Sounds nice, but it is unbiblical, impractical, and wishful thinking. The word "only" is the problem. We also hold ourselves accountable to what is in Scriptures. But we base this accountability of the Scriptures as read by the Church, the community, not on my own twisted and deviant decision to call wrong - right, evil - good, gay - acceptable, abortion - a choice, contraception - my own business, and any other thing under the sun that can be taken out of context in the bible to fit my own personal life. As you may have noticed by now, people can make the Scriptures back up NUMEROUS life decisions and theologies... The truth is not accessible to the individual unless he goes outside of himself. That PARTICULARLY includes the interpretation of God's Word.
I can understand how you're supposed to follow it, but how can God's admittedly inerrant word NOT be "part of your faith"? I didn't even see Tradition on the list. Maybe it's just one of those things again. :)
The "Faith" includes our beliefs in God, man, and the salvation plan in history. The Bible is not part of that. It relates God's plan, but is ITSELF not God's plan of salvation of men. It is an instrument, inspired and inerrant, without question, but it is not part of the "Rule of Faith", that Jesus suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our salvation. We believe that the Bible is inspired, but it is not part of the Paschal Mystery. Tradition is how we view our faith. This is past down by the Bible and the teaching Church.
I would generally agree, but in this case being "kicked out of the club" means being damned for all eternity, as I understand it. This is why I was curious as to the level of accountability.
"Being kicked out of the club" doesn't mean eternal damnation. Anathema means to cast out of the visible Church. Only God knows the relationship that exists between such a person and the Body. We would tend to think that a person who rejects Christ would be damning himself. But we don't know the true thoughts of another, or the ignorance of someone, or the knowledge with which a person "rejects". We leave that to God. However, the community has a right to oust members who are a scandal to the rest. This does not mean they are doomed to hell.
While my opinion doesn't matter, I would think that if some of the pols WERE actually kicked out, the Church might lose some dead wood, but there would also be a heightened level of credibility for the hierarchy among the laity.
I would agree. I can understand the decision not to rush such things, though. Some are afraid of schism, so it is a difficult decision to weigh on how hard they lean on such politicians.
I sincerely doubt that if the Kerry's and the Kennedy's of the world were in any other line of work that they would ever darken the door of a church. Same with the Clintons.
I will let God be the judge of that. Perhaps their interpretations of the Bible we both possess differs, and they think the Holy Spirit leads THEM to do what they do... Whether you realize it or not, you ALSO call upon the idea that the Church, the community, must be the objective interpreter of what is the norm to be read from the bible for the individual. In time, I hope you will understand where we are coming from.
Regards
There it is in plain view. GOD (the Truth) is NOT accessible to the man. God is only partially accessible to man when filtered through other men. This could never be honestly called a personal relationship with God, which the Bible instead teaches. I really have no interest in an impersonal and filtered relationship. I would rather have intimacy with God. Were I to convert, I believe I would be forced to split my actual faith between God and the men of the Magisterium, because I would be dependent on both for salvation and truth.
The "Faith" includes our beliefs in God, man, and the salvation plan in history. The Bible is not part of that. It relates God's plan, but is ITSELF not God's plan of salvation of men. It is an instrument, inspired and inerrant, without question, but it is not part of the "Rule of Faith", that Jesus suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our salvation.
OK, that fully supports my earlier supposition that you do not think that the word of God has real power by itself. It must first go through men who, I suppose, are the ones who activate any power in the word of God, if any. That is consistent with what else I've been told.
Whether you realize it or not, you ALSO call upon the idea that the Church, the community, must be the objective interpreter of what is the norm to be read from the bible for the individual. In time, I hope you will understand where we are coming from.
But I am not compelled to believe based on what other people say I should believe. I have disagreements on some things with other Southern Baptists, and with the majority of Reformers. I don't think the issues are major enough to disassociate with these groups, and I still have the freedom to believe as the Spirit leads me. The Bible is the standard, as opposed to other men, and a large number of my community read the scriptures essentially the same way I do. So, yes I look at what my community says (Bible believing Protestants/Baptists), and if it passes the scriptural test as the Spirit leads me, then I'll buy it.