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To: Teófilo; YellowRoseofTx; Rashputin; StayoutdaBushesWay; OldNewYork; MotherRedDog; sayuncledave
I have said many times before that the decline among the US mainline Protestant churches (Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, etc.) is due to their embrace of secular values and pseudomorality.

Teo, I agree with the above. Completely. As an ordained elder in the Methodist (UMC) Church, I would fully endorse every word in the above.

However, your analysis of the root of that embrace, an analysis based on what I believe is a misunderstanding of the Solas, can never be correct if the understanding of them is skewed. I don't think there is any intentional misunderstanding. I think there is simply misunderstanding.

Sola Scriptura is not premised on just any old hermeneutics one feels like using. It must be a spiritually and ecclesiastically acceptable, rational, historic, and comprehensive hermeneutic. It must recognize as well that the scriptures are the words of the Apostles and the Prophets, and that they are, therefore, authoritative.

A Sola Fide that does not distinguish between the salvific moment and the continuing weakness of the flesh (sinful nature) is a salvation that is doomed to failure for "if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." In other words, one cannot focus on good deeds and ignore bad deeds which are predetermined by our nature to happen.

I would call your "free examen" the "priesthood of believers", and there is no priesthood of believers that teaches individualism -- individual religion -- that is not subsumed under an Ecclesiastical structure. In other words, there is no "individual Christianity", that is to say, no "lone wolf" Christianity. Jesus, Himself, founded the Church, and Christians are to be Church Christians. Nor is there sacramental individualism in any church that is not based on "in extremis" situations.

Sola Gratia has received acceptance from the Catholic Church. The Joint Declaration on Justification by Faith says,

15.In faith we together hold the conviction that justification is the work of the triune God. The Father sent his Son into the world to save sinners. The foundation and presupposition of justification is the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ. Justification thus means that Christ himself is our righteousness, in which we share through the Holy Spirit in accord with the will of the Father. Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.[11]

Allow me to be clear that there are still quibbles on both sides regarding some of the emphases, but there is also acceptance of the basic premise that "God Saves, and we don't save ourselves."

14 posted on 07/24/2012 4:00:50 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins

Thank you, Chaplain, for your input. As long as we can talk, we’ll talk! That’s a very important thing.

God bless,
~Theo


36 posted on 07/25/2012 6:13:23 AM PDT by Teófilo (Visit Vivificat! - http://www.vivificat.org - A Catholic Blog of News, Commentary and Opinion)
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