Faith is not alone, Scripture is not alone, Grace is not alone. We ought not separate what God...

Faith is not alone, Scripture is not alone, Grace is not alone. We ought not separate what God has joined.

There are a lot of “solos” sung by our Protestant brethren: Sola Fide (saved by faith alone), Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone is the rule of faith), and sola gratia (grace alone). (See the Protestant logo to the right.) Generally, one ought to be suspicious and careful of claims that things work “alone.” It is our usual experience that many things work together in harmony, that things are interrelated. Very seldom is anyone or anything “alone.”

The problem of the “solos” emerges (it seems to me) in our minds, where it is possible to separate things out. But the fact is, just because we can separate something out in our mind does not mean that we can separate it out in reality.

Consider, for a moment, a candle flame. In my mind, I can separate the heat of the flame from its light. But in reality, I could never take a knife and put the heat over on one side and the light on the other. In reality, the heat and light are inseparable, so together as to be one.

I would like to argue respectfully that it is the same with things like faith and works, grace and transformation, Scripture and the Church. We can separate all these things out in our mind, but in reality they are one. Attempts to separate them from what they belong to, lead to grave distortions and to the thing in question no longer being what it is claimed to be. Rather, it becomes an abstraction that exists only on a blackboard or in the mind of a (geeky) theologian.

Let’s look at the three main “solos” of Protestant theology. I am aware that there are non-Catholic readers of this blog, so please understand that my objections are made with respect. I am also aware that in a short blog I may oversimplify, and thus I welcome additions, clarifications, etc. in the comments.

Solo 1: Faith alone (sola fide). For 400 years, Catholics and Protestants have debated the question of faith and works. In this matter, we must each avoid a caricature of the other’s positions. Catholics do not and never have taught that we were saved by works. For heaven’s sake we baptize infants! We fought off the Pelagians. But neither do Protestants mean by “faith” a purely intellectual acceptance of the existence of God, as many Catholics think they do.

But what concerns us here is the detachment of faith from works that the phrase “Faith alone” implies. So let me ask, what is faith without works? Can you point to it? Is it visible? Introduce me to someone who has real faith but no works. I don’t think one can be found. About the only example I can think of is a baptized infant! But, oops, that’s a Catholic thing, since most Baptists and Evangelicals who sing the solos reject infant baptism.

Hence it seems that faith alone is something of an abstraction. Faith is something that we can separate from works only in our minds, but not in reality. If faith is a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ, it seems we cannot remain unchanged by entering into that relationship with him. This change affects our behavior, our works. Even in the case of infants, it is possible to argue that they are changed and do have “works,” it’s just that we cannot easily observe them.

Scripture affirms that faith is never alone, that such a concept is an abstraction. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Faith without works is not really faith at all since faith does not exist by itself, but is always present with and causes works through love. Galatians 5:6 says, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. Hence faith works not alone, but through love. Further, as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:2, if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

Hence faith alone is the null set. True faith is never alone; it bears the fruit of love and the works of holiness. Faith ignites love and works through it. Beware of the solo “faith alone” and ask where faith, all by itself, can be found.

Solo 2: Grace alone (sola gratia). As for grace alone, this too is a puzzle, since grace by its very nature changes us. Again, show me grace apart from works. Grace without works is an abstraction. Grace cannot be found apart from its effects. In our mind it may exist as an idea, but in reality grace is never alone.

Grace builds on nature and transforms it. It engages the person who responds to its urges and gifts. If grace is real, it will have its effects and cannot be found alone or apart from works. It cannot be found apart from a real flesh-and-blood human who is manifesting its effects.

Solo 3: Scripture alone (sola Scriptura) - Finally, beware those who say, “sola Scriptura”! This is the claim that Scripture alone is the measure of faith and the sole authority for the Christian, that there is no need for a Church and no authority in the Church, that there is only authority in the Scripture. There are several problems with this.

First, Scripture as we know it (with the full New Testament) was not fully assembled and agreed upon until the 4th century. And it was Catholic bishops, in union with the Pope, who made the decision as to which books belonged in the Bible. The early Christians could not possibly have lived by sola scriptura since the Scriptures were not even fully written in the earliest years. And though collected and largely completed in written form by 100 AD, the set of books and letters that actually made up the New Testament was only agreed upon by the 4th Century.

Second, until recently most people could not read. Given this, it seems kind of strange that God would make, as the sole rule of faith, a book that people had to read on their own. Even today, large numbers of people in the world cannot read well. Hence Scripture was not a read text per se, but rather one that most people heard and experienced in and with the Church through her preaching, liturgy, art, architecture, stained glass, passion plays, and so forth.

Third, and most important, if all you have is a book, then that book needs to be interpreted accurately. Without a valid and recognized interpreter, the book can serve to divide more than to unite. Is this not the experience of Protestantism, which now has tens of thousands of denominations all claiming to read the same Bible but interpreting it in rather different manners?

The problem is, if no one is Pope then everyone is Pope! Protestant “soloists” claim that anyone, alone with a Bible and the Holy Spirit, can authentically interpret Scripture. Well then, why does the Holy Spirit tell some people that baptism is necessary for salvation and others that it is not necessary? Why does the Holy Spirit tell some that the Eucharist really is Christ’s body and blood and others that it is only a symbol? Why does the Holy Spirit say to some Protestants “Once saved, always saved” and to others, “No”?

So it seems clear that Scripture is not meant to be alone. Scripture itself says this in 2 Peter 3:16: our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, Our Brother Paul speaking of these things [the Last things] as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures. Hence Scripture itself warns that it is quite possible to misinterpret Scripture.

Well then, where is the truth to be found? The Scriptures once again answer this: you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim 3:15).

Hence, Scriptures are not to be read alone. They are a document of the Lord through the Church and must be read in the context of the Church and with the Church’s authoritative interpretation and Tradition. As this passage says, The CHURCH is the pillar and foundation of truth. The Bible is a Church book and is not meant to be read apart from the Church that received the authority to publish it from God Himself. Scripture is the most authoritative and precious document of the Church, but it emanates from the Church’s Tradition and must be understood in the light of it. Further, faith is not alone but works through love. And grace is not alone but builds on nature.

Thus the problems of “singing solo” seem to boil down to the fact that if we separate what God has joined, we end up with an abstraction, something that exists only in the mind (but in reality cannot be found alone).

Here is a brief video in which Fr. Robert Barron ponders the Protestant point of view that every baptized Christian has the right to authoritatively interpret the Word of God.

I was raised and am a Protestant, member of “Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” denomination. One of the concepts I was taught was the unity of all Christians under Jesus, whether they be Protestant or Catholic (no matter which individual denomination or rite). I believe that we, as followers of Jesus, should seek what unites us in our believe and gift of salvation and NOT the differences we have.

I was raised as a Catholic; both in school and at home, I was taught in a similar way. I was taught respect, not just for other nationalities, but for others' religion, as we referred to it back then. We had kids in our class who weren't Catholic; they were never forced to attend Mass, nor sit during our religion class- they got to go to the library and spend that time. The rest of the time, we all played and learned together.

When I was growing up, a word you heard on TV and a lot in school was, "brotherhood"-anybody remember that? And insulting somebody because of their religion was like insulting their mother: maybe that's why I didn't get my feathers ruffled over what Pope Francis said, I understood. If a kid on the street really wanted to provoke you, the first thing they'd do was insult your mother. You knew they had crossed the line and meant business, and that they were hitting below the belt.

I, too, thought all who believed in Jesus were Christian. And, I was taught to respect the fact that others believed, at least somewhat differently, than we did. Back then, we had Catholics, Protestants, and Jews. We were taught that the Jews were God's chosen people- He set them aside- my mother read to me out of the Bible at night. The people we knew were Italian, Irish, Polish, Spanish (from Spain), Lebanese, Armenian, and African-American (although the accepted words back then were "Colored", or "Negro"- saying the "N-word" in my house was the equivalent of saying the "F-word"- it just was NOT DONE!).

In short, respect for people's similarities. tolerance wasn't some kind of chore. You got along and you were respectful of one another's differences. When racial violence broke out in the 60's I was sat down by my parents and reminded that there were good and bad in all groups of people, and that it was wrong to judge all based on a few. Liberal-Progressive? NO! CHRISTIAN! Every nationality knew what it was like to be discriminated against, in the old country as well as in this one. Eventually, those ironed themselves out and people got along and respected one another. That is how I was raised.

Your post was well-said, and the quote is worth repeating:

I believe that we, as followers of Jesus, should seek what unites us in our believe and gift of salvation and NOT the differences we have.

AMEN! God bless you!

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? James 2:20

There are real problems when a verse is taken out of its context, Al

We need always to consider to whom it was written and the circumstances it was addressing

The book of James was written to a converted church , not heathens seeking salvation . It tells them how their conversion is seen by the unsaved world . It is not about becoming saved or being saved. It is about the fruit of your salvation.
It is not saying we need works to be saved..but that our works ARE EVIDENCE of our salvation . If you have no works flowing from your salvation.. then you have a dead (false salvation)

Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
This is an amplification of the teaching of Jesus that we know a tree by the fruit it bears. It is how we know the saved from the unsaved. It does not declare that the man has faith ...but that he SAYS he has faith.

This addresses a hollow profession of faith , not a saving one .Can a hollow profession save him? NO, any more than works can save.This scripture says to the church that this faith is non existent , it is dead.

The bible is clear that it is God that gives the faith and it is God that ordains the works of the saved

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Hbr 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Phl 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
Augustine: "Now, having duly considered and weighed all these circumstances and testimonies, we conclude that a man is not justified by the precepts of a holy life, but by faith in Jesus Christ,--in a word, not by the law of works, but by the law of faith; not by the letter, but by the spirit; not by the merits of deeds, but by free grace."

unlearner: You report someone to the religion moderator for quoting a Bible verse?

Salvation: No, it was his statement “You hypocrites.”

That was not the posters statement, it was a statement made by Jesus. You will have to debate with Him about that.

Here's the scripture again, a quote from the Bible:

"You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Matthew 15:7-9

Salvation: How can he judge? How can he mind read?

It's good to keep in mind that when someone posts a thread (such as you did in this instance), even though in the "to" field it will say "Salvation" (that's you in this case) but usually it is in reaction to and addressed to the article, not the poster of the article.

Bear in mind also that many Christians see quite a few similarities between Catholicism and the religious actions of the Pharisees. Such as "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Falsely teaching the sinlessness of Mary, praying to Mary (making her the mediator between man and God which is a role only Jesus fills,) the statement that everyone needs to be subject to the pope, and many other examples are out there, including a lot of things that the Catholic pope says and does (such as worshipping the same "God" that Islam worships)

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whitewashed sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.---Matthew 23:27

So I will ask you the question you asked:

How can you judge? How can you mindread?

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