I was actually defending Sola Scriptura by showing it does not mean Bible Only but that it mean Bible is the primary authority and all other teachings must derive from it. This means that you have articles of faith, confessions, creeds, and doctrines which take their authority from the Bible alone. It is the Bible that gives them their weight. Each person in such denominations is not free to teach doctrine which is contrary to these. It is not a case of everyone is their own Pope.
By cult of personality I did not mean just any Protestant pastor. Think prosperity gospel preachers and such. You know the sort they do not represent most Protestant denominatons. Again it was not a remark against the godly ministers and reverends in Protestant churches but about hucksters who use the guise religion to prey on the gullible.
Such is not likely to happen if the congregation can point to established church teaching and say “wait that is not what we believe.”
Whether Catholic or Protestant established teaching is an important tool in battling heresy. If a Reformed preacher was to start teaching a belief in infused righteousness one can point to the confessions (I hope that is the right document)and say he is in error. But without such established doctrine and by saying only the Bible is to be used you can have varying interpretations on that subject and no clear teaching will emerge. That is Solo Scriptura.
Every heretical belief has its orgins in somebody deciding they alone really understood what Scripture meant. The purpose of articles of faith and the like is to make clear what a church believes and holds to be true.
I have never viewed the freedom to read and learn under the power of the Holy Spirit, about the truths in the bible, as ‘being your own pope.’ I would say most non-catholics do not view it that way, but I would say many catholics would. Of course it doesn’t mean we are free to teach incorrect doctrines, we never said that’s what that grants. We have no disagreement there. The fact that people have, will and continue to teach heresies, does not mean the rest of us are in favor of teaching heresies. I think one example is the exodus of folks from ELCA over their current blatant heresy regarding homosexuality.
Yes, I agree about the prosperity folks. But the bottom line with their heresy is legalism. They just figured out how to get rich off their particular legalism. The legalism is that if YOU don’t believe enough, if YOU don’t have enough faith, you can’t be healed, or that’s why you still have money problems. God wants you to be rich but if you don’t claim the promise and believe it, it won’t happen. So it’s your fault. But I will also say this is not the exclusive realm of protestant ministers, I would not say the roman church is immune from such people in the pulpits as well.
As far as pointing it out, the fact is protestant churches as a general rule have a lot more power to reprimand and dismiss such pastors over a catholic congregation. And they do send them packing, for this reason and others.
What our position is about other documents such as the Confessions is that they are correct insofar as they are derived from Scripture and agree with Scripture. At the same time, they are not superior from Scripture, or that they add to, or are needed and Scripture is incomplete without them. They are statements of belief and the statements explain themselves because they are built on Scripture (which is included as part of the document). The document is based on the Word of God but is not the Word of God. While the Confessions may provide to someone the basis for a particular denomination’s beliefs, the Word of God does not need the Confessions; but the Confessions must have and needs the Word of God, as the Bible is the Confessions’ foundation. The Word of God is its own foundation. Further don’t disregard the fact the Confessions have been tested against the Word of God by many, and continually tested throughout the ages that Scripture has not been mis-applied in order to somehow support someone’s pet heresy. They are not just written and never critically examined again.
Per your last paragraph, I am not sure I agree that every single heretical view comes from one individual as you put it ‘being their own pope’. For one thing, a person can hold an incorrect belief out of ignorance, and at some point, in their genuine studies, realize they were in error. Few Christians can say they haven’t had this happen to them as they have matured in their study of God’s Word, talking with other Christians, parents, pastors.
I also believe that councils of people have voted to make certain incorrect doctrines “valid” and other valid doctrines “heresies” - not just one person doing so. The ruling council of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is but one example. Not to be argumentative as I have enjoyed the discussion, but I would have to lump the Council of Trent in there as well.
Anyways, I have enjoyed the discussion with you.