** The fact is, the only reason you and I have the New Testament canon is because of the trustworthy teaching authority of the Catholic Church. .... Now, ask yourself this question: ‘If the Bible, which we received from the Catholic Church, is our sole rule of faith, who’s to do the interpreting?’ **
Well let's see... The church at that time was made up of Christians, followers of Christ. Each of those Christians at each of those councils were "guided" by the Holy Spirit "to recognize and determine the canon of the New and Old Testaments". If those Christians can be trusted to determine the Canon of Scripture, then the Christians today who have the same Holy Spirit should also be entrusted with interpreting those scriptures. Therefore, since that same Most Holy Spirit works in me today, I can be trusted to interpret those scriptures!
Please note: In all of this, the church (the Christians who are in Christ) still remain in subject to scripture. No man is above it, rather Scripture is the Supreme Judge by which all others are to conform.
** Why are there so many conflicting understandings among Evangelicals and Fundamentalists even on central doctrines that pertain to salvation? **
Why are there so many conflicting understandings among Roman Catholics on central doctrines that pertain to salvation? Has the Roman Catholic Church really done such a great job in unifying itself under it's one set of beliefs?
Tell me, are you a Traditionalist? Are you one of the Catholics that despise what the current Pope has taught, and feel as though the church ought to revert back to a pre-Vatican II state? Are you a Catholic that believes the Roman Church needs reform?
I am asking this politely, so as not to offend. I hope you take it in such a light.
PS. Please don't ignore the 4 thoughts I had after I posted my honest statement confirming that I believe in the Canon due to the traditions passed down to me from my Church.
And, oh yea, here's a couple others:
5) The Church of the 4th and 5th centuries most closely resemble the current Reformed Churches in the areas of soteriology, theology proper, and the books of the canon. As such, the Reformed churches of today are the "true heir" to the Church in Rome during those centuries.
6) Any arguments to prove that the Current Roman Catholic Church is actually the true descendant of the early Church can be equally applied to the "True Catholic Church" found at the following Website:
http://www.truecatholic.org/
Awed by the Glory of the Lord...
The word "catholic" means "universal".
Any arguments to prove that the Current Roman Catholic Church is actually the true descendant of the early Church can be equally applied to the "True Catholic Church" found at the following Website: http://www.truecatholic.org/
Wrong! This is a schismatic group that is not in communion with Rome.
"Schism (from the Greek schisma, rent, division) is, in the language of theology and canon law, the rupture of ecclesiastical union and unity, i. e. either the act by which one of the faithful severs as far as in him lies the ties which bind him to the social organization of the Church and make him a member of the mystical body of Christ, or the state of dissociation or separation which is the result of that act."
SCHISM