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re: my boy problems (almost no OtR)
>From: Mark Utley <mau222 at isoc_net>
> >
>Which, if I may be so bold, has a lot to do with the Catholic position
>against the idea of "sola scriptura" or "scripture alone" as a viable
>method of interpretation. Catholics hold that one uses scripture along
>with two centuries of Tradition and the authority of the Church to
>determine meaning.
Thanks Mark. I considered bringing this up, but decided against it. As for
the authority of the church, to those who refuse to acknowledge it I would
suggest that history supports the need for the church to interpret
scripture. When the Bible was first written the printing press hadn't even
been invented. Since most of the population couldn't obtain a copy of
scripture, let alone read it if they did, the church was an absolute
necessity. (It didn't just interpret it, but safeguarded and disseminated
it as well.) Of course, I think proof of authority goes deeper than even
that, since I think Christ established the church as part of his "mission",
but that point is debatable. (Not an invitation.)
If one is
>looking for one major reason for the exponential growth and proliferation
>of Protestant and "non-denominational" Christian churches over the last few
>centuries, one need look no further than the question of authority on
>matters of scriptural interpretation. If the Bible alone is the be-all and
>end-all of divine
>revelation, and if it falls to the individual believer to interpret solely
>on his or her own, then why not simply form one's own church when one
>disagrees with the interpretation of someone else?
I love my protestant brothers and sisters, but often I feel so divided from
them because they can't see this simple truth you so eloquently outline.
Sometimes, they cling so steadfastly to these disagreements that any attempt
to find commonality with them is all but futile. This is sad, because we
have Jesus in common.
And Jesus, my dear "sibblings", is everything...
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