Posted on 08/12/2002 7:24:31 PM PDT by restornu
You assume too much, Doc. I'm disappointed in you.
I don't give a damn about the nuances of LDS doctrine re the Trinity, though at one time I was quite proficient in debating the subject.
My point that you obstinantly refuse to acknowledge is that the LDS rejection of our understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, i.e., one God in Three Persons, each Person wholly and entirely God, all co-equal, co-eternal, and possessing the divine nature totally unto Himself, the Godhead having but one divine intellect and one divine will, is an honest conclusion based on scripture alone.
Your understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, i.e., one God in Three Persons, each Person wholly and entirely God, all co-equal, co-eternal, and possessing the divine nature totally unto Himself, the Godhead having but one divine intellect and one divine will, comes solely to you via the Tradition of Rome. Period. Sola Scriptura cannot arrive at this definition of the Trinity without the pre existing Tradition which properly illuminates the meaning of these scriptures.
Protestants, who believe sola biblia sancta [sola scriptura], have always embraced any confession of faith or theological writing which accurately presents biblical truth and guards against error. We embrace Trinitarianism (for example) because it accurately reflects biblical truth already revealed and shields against those who distort the truth (ex. Arians and Mormons).
You got this backwards, Doc. You embrace Trinitarianism because it was defined by Rome, and there are scriptural proof texts that support this Tradition.
Removed from the Tradition of Rome, one ends up with the natural fruits of sola scriptura, including the LDS, 7th Day Adventists, JW's, etc.
As I said, I'm very disappointed in you, Doc. I didn't think you would degenerate into name calling and personal insult when cornered like this. Hope for me always springs eternal when I encounter someone who I think is an honest and intellectually astute evangelical Christian. Yet those hopes are uniformly dashed on the rocks.
Thank you for letting me know you too are amphipod:)
You're welcome :)
Other way around - but , with His Grace building on my nature, I am trying to lessen His burden :)
No problem. Let's just chalk this up to mutual miscommunication, and not let this exchange be a cause for setback in our otherwise charitable debates here.
Please accept my apologies for my poor communication of these thoughts and my uncharitable remarks.
Thank you for proving the Trinity, Polycarp. Either Christ is physically present here with us, or He is referring to the Holy Spirit (Whom we know IS here with us) in the first person as "I"
Of course, this is Scripture and not authoritative in matters of faith (at least not when they contradict the Church's teaching).
BTW, I find it interesting that the RCC points to Scripture in defense of its position on papal authority, and then subsequently claims that only the Church can rightly divide the Word and that it cannot possibly fall into apostacy. I believe the term is "self-reinforcing delusion."
I don't have a problem with you personally, but I take serious issue with Roman Catholicism.
One commonality between Rome and the LDS is the willingnes to put their spiritual eternity in the hands of another man.
In the case of the LDS it is Joseph Smith and his personal revelation..and in the case of the RC's it is in the hands of an "infallible" pope
Now because of the fact the RC's share our creedal beliefs I call them Christian family...but the willingness to let others define your faith is troubling..
Gladly.
Heh, heh. I'd like to see him try. No mater what the topic of discussion is, if he sees an LDS person post on the subject he has to turn it into an anti-LDS thread.
I understood your point quite well, Polycarp. Either he does too and has no answer, or he isn't able to understand such a simple premise. Either way, this gives you a basis to judge his comments on Catholicism, Mormonism, or pretty much anything else.
This is an old thread. I have come to love and respect DrStevej as a friend and brother in Christ since these earlier harsh exchanges, and you will not find me impugning his character but only defending him.
But I think any Catholic of good will who has dialogued with DrSteveJ over the last year now realizes what kind of man he is and his honesty and charity.
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