What are represented as different "interpretations" are in fact reflections of what is definitive: in the one view, the doctrinal and moral teaching of Scripture is always final for Christian people; in the other view, it never is. What is definitive for the exponents of that view is not what the Bible says, as such, but what their own minds come up with as they seek to make Bible teaching match the wisdom of the world.[emphasis added]
When conscience divorced from apostolic teaching authority became an acceptable Biblical interpretational guide, the drift away from the Bible and teachings of Jesus began. When personal conscience trumps apostolic authority, and when the narrow gate is widened, error results.
Sionnsar, this is excellent, all of it. I was particularly intrigued by the "objectivist/subjectivist" contrast and the fact that the author recognizes the influence of the Englightenment on Western Christianity, something the East was thankfully saved from, ironically, by the Mohammedans and the isolationism and zenophobia of Russia. I must say, though, that the EU has gone a long way to bringing Enlightenment thinking to places like Greece. I have to wonder why we here in the States have been spared many of the ravages of the Englightenment when it is clear that our Founders prided themselves on their Enlightenment thinking.
Isn't there an "L" missing from the word "fight" in the title.
Fighting, to me, indicates staying, as I am, trying to hold on to what many will condemn me for - trying to get the Church to kick out the liberal free-wheeling interpretations and the homosexual agenda, and return to Othodoxy.
But I would say that I'm remaing to "fight", and for those who've left, I would use the word "flight".
Not trying to get in a snarky semantics argument and certainly don't want to bring up the really nasty comments toward me by someone who showed up on these threads and accused me last Sunday of something to the effect of refusing to realize taht I was fighting for a Church that has turned itself over to a demonic attraction, or some such.
Besides, personal attacks not only aren't allowed on FR, they certainly don't encourage dialogue as I read what that poster said, and just left the thread. The Religion Mod has taught me well. Thanks, RM.