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude :3
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:7
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 1 Cor 1:2
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 1 Cor 16:1
That's specualtion-God preserves His message in spite of people-and I don't see it preserved when SS has produced everything from Lutheranism to Anabaptism to SDAs to JWs.
I don't see it preserved when AS has produced everything from Roman Catholicism to Ethiopian Orthodox to Coptic to Eastern Orthodox to Russian Orthodox to Anglican.

I really don't see it preserved when I can attend a Catholic church and do not hear the Gospel. When it's there I praise the church. When it's not I pass on in silence.

God preserves His message in spite of the Elder at Rome just as much as the infant child. Your own ... tradition ... claims that His message is preserved in its form through an "unbroken line" to the Apostles. So ultimately we can discard the idea of Catholic dogma being agreeable to your reason. It's not. God preserves His message based on how He has said He preserves it. Not how dogmatic conclusions may try to influence those conclusions.

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Mt 18:20
 
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sunlover1

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Originally Posted by ivebeenshown
Paul wrote that those who promote sedition and heresy will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Could you please share the passage(s)?
Thanks.

It's in the letter to the Galatians.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Those who practice Sola Scriptura say that the only rule we have to answer to is Scripture, but how can this be when Paul exhort us to obey the leaders that have the rule over us? (Heb 13:17)
Let me get this straight, you think that we should let "the leaders"
tell us what Scripture means too?
And that if we don't agree then we are seditious and heretical?
And so won't inherit the kingdom of God...

I believe that you do not submit to the leaders that God appointed in His Church.
No problem.
You may believe many things that are trippin you up right now,
God is able, he wont leave you.

Paul wrote that God appointed government within the Church (1 Cor. 12:28.)

It's right there in Luke. I'm not saying don't submit to your leaders, I'm saying be more careful who you choose to follow.
I think this is a good point worth repeating, maybe someone will be blessed by it!

Who is appointed as your apostle? How many apostles are currently serving the RCC?
GREAT question too. Didja get an answer on this?

Why must God's Word say something more than once before we can accept it?
This is a false representation, surprised to see it from you since
you used to say the same thing. Hope you're being straight with us.

Roman Catholic teachings are expounded quite plainly in the Catechism. When enough people have disagreed seriously enough measures are taken to resolve the matter.
God's teachings are the same, expounded quite plainly, more plainly than the catechism.

God does not intend evil-He permits it, whether that evil exists within the CC or in other Churches or within ourselves. But His light entered the world and the one thing He guaranteed is that it would not be put out, that the Church He established would endure, in spite of human frailties and sin, to proclaim His message.
[/QUOTE]
We should consider spending more time doing that part then lol
:thumbsup:
 
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fhansen

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Last I checked Christianity held to a judgment of people by God. God's an authority also -- last I checked.
Gods' an authority whose authority we may or may not allow to fully reign within regardless of whether or not we call ourselves Christian-because He gave us that freedom since the beginning of human history and our rebellious tendencies don't change overnight. Whether the understanding of His will comes by our own interpretation of scripture or that of a pastor or a creed or the writings of this author or that or from denominational traditions and teachings that we've come to learn from and agree with-and its usually a combination of these-we ultimately decide for ourselves, for better or worse, just what that will is and in which ways it will affect our lives.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Ep 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Pp 1:1
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Col 1:1
I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude :3
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 1:7
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 1 Cor 1:2
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 1 Cor 16:1
Yes, I know, and I intended "saints" to mean strictly non-sinners-another common usage.
I don't see it preserved when AS has produced everything from Roman Catholicism to Ethiopian Orthodox to Coptic to Eastern Orthodox to Russian Orthodox to Anglican.
With all the schism, the agreement is much more profound than any of the squabbles.
I really don't see it preserved when I can attend a Catholic church and do not hear the Gospel. When it's there I praise the church. When it's not I pass on in silence.
You may or may not hear sermons on the gospel preached correctly in any Church-I heard a lot of bogus stuff from my Pentecostal pastors-but the foundation for it has to be sound first of all.
God preserves His message in spite of the Elder at Rome just as much as the infant child. Your own ... tradition ... claims that His message is preserved in its form through an "unbroken line" to the Apostles. So ultimately we can discard the idea of Catholic dogma being agreeable to your reason. It's not. God preserves His message based on how He has said He preserves it. Not how dogmatic conclusions may try to influence those conclusions.
This last part wasn't clear to me. Dogma's only good or bad depending on it's alignment with the truth. The Church simply states that God established a Church for His purposes of spreading His kingdom. The idea of some universal Church that resides in the hearts of believers is not without merit, and, in fact, the CC recognizes those who profess similar faith in Jesus to be "brethren", whereas many non-Catholic Christians don't accept the CC at all. But the idea that God would want the kind of separation we have now, that He would want the Church to exist as a strictly "spiritual" entity and not a visibly locatable one with a united body of beliefs no longer appeals or makes sense to me.
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Mt 18:20
Yes, nice verse-a lot of people quote it.
 
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fhansen

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God's teachings are the same, expounded quite plainly, more plainly than the catechism.
Couldn't disagree more. Like I said before, the bible was never written to serve as a catechism or theological handbook. The gospel was preached before one word of the NT was written. If the meaning is so clear, we wouldn't have any serious disagreements or dissension.

We should consider spending more time doing that part then lol
:thumbsup:
Couldn't agree more. :)
 
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ivebeenshown

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Let me get this straight, you think that we should let "the leaders"
tell us what Scripture means too?
And that if we don't agree then we are seditious and heretical?
And so won't inherit the kingdom of God...
God promised that even though we may see affliction, our teachers will not be hidden from our sight. (Isaiah 30:19-21)

Who am I to dissent or cause controversy and strife against the teachers God appointed us?

No problem.
You may believe many things that are trippin you up right now,
God is able, he wont leave you.
I know God won't leave me.

This is a false representation, surprised to see it from you since
you used to say the same thing. Hope you're being straight with us.
It is possible that I misunderstood what he was trying to convey. I would hope that my brothers and sisters in Christ are not quick to judge me or accuse me of malicious intent. I seek truth and honesty, I seek to crucify my passions with my flesh working by the grace of God, to be free of anger and malice, and to assess all things in truth.

As it stands, I believe Peter was promised the keys to the kingdom of Heaven by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 16, and I do not believe Jesus promised these keys to anyone else.
 
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ivebeenshown

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You MUST use logic as well.
The Word of God says that God is a branch, a door etc.
We can't have double standards.
CAll no man father... etc.

kwim?
I do know what you mean. Logic is truth. Logic... Logos... see the similarity? Etymology is cool stuff! ;)

As of yet, I see no logical reason to believe that Jesus promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven to anyone but Peter.
 
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ivebeenshown

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If Jesus doesn't, how can anyone? And why would He introduce the subject of the keys & mid-sentence suddenly start talking about binding & loosing? i think what I am asserting is a much more plauseable supposition.
You may think so, but the grammar of the passage does not logically necessitate such an interpretation, therefore I am not required to believe it.
Not equivalent of, but inclusive with, otherwise why should we believe we need to be sinless?
To enter the kingdom of Heaven one must be free of all blemish, but this does not mean that one who is free of blemish has necessarily entered the kingdom of Heaven. The Saints, by the power of the Spirit, crucified every lust of the flesh yet walked the earth for the rest of their earthly course.
 
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Thekla

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How do you find out who is "in charge of you?
Just curious.
Ive already mentioned how I determine for myself.
Do you mean "in charge of you" refers to leaders ?
Obedience to elders is indeed not a matter of who is "in charge of you"; obedience is something else altogether.
Look at the character of Paul's leadership, his discussion on obedience -- there is the same character in the pastoral and homiletic writings of the ECFs and indeed all spiritual fathers whose writings are extant.
Obedience is aimed at the discovery of the self through ways of living, so that in this knowledge and depth the "kingdom of heaven" within is differentiated, noted, found, developing through the exercise of free will the proper balance and ability for true obedience to God. We cannot know who is speaking in our hearts unless we know the contours of self. It is the practice of obedience which differentiates our interior wills - of desire, of passions, of intellect, of body toward the finding and development of the heart. It is the practice that encourages humility, without which metanoia is impossible, without which true relationship with God and other is distorted. And it is the recognition that others see truer that have greater spiritual maturity -- those thus gifted by God are God's gift to us.

From within the Church, the leaders are described within community (just as God lead by the hand of Moses and Aaron, per the Psalmist).

Every disagreement is an opportunity for prayerful self searching; it's not about the leader, it is about me. Nor have I ever met an elder who did not have something extraordinarily valuable to teach me. I have had now four spiritual fathers (due to moves); some have been more "spiritual" and/or "helpful" than others. And I can also see that they have personal shortcomings, and also that the shortcomings in my spiritual growth have been not due to them, but to me.


As in "dis"obedience?
Actually, non-obedience; not refusal, but that such a thing never was.

How does this pertain to SS?
*scratching head
In response to the post that mentioned this within this thread.
 
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bbbbbbb

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Paul wrote that those who promote sedition and heresy will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who recognize no authority in the Church but the Scriptures are in error. How can you acknowledge that God appointed leaders and teachers within His Church yet oppose them?

Most of us here have no difficulty with recognizing authority in the church. We just have difficulty acknowledging that your Church is the only Church with authority.
 
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ivebeenshown

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Most of us here have no difficulty with recognizing authority in the church. We just have difficulty acknowledging that your Church is the only Church with authority.
If the Catholic Church has authority from God, then you are engaging in sedition against established authority. If any other church has authority, then those who do not assent to it are guilty of engaging in sedition.

The earliest Church Fathers wrote of sedition:

Ye therefore, who laid the foundation of this sedition, submit yourselves to the presbyters, and receive correction so as to repent, bending the knees of your hearts. - Clement

"[The Apostles] were desirous that these men should be very perfect and blameless in all things, whom also they were leaving behind as their successors, delivering up their own place of government to these men... We do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings... by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul... also [by indicating] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. - Irenaeus
 
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