metmom wrote:
“The problem is teaching something as true and factual when there’s no definative statement supporting it. That’s what is the problem for those who question her perpetual virginity. Consensus doesn’t make truth. If they’re not sure, that’s one thing. To declare it as true and fact when there’s certainly plenty of evidence to the contrary, is irresponsible, bordering on deceptive.”
Reading what you write here, I do not think we are very far apart. It is now more a matter of emphasis and application.
For the record, the Reformers left the matter of Mary’s perpetual virginity an open question or adiaphoron precisely because it could not be irrefutably proved from the Bible, even though the church fathers were quite united in believing it. They meant what they said. When Rome insists that this must be believed, Rome is openly called wrong, and yet without denying the historical truth that the church fathers so believed, and that they might very well have been right because they knew something we longer can lay our finger on. But one cannot bind someone’s conscience to that which is not sure and certain from the plain, clear testimony of God’s word. That is not our prerogative. God, who would have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, left it that way. That alone should tell us how to deal with this matter.
If God chose not to make this clear either way, then that is our confession. It is unclear, therefore believe as you will so long as you believe rightly all that the Scriptures do teach about the Christ. This, as you are manifestly sensitive to, is one of Rome’s big problems. They insist on taking things that may or may not be true - and even build wholly ungrounded and doubtful (if not harmful!) doctrine on top of such things - and insist on pain of damnation, that one must believe them to be true. I will go you one better, this is not merely irresponsible and deceptive, it is the spirit of antichrist.
Sound scriptural, Christian doctrine glorifies Christ and the truth that has been revealed in and through Him.
AGREED:
If God chose not to make this clear either way, then that is our confession. It is unclear, therefore believe as you will so long as you believe rightly all that the Scriptures do teach about the Christ. This, as you are manifestly sensitive to, is one of Rome’s big problems. They insist on taking things that may or may not be true - and even build wholly ungrounded and doubtful (if not harmful!) doctrine on top of such things - and insist on pain of damnation, that one must believe them to be true. I will go you one better, this is not merely irresponsible and deceptive, it is the spirit of antichrist.
Sound scriptural, Christian doctrine glorifies Christ and the truth that has been revealed in and through Him.