Posted on 06/08/2018 8:54:57 AM PDT by Salvation
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). Generally, one ought to be leery of claims that things work “alone.” Typically, many things work together in harmony; things are interrelated. Very seldom is anyone or anything really “alone.”
The problem with “solos” emerges (it seems to me) in our mind, where it is possible to separate things out; but just because we can separate something out in our mind does not mean that we can do so in reality.
Consider, for a moment, a candle’s flame. In my mind, I can separate the heat of the flame from its light, but I could never put a knife into the flame and put the heat of the flame on one side of it 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 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. Attempting to separate them from what they belong to leads 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 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 section.
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 caricaturing the other’s position. Catholics do not and never have taught that we are 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 that they do.
What concerns us here is the detachment of faith from works that the phrase “faith alone” implies. 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 that’s a Catholic thing! 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 can only be separated from works in our minds. If faith is a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ, we cannot enter into that relationship while remaining unchanged. 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 they are not easily observed.
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 faith at all because faith does not exist by itself; it 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) – By its very nature grace changes us. Again, show me grace apart from works. Grace without works is an abstraction. It 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) – 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.
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 because the Scriptures were not even fully written in the earliest years. And although collected and largely completed in written form by 100 AD, the set of books and letters that actually made up the New Testament was not agreed upon until the 4th century.
Second, until recently most people could not read.
Given this, it seems 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 necessarily a read text, 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.
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 Scripture is not to be read alone. It is 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 from Timothy says, the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth. The Bible is a Church book and thus 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.
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.sss
The Bible says so — find it.
I quote the author and post this in the same spirit.
** I am aware that there are non-Catholic readers of this blog, so please understand that my objections are made with respect.**
Did you read the complete article?
Did you read the entire essay today and watch the entire video? With an open mind, of course.
Matt 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. In His parting words to his disciples He said,
Mark 16:16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.
Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 16:27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
Matt 19:16 Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matt 22:37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matt 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matt 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
Fwiw, Phin is Jewish.
My last post ended up towards the wrong person; pardon my error.
You seem unfamiliar with the meaning “contradiction”.
The very fact that ‘Scripture was defined and compiled via tradition.’ illustrates the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Then I take it that you, as well as all Protestant ministers, will refrain from interpreting Scripture for others and leave Catholics to interpret it for themselves in accord with what the Church has always taught. The truth is that Protestants are just as bound to their own traditions of interpretation as any Catholic.
Okay, first, as I’m sure many people are aware, there aren’t tens of thousands of Protestant denominations. This article from the National Catholic Register confirms as such. The source for that claim is faulty, also listing hundreds of Catholic denominations:
Second, this Catholic priest misstates what Protestants understand and believe about faith.
We hold to works, everything God directs Christians to do in His Word, but in the end, those works are just forms of faith.
God’s Word says whatever is not of faith is sin.
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
God’s Word also contrasts faith with pride (which makes perfect sense given what we know of Satan and human sinfulness):
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
So, works done within faith are simply faith, while works done outside of faith are of the flesh, of the world, and not of God.
And then another way to put it is this, faith and belief are often used virtually interchangeably in the Bible. And what do we contrast belief with? Unbelief! So are works done in unbelief pleasing to God?
Consider these verses, too, from Titus 3:
“4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
Then also these verses from Romans 10:
“8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Faith and belief (or unbelief) are in people’s hearts, and when a person does have faith in and believe in the Lord, that will lead to acting righteously.
We should also consider, too, that James seemed to be writing on faith and works correctivley, to chastise Christians whose hearts weren’t right with God because the faith they professed didn’t show in their lives.
Overall, the question is, when Catholics say, “faith plus works,” are they saying works done OUTSIDE of faith?
Christians certainly acknowledge that the Pharisees wore these items. We believe that Jesus was absolutely honest, and that the New (and Old) Testaments are inerrant, inspired Scripture. Jesus would not have worn such accoutrements bc He was not a Pharisee.
And what’s your point?
I believe all of those; I also believe Romans 3, Ephesians 2, Romans 11, John 3, 1 John 1 and 2...
Do you believe the entirety of Scripture or just the bits that support what you want to believe?
Your religion teaches that a priest commands Jesus to come to the Catholic altar and continue to be sacrificed. That is paganism writ large in Catholicism, and you would see that clearly if you were familiar with Jesus and what He spoke during His ministry, including to John on Patmos.
Your ignorance makes you easy prey for the nicolaiten way.
This statement stands in direct contradiction to Scripture itself:
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God [literally: God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
I don't think those two sentences are contradictory in any way.
As you rightly point out, God "inspired" (ie breathed) the scriptures, which somehow got written down and compiled, with false scriptures being rejected. The original commenter believes that tradition was the mechanism for this process. You may think that there was some other process that did not involve tradition but that would not mean that the two sentences are contradictory, but just that you think the original commenter interprets it incorrectly.
Incidentally, I'm curious as to what you believe the process by which Christian scripture was reduced to writing and compiled was.
Also by the way, I think it's unfortunate that English uses the German-root verb "breathe" instead of the Latin root "respire" (whereas we use respiration for the noun form), because in ordinary speech we lose the beauty of the connection between inspiration and breath that you point out in your comment.
My “point” is that those verses cite the clear necessity of faith AND works, not faith alone.
They are the words of both Paul and Christ which contradict your assertion.
You are the one cherry picking to make your point while ignore all of the scripture to the contrary.
Excellent!!
Really? Did Jesus tell His Apostles to wait upon the Spirit Who would show them all things to write?
Disagree with you there. I believe that the Holy Spirit actively inspired AND preserved Scripture every step of the way. Otherwise God’s promises contained within Scripture are lies, and as Paul, speaking in the Spirit, said:
May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”
Romans 3:4
If I remember correctly, Rome teaches that after baptism, works earn extra grace.
This is the exact opposite of the definition of grace as seen in Romans 11.
In Scripture (Ephesians 2, among others) we are judged by our works, but our works are proof of faith and grace. In the same way that we know that water is boiling because the molecules are excited from heat, so are good works done by believers because they have God’s grace through faith.
It would have been pointless for the Holy Spirit to inspire Scripture and then retreat to a passive, detached position to allow an errant and faulty process to take over. Either the Holy Spirit inspired AND preserved Scripture, or we can never be sure if what is in the Bible is the Word of God or the product of fallen man’s tradition.
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