Actually, I wasn't being sarcastic at all. Not my style. Meant every word I said. I read what I wanted to read and I was wrong. Hence the indictment of sola scriptura . Sarcasm is for weak-minded individuals looking to intellectually pleasure themselves at the expense of others.
I'll tell you what my fear is. My fear is that so many people are led astray by others' interpretations. If FR is any indication what we have is a mish mash of individual points of emphasis and preference whereby a whole belief structure is erected.
It certainly runs the gamut. Whether one's point of emphasis is to quarterback the end times or their hung up at the intersection of faith/reason/logic and they don't know which way to turn but they've built up in their mind what is the end all, be all of Christian understanding. Essentially a spiritual cul de sac. Whatever the particular hang up is its all based on the "what speaks to me" phenomenon. An error which is further compounded by cloaking it in the mantle of, "indwelling of the Holy Spirit."
How many times have we heard protestants say, "I like so-and-so because they speak to me and they address my particular bent that I find personally satisfying." Their favorite pastor/preacher/personality scratches an itch of theirs. Of course, what happens when this particular individual no longer does that? The protestant moves on. Or, to be more in line with this thread topic, they fire their pastor. Their understanding of Truth is conditional. Whatever the construct at its foundation is a preference for what is personally pleasing and that is where the sola comes in. Ultimately its disingenuous, especially when one claims, "It's all about Christ."
Not scary at all if you don’t fear Scripture and not a fraction as scary as depending on tradition and a church to tell you what it means instead of looking it up yourself.
I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of faith in my own ability. And I'm certainly not going to play Wheel of Fortune with Scripture which is what protestants do. Let's spin the wheel and see what connections we can come up with today. I mean, really, what's the difference between a protestant and a bible code nutjob? Christ instituted a Church that comprises Scripture and Tradition so that we were not left to our own devices. That was His promise. If that means that I've forsaken the post-enlightenment ideal of radical individualism then so be it. I'll put my faith in Christ.
Nah...
It's directed toward Strong-minded individuals who are so cock sure that their chosen religion is teaching what is essential and any others are mere posers.
It's impossible to tell via the printed word, what the inflection would be if someone was speaking.
Every single person on this planet has their own personal interpretation of Scripture. It may be that they decide on it themselves, or they may read a bunch of other people interpretations and pick the one they like the best, or they may decide to trust someone else to guide them, none of which are free from the potential of error and deception.
How many times have we heard protestants say, "I like so-and-so because they speak to me and they address my particular bent that I find personally satisfying." Their favorite pastor/preacher/personality scratches an itch of theirs. Of course, what happens when this particular individual no longer does that? The protestant moves on.
And that is the problem with following men instead of Christ. And it is also something that Catholics are not immune to. They follow the Catholic church because that's where they think is the truth and meets their needs.
Their understanding of Truth is conditional.
On the contrary, for the spiritually mature, you face the Truth, that is found in Scripture and don't twist it to your own ends.
Following a church over Scripture also does not prevent that from happening.
Every criticism leveled against sola Scriptura can be leveled against sola ecclesia.
When it gets down to it, it's still just everyone's own personal interpretation.
That said, there is room for *disputable matters* as Paul calls it in Romans 14. Not everything is a matter of salvation.
We are commanded to repent and believe and told and promised that for those who confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead, they will be saved. It's by grace through faith in Christ not by works so that no man can boast.
There are areas where I disagree with many here on the board but they're of no consequence. And I know that there are areas where Catholic disagree, the EO and RC rites are prime examples of differences in theology greater than I have with most other believers I know, and yet the Roman Catholic church still considers them Catholics in in communion with them.
As an example, in the Pentecostal movement there is the issue of speaking in tongues. They hold that it is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I disagree. But that does not mean that they or I are not saved. It's not an issue related to salvation. We'll find out when we get there who was right and likely it was neither of us.
In the meantime, I can worship with them, fellowship with them, pray with them, wish them Godspeed, as brothers and sisters in Christ. And if they bring it up, I'll say my piece and drop it. As long as they don't make an issue of it, it's not a problem for me.
I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of faith in my own ability.
I don't have faith in my ability either. Spiritual truths are spiritually discerned and revealed by the Holy Spirit who indwells the believer.
Jesus promised that HE would lead us into all truth.
Does that mean we'll never be wrong? No, because nobody is perfect, and you know what? God doesn't expect us to be. He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. (Psalm103).
That's why He sent the Holy Spirit.
And I'm certainly not going to play Wheel of Fortune with Scripture which is what protestants do. Let's spin the wheel and see what connections we can come up with today. I mean, really, what's the difference between a protestant and a bible code nutjob?
If that's the way someone is approaching it, there isn't much difference. It's not a matter of looking for connections to make. It's reading and studying and memorizing God's word to guide us in how we are to live each day.
God indeed speaks to us through His word. But the person who is just looking to find verses to tell him what he wants to hear, is off base.
We are to line our lives up according to Scripture, not to line Scripture up according to our lives.
Anyone bend on deception will be deceived whether they follow sola Scriptura or sola ecclesia.
Being part of a church is no guarantee of being right or spiritually right with God.
Just look at the number of high profile Catholics like Kennedy , Pelosi, Biden, etc and it will show that there is no advantage in being part of a church or claiming to follow it.
For someone who is sincerely seeking God, God will not let them go. He WANTS to save people. He makes it as easy as possible for us to come to Him. It's like He's looking for excuses to save people, warts and all, broken theology and all.
There is nothing in Scripture that demands that our theology be *correct* in order to be saved.
However, I do see lots in Catholicism that demands that our theology be correct to be saved.
Someone can have all their facts about God nailed down perfectly and in perfect order and still not be saved.
God wants out hearts, our loyalty, not our theological prowess. He wants us to KNOW Him, not just know about Him.