This is a good example of the phenomenon in which I was raised. If one agrees with the "word", then it is from God. If one disagrees with it, then it is a "false word". What leaders of such systems *really* want is for the people to follow them, to do as they say, all the while telling them (while sweeping the contradiction under the rug) that they just want the people to "trust God alone". The whole system is just self-worship dressed up in 'hearing from God' language. Gnosticism is the error of Lucifer, Eve, Korah, Simon Magus, Luther and Benny Hinn. In each case the legitimate divinely appointed authorities [incarnate divine representatives] are spurned, and the agent takes to himself 'spiritual authority' and privilege he does not have, and attempts to get others to follow him. Knowing that he has no legitimate divinely instituted authority, he tempts us by telling us to listen to God alone, but then he tries very hard to get us to listen to him. Gnosticism was the first and greatest heresy the early Church faced. And now again in these times, it has returned with a vengeance. As in the Garden, once again it is luring man away from the Church's legitimate authorities to that great elixer of knowledge falsely so called, a 'higher', private, secret, 'spiritual knowledge' that can be had through oneself, by oneself, in oneself, directly 'from the Spirit'. But the Spirit only comes from and through Christ, that incarnate Christ who gave authority to incarnate men (and one in particular) to shepherd His Church until He returns, and who among them and through them instituted material sacraments by which we truly receive the Holy Spirit. The gnostics offer us the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; Christ through His Church offers us the fruit of the tree of life through the sacraments and especially the Eucharist. But we already see the fruit of the tree of the 'knowledge' of good and evil, in the destruction of Christian unity into 20,000+ sects, with further fragmentation occuring on a daily basis, contrary to Christ's prayer in John 17 that Christians would all be "perfected in unity". Led astray by gnosticism each person becomes his own God, as Eve sought to do, in direct imitation of her temptor the devil. Only when we return (in repentance and confession) to our divinely appointed authorities will we be "perfected in unity".
-A8
There is no private interpretation in scripture and scripture interprets scripture. We are taught to be as Bereans and to search the scriptures to see that the things that are taught us, are true.
Your vaunted magisterum are just men, and you have no idea whether they are indwelt by the HS or not. You just take their word for it that they are.
As for unity, unity is not Ecumenism.
The whole counsel of God is not exactly a dime store flash in the pan sort of understanding--most of the time--whether directly from God or over time through a variety of channels.
I was once in a Communist country. College students asked me what they should do in a certain risky but popular situation. I counseled them to pray earnestly and pray some more. We all knew they were talking about risking at least their careers and likely their lives and families.
I said IF after praying earnestly as long as they could manage given events, then to take the matter to the most mature Christians they knew and ask them to pray and then come together again and give them Godly counsel.
And then to pray some more. Perhaps fast and pray.
And if they still felt led of the Lord to do the risky things . . . then go to some precious wise old saints with whom they tended to frequently disagree but whom they knew to have a close relationship with God. And ask them. And pray some more.
IF THEN, they felt led firmly to do the risky things, TO DO THEM FULLY AWARE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE . . . AND CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD BE WORTH IT--IF THEY COULD DO THAT, THEN GOD BLESS THEM. That doing right and Godly things carrys right and Godly harvests
One student not a Christan but who's family background was Christian went out and did an exceedingly courageous wonderful thing and paid very dearly. He did not regret his decision at all though it cost him enormously in suffering.
I Cor 12-14 is the Biblical model. We are to be iron sharpening iron. We are to submit one to another. We are to help bear one another's burdens. AND AT THE END, WE ALL STILL SEE THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY. That includes the head of the Roman group as well as the newest baby Christian. That includes all of us. It evidently pleases God to set it up this way.
It certainly keeps us humble and seeking Him.
Yes, many folks of a certain kind of psychology can give up on the dialogue, the dance, the tension of not having everything pinned down in obsessive compulsive specificity and certainty. Such folks tend to find very rigid, narrow, fossilized religious codes and groups to become a part of. Often they feel much more comfortable and in control.
But it's a delusion; an illusion.
Whether illusion or not, Life is very, VERY complex. Lots of explanations will seem right unto man yet lead to death.
The Israelites were much more comfortable and felt much safer having Moses pin down all the detailed specifics rather than each individual having to face God alone at the tent of meeting.
But that's not God's preference. He wants the individual dialogue AND HE HAS REQUIRED THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER--PEERS TO PEERS. I think it's about humility and learning to Love as He Loves.
This is a good example of the phenomenon in which I was raised. If one agrees with the "word", then it is from God. If one disagrees with it, then it is a "false word".
Yes, there's plenty of that in Pentecostalism. AND, THERE'S PLENTY IN NONPentecostalism--even in Romanism. It just happens in different venues, at different levels, with different ranks of leaders. It's still a human group seeing through a glass darkly and making pronouncements.
Sometimes I think the quakers had it best . . . wait until God moves on the whole group and makes consensus obvious supernaturally--even if it takes all night or all week.
The times that folks and even groups get it wrong is perhaps not the most surprising thing. It's the number of times that individuals and groups following I Cor 12-14 get it right. That's amazing in this complex world. Certainly amidst many Godly truly spiritual counselors there is wisdom and life.
But mostly, organizations foster deadiliness.
What leaders of such systems *really* want is for the people to follow them, to do as they say, all the while telling them (while sweeping the contradiction under the rug) that they just want the people to "trust God alone".
Romanism has plenty of such contradictions as well. There are more stereotyped, hierarchically buttressed and supported; enforced, applauded standard responses to mollify the sheep ABOUT such contradictions but there are plenty of them around.
Certainly leaders love followers following them. It's a very human thing very exemplified in the Roman group, as well--perhaps to the max. There's so much dust and wailing trying to demand all Christendom to follow them yet again.
Occasionally one finds someone who truly wants all they know to follow GOD ALONE. That person is priceless as they are led of The Spirit. Oswald Chambers was such a one.
The whole system is just self-worship dressed up in 'hearing from God' language. Gnosticism is the error of Lucifer, Eve, Korah, Simon Magus, Luther and Benny Hinn.
A long line of Popes was left off that list. And probably most of the Roman Bishops and Cardinals.
In each case the legitimate divinely appointed authorities [incarnate divine representatives] are spurned, and the agent takes to himself 'spiritual authority' and privilege he does not have, and attempts to get others to follow him. Knowing that he has no legitimate divinely instituted authority, he tempts us by telling us to listen to God alone, but then he tries very hard to get us to listen to him. Gnosticism was the first and greatest heresy the early Church faced. And now again in these times, it has returned with a vengeance. As in the Garden, once again it is luring man away from the Church's legitimate authorities to that great elixer of knowledge falsely so called, a 'higher', private, secret, 'spiritual knowledge' that can be had through oneself, by oneself, in oneself, directly 'from the Spirit'.
Certainly such ills plague the church--THE ROMAN BRANCH as much as any. But ORGANIZATIONAL GNOSTICISM IS NO ANSWER.