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
Christian songs that tell us a story or relate passages from The Word of God are what I appreciate at my age.
Pardon me for rewording this, but do yu not think that is even more fitting, eh?
Catholicism thrives on superstition.
But that Org and its apologists would never admit that as they finger the beads and chant the mantras and feel secret pride in their fealty to the rituals.
Thanks for that insight, Mark. I have heard that in the Caribbean, Central, and South America culture-related superstition is just tacked on to that which already exists. Voodoo, etc.
I used to live in Del Rio, Tx. It is right on the border. We used to go to Mexico too. Mexico is the same way. Catholic on the surface, but VERY superstitious. Here in the Philippines, I heard my mother in law say, you better watch out, or you will get pinched by a dwarf. After years of hearing this, I finally found out the truth about it.
With learning and troubleshooting, whenever possible I like to do a “good/bad” comparison to see what and how things are different. It helps me to better understand what I’m looking at.
Do you have any specific examples of vain repetitions that the actual heathens were doing so I can compare? I need more data.
Another thing? In human law, we recognize the concept of “intent”.
I wonder, is it possible whether repetition is vain or not depends upon one’s intent, as much as it does the material one is repeating?
From what little I know of meditation, the intention is to tame self by quieting one’s internal dialogue and all of its static and noise.
Seriously, how can God get in a word edgewise, especially in His still, small voice, if our mind(s) never stops talking, right?
The repetition works to silence one’s inner dialogue by willing it to focus on something specific.
Meditation using Scripture or prayers or even His Name alone are all focusing attention on God or something, aspect, trait, whatever, of God.
To me, using the Rosary as intended, purposes-wise, seems, at minimum, to be an exercise to tame and strengthen one’s will, and the Rosary beads are kinda like using an abacus to count reps, same as while lifting weights or counting laps while running around the track.
So, as someone with a fair amount of gym and dojo time doing various forms of strength and physical training, l tend to understand these repetitive things, not as “vain repetitions as the heathens do”, whatever that is, but are repetitive exercises for spiritual strength training.
I really don’t know. Honestly, I don’t, but that’s how it appears to me, based upon study, observation and personal experience.
Ymmv...
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/06/hillarys_intent__what_james_comey_missed.html
In human law, we recognize the concept of “intent”.
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With your post on confirmation bias and this about one face of evil that owns US, you have done everyone who reads your posts a great service.
I have a friend, one of those truly good hearted people you’re lucky to meet, who is hard core liberal in his mind. He and his wife believe the liberals are the good guys in the war for the nation. He loves everyone in the demonrat party, especially obama and Hillary, as his side’s champions against evil.
Otoh, he absolutely hates all TV preachers, mostly because they all ask for donations at some point during the broadcast and one of his dearly departed used to send donations to someone, I forget which, maybe Jim and Tammy. I dunno, but it was in that timeframe.
His bottom line is, money and preaching just don’t mix and getting old people to give you their money is wrong.
So I ask him about how so many of his favorite politicians go into DC as paupers and come out millionares and multimillionaires, some with mega rich foundations.
“What are they selling to get so rich?” I ask, but get no answer.
At some level, I think he knows. It’s just like the author says: Hillary sold us. The Clintons have become rich selling US, the U.S. of us.
But that can’t be, the data is wrong. Snopes is right. The majority mass of media is right and the one and only dissenting voice of republican Fox fake News is wrong.
He will look at whatever is shown to him, gotta give him that, but his trusted sources, the ones he’s known and trusted through everything big and small since childhood, they say it’s all lies, political lies by those evil republicans and the biggest, most hated, evil liar that’s ever been: TRUMP!!!
The spiritual war is real and Satan is the master trickster, just like the Bible says. And based upon my data, we must be close to something major.
Everywhere I look at the world I used to understand, I see how evil has in some way purchased good, and then used the credibility of that good to further itself.
Wolves in sheep’s clothing, indeed. And next on the demonrat democracy’s itinerary?
The wolves and their sheep will be voting on what to have for lunch.
For their sakes and ours, it’s a very good thing that their dinner party was interrupted before dinner could be served!
And those wolves are hungry, too! No wonder they’re so angry now, and their anger is going to get a lot worse before the summer is over.
Backed into their self-created coffin corner, the intensity of their warfare against their enemy will hit new levels of insanity, here and abroad.
It’s not over yet, but the Trump card has been dealt against them in an end game that’s been very well played.
Fwiw, with everything, so much depends upon the perspective of the beholder and “vain repetition” seems to be one of those.
Does that mean that the act itself that is in vain or is it the repetition itself that is in vain?
Or, does it mean that the act is okay, but the heathens were doing it wrong. The act is being done is cool, but was in vain because it was being done incorrectly? Not from the heart, or was done with the wrong motive or whatever. I don’t know.
Or is it the act itself the heathens were doing was in vain, period, no matter how many times or perfectly they or anyone else did it? What makes a sinner a heathen sinner?
To me, most of what I have are questions and theories. Other than a few Laws that govern the world, to me, everything else is theory. Everything.
One Law, or maybe it’s a rule, not sure, is the Hierarchy.
Everywhere I look I see examples of the hierarchy, especially so with knowledge. And, just as in every hierarchy, the higher the level, the higher the “power”, so to speak.
As such, it takes energy/power to go up to the next level and you give up energy/power when you go down levels.
One can only see the view/understand things from the level of the hierarchy you’re on, as well as those lower than you, but never any level higher. In fact, generally, our awareness can only see that there is a next level beyond the one we’re on. What it is or what’s above that are beyond our comprehension.
So, we can be a low info or high info whatever, but it’s the power of the info itself that is most important. Seek quality first, then quantity.
Regarding the supernatural aspects of this world and the next that the accepted Sciptures speak of and speak to, the Catholics seem to have a better spiritual library or knowledge than the Protestants do, generally speaking, and the knowledge is the more powerful first or second hand level info.
So far, to me, Protestants tend to dismiss all such data out of hand, generally as heresies and false prophecies from Satan.
Ultimately, their belief won’t go into those libraries to see for itself, nor will it allow others to go in, either. A scriptural curiosity for which I have several working theories.
To me, I tend to see the commonality between the martial arts for combat in the physical world and those for combat in the spiritual world.
In both cases, the practitioner is taught to master self and train both the will and physical body.
In the martial arts, the student learns various forms and repeatedly practices them as an excercise to master the inner self and the physical self in the process of learning the movements of that art.
I see praying the Rosary as being like a spiritual workout on a cosmic Universal machine. It’s something a peaceful warrior, a spiritual martial artist, uses to train, the same as the various katas are physical workouts that a phyical world martial artist uses to train.
And, just as there are many forms and styles of martial arts for physical mastery and combat, I see the same is true for the spiritual arts.
We have many forms and styles, if you will, in the three major branches of Christianity, from which many more have branched out.
In both martial and spiritual arts, the forms and styles have their own organizations and practices, differentiating themselves in their personal understanding, focus and practices.
A common conversation regarding each, especially among the practicitioners themselves, is which form is best, with everyone favoring their own form and style as being the best of the rest. Exactly the same.
However, in the martial arts, organizations the MMA put those arguments to the test in the ring for all to see. In actual practice, it turns out that no one is better than another, but that “better” depends upon both situation and practitioner.
Generally speaking, the best fighter is the most well rounded, the one who is the master of many forms and styles.
Bruce Lee more or less told us that a more open minded, not specialized, approach to the martial arts was correct and the MMA’s more realistic testing eventually made us see that he was right.
My theory, as almost everything is a theory to me, is the same is also true for the spiritual arts, that no one “style” is best for everything.
The MMA parallel suggests to me that the most well rounded peaceful warrior would be a master of Unity, respectful and knowledgeable of all forms and styles within the JudeoChristian spiritual arts.
The ‘ground’ must be plowed with mysticism in order for the advent of Chrislam to succeed ... unless The Holy Spirit in believers leaves this planet with the born again. The Holy Spirit will still be transporting an uncountable number to Heaven for the Marriage Feast of The Lamb, but He will not be indwelling as He is during this Age of Grace. ‘All foods are lawful but not all foods build up the body of believers.
In fact, that’s one area where I sometimes wonder/worry that I might be doing things wrong.
I tend to use the same words and phrases to say thanks for the same things day after day.
I hope those don’t become just a form of rote repetition without thought or feeling.
I have to watch out for that one, as sometimes my mind wanders if/when things become habitual.
I finally figured out that it’s more about the relationship we each have with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit than what any of us do, right or wrong.
It’s all on us. We either want it or we don’t and that truth Is revealed by what we do. Can’t fake that.
Thanks again!
I now know for sure that the best food and drink comes directly from the source, or as close as you can get. Probably a universal kind of principle.
Speaking of, I like how the Protestants chose to go around the middle men to seek their own understanding.
Otoh, they eventually came up with their own forms of middle men, so to speak, that are different, but every bit the equal of what they left.
Buckaroo Banzai wasn’t the first to say it, but he was right: No matter where you go, there you are.
Whatever the reason(s) for leaving, no matter where you go, there you are...eventually. Been there, done that a few times, too.
Stringless sugar snap peas ... blanched they are candy from God’s Garden.
I’m kicking myself for not planting a garden this year.
Snap peas are one of those God-given wonders that for some reason never seem to complete the journey from the garden to the kitchen.
They just disappear somehow along the way. It’s like...a mystery, or something. I dunno...can’t explain it.
They sure are good, though, I do know that!
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