I see the root of his problem.
>>and an intellectual view of the Christian faith and my Christian duty<<
Intellectual view? I can find no scripture that extols the ascent of the intellect. I can't find the verse that says "with the intellect a man believeth unto righteousness". What I do find is this.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
And this.
1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
>>Augustine taught that we literally “merit” eternal life when our lives are transformed by grace.<<
There it is! That carnal human desire to "deserve" or "merit". Not relying solely on God but the carnal sinful desire to "be somebody"!
>>The Church was both the authority on Christian doctrine as well as the instrument of salvation.<<
The "church" is the authority and instrument of salvation? No it's not. God's word is the instrument of salvation.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Believers aren't "born of a church" or "by a church".
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
It's not some "church" that guides us nor is it some "theologian".
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
This poor man was deceived from the beginning. His "idols" by his own admission were men not Christ. He put his faith in men and institutions not Christ. He listened to men not the the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Still today he looks to the "church" for salvation not Jesus Christ.
Right on, CynicalBear.
I sensed the same thing when I read where he said, “I also believed none of my religious or moral works had any value. So I quit practicing them.”
When one gives ones life and soul to Christ and is born again, there comes a point where one also receives the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that the receiving of the Holy Spirit comes right away to some and for some it seems to take a while to wear down one’s stubbornness before it happens. But at that time you realize that you do good works not because it is a requirement for salvation, but purely because you are allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you and you, like Mary, obey God’s will. The value of good works is not your own benefit or seeking after reward, but rather the pleasure of serving The Lord and seeing the benefit it brings to others around you. I don’t think that the author of the article understood this, perhaps his high regard of intellect kept him from fully submitting to and receiving the Holy Spirit.
He went from trusting men to trusting a church. Nowhere does he say he accepted Jesus.