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To: 1010RD; Iscool
My point, and you've proven it, is that although James 5:14 clearly states that the Christian expectation is that the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ can anoint with oil for the blessing of the sick. The blessing is for physical ailments, but also for the forgiveness of sins (missing the mark). Using the Bible alone you cannot know how to do this ordinance. The Christian expectation is that Christ's true Church will contain that information by revelation. The Bible alone and without continuing revelation is insufficient.

Are you aware that you are voicing an incorrect definition of sola Scriptura? No one claims EVERYTHING is in the Bible but that the Bible - as the ONLY Divinely-inspired writings we have - is sufficient to know the plan of salvation and contains the basis of all that is required to be believed in order to live a holy, righteous and honorable life. The Bible remains THE standard authority by which the rule of the Christian faith must be measured.

Take the anointing of the sick "ordinance/ritual" you mentioned. We know from Scripture that it IS something God desires we do else it wouldn't say we CAN do it. Is it your contention that unless we do it exactly the way your church does it, God won't honor it? God won't heal anyone unless it's done the "right" way with the "right" prayers by the "right" people? I don't think so. James was writing this to believers to encourage them to trust in God for healing and forgiveness - NOT so that the precise ritual would be spelled out.

You say the Bible is "insufficient" without a human revelator? Just what is it you think the Holy Spirit does? Has God gifted us with other believers to help, teach, explain, interpret and reveal God's word to us? Yes, He has. But, it is always the Holy Spirit behind it and the sacred Scriptures - which are able to make us wise unto salvation - remain the authority so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The "church" is to be in submission to the Scriptures - not the other way around.

260 posted on 01/25/2015 3:02:46 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums

So when the sick call for the elders how do you recommend handling the anointing and the blessing? How many times have you anointed a sick person? If never, why not?

As regards a human revelator, how did we get the Bible? Note Bene that no leaders of the Reform Movement ever claimed revelation.


327 posted on 01/26/2015 6:12:15 PM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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