"EC: Each Christian has the need to read Holy Scripture, yet each Christian does not also have the authority or ability to teach and interpret the words of Scripture. This privileged authority is reserved for the Church via its holy clergy and theologians, men who are instructed in and knowledgeable of the true faith. When we consider how our Saviour gave the grace of teaching to His Holy Apostles (Mat. 28:20) and not to the masses it is easy for us to see that the prerogative to teach is held only by the bishops, priests and theologians of our Church."
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Pretty poor interpretation of Mat. 28:20.
"Pretty poor interpretation of Mat. 28:20."
Really? I suppose then we ought to be thankful that after about 1500 years asleep at the switch while the Fathers wrote under the inspiration of the Evil One, the Holy Spirit finally woke up and inspired the Protestant Reformers to just can what The Church had taught from the beginning, before they got angry over the sale of indulgences?
EC: Each Christian has the need to read Holy Scripture, yet each Christian does not also have the authority or ability to teach and interpret the words of Scripture. This privileged authority is reserved for the Church via its holy clergy and theologians, men who are instructed in and knowledgeable of the true faith.
(1) The premise of the elder's statement flies in the face of John's first letter.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
-- 1 John 2:27 (KJV)
AND... New Living Translation:
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true - it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ.
--1 John 2:27 (NLT)
(2) The "true faith" is our personal relationship with the Lord; NOT the propagation of extraordinary religious rites or rituals for the sake of tradition.
The Lord has called us to the waters of baptism and the table of remembrance. The rest of "orthodoxy" should be cautiously approached and carefullyt examined in light of the whole (Biblical) counsel of God.
(Paul is speaking...) For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. --Acts 20:27
The good Elder missed it on this one. Perhaps in his day, the literacy rate and other cultural propensities brought him to this conclusion -- but his conclusions create a great and unintended tension in the expression of Christian faith and the Lord's clearly stated intention for the life and ministry of the Living Body.
Because God's love has drawn our hearts through Christ; Through to a great commitment to the Great Commandment, we can enthusiastically embrace the Great Commission.