Godliness can be perceived by observation, to those who know what godliness is, just as we can determine that a person is virtuous by observing their behavior. But [divine] inspiration can be assured only if the person's claims agree with the teachings of the Apostles and their ordained successors. If the allegedly 'inspired' person's teachings contradict the doctrine of the Church, then they are not of God. It is the Church (i.e. the Apostles and the bishops in Apostolic succession from them) that determine what is orthodoxy and what is heresy. The promise of the "charism of truth" is to the Apostles and their ordained successors, and to us only through them.
-A8
But [divine] inspiration can be assured only if the person's claims agree with the teachings of the Apostles and their ordained successors.
= = = =
That's NOT what SCRIPTURE SAYS.
When it comes to how to manage this life and my relationship with God, I'll stick with Scripture and Holy Spirit's leading into all truth. I've had more than enough flawed inputs by well meaning heirarchical folks--even the ones earnestly trying to do their best. The rest were beyond the pale by a wide margin.
Of course I will submit as Holy Spirit leads and respect Biblical, honorable spiritual authority. I won't give anyone carte blanche. That, to me, is unBiblical.
And, in my experience, has tended to be very destructive in results.
If the allegedly 'inspired' person's teachings contradict the doctrine of the Church, then they are not of God.
== == ==
NO. IF the supposedly inspired person's teachings contradict what God is saying and doing in that situation at that time . . . and/or with Scripture . . . then things are at best exceedingly suspect if not well over the line and likely from hell.
Short answer:
1Ti 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
Clergy can be wrong and can be corrected by the laity.
You are still working within the 'sola scriptura' mindset, as shown by your requesting scripural proof for every claim, and assuming to yourself the authority to interpret Scripture so as to contradict the teaching of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. If you study Church history, you will see that 'sola scriptura' is an historical novely invented 1500 years after Christ. The first thing to see is that 'sola scriptura' was not a part of the Church Christ founded. This alone shows that it is a heresy, one that is at the root of the fragmentation of Christ's body into 20,000+ sects over the last five hundred years. The Bible has its authority in virtue of the authority of those who wrote it, and the authority of those who determined its contents (i.e. the canon). Otherwise, why not make your own canon?? Put _Chicken Soup for the Soul_ in your own, personally customized and individualized 'Bible' if you wish. Since the Scriptures have their authority from the Magesterium, the authoritative *interpretation* of the Scriptures also belongs to the Magesterium. You seem to be trying to take the authority of the Scriptures while rejecting the authority of the Magesterium by which the Scripture receives its authority and its content (i.e. the canon). That is the sort of gnosticism that plucks Scripture out of thin air, ripping it out of its historical context, treating it as if it fell directly from heaven, ignoring its historical and ecclesiastical origins.
This does not answer my question:
FRiend, what scripture says that an authority will be appointed to interpret scripture to the flock? I can point a couple that say otherwise.
I'm going to look past the slights and attacks in your response and just move show you the commonality of all the prophets:
Deu 13:1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, Deu 13:2 and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' Deu 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deu 13:4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deu 13:5 "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.
This is the very standard that the one holy apostolic church of the time was employing when they tried to trip Jesus up, with one caveat. You see, they were trying to hold Jesus to a standard that they themselves had created in addition to God's Law.
Luk 6:6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. Luk 6:7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. Luk 6:8 But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!" And he got up and came forward. Luk 6:9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?" Luk 6:10 After looking around at them all, He said to him, "Stretch out your hand!" And he did so; and his hand was restored. Luk 6:11 But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
One of the things Christ accomplished with His earthly ministry was the return of God's Law to its simplicity. Christ did not come out of the church, he came to save it.
God's Law is the standard for measuring Godliness, not adherence to the doctrines of men.