Posted on 08/20/2005 4:17:14 PM PDT by gscc
Lutheran leader calls for an ecumenical council to address growing biblical fundamentalism
Contributed by Religion News Service Thursday, 11 August 2005
The leader of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination has called for a global Christian council to address an "identity crisis" on how churches interpret and understand the Bible.
How can there be a "growing" problem of something that was more waidespread than it is now?
I am absolutely serious.
ping to my number 42
ping to my No. 42
From the article: "Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -- one of the UCC's partner denomations -- called for Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches to come together to combat a "fundamentalist-millenialist-apocalypticist reading of Scripture."
I think we should politely decline the invitation. I don't think that the "fundamentalist-millenialist-apocalypticist reading of Scripture" is nearly as problematic or dangerous as the new-age, homoerotic, radical feminist theology that seems to have taken hold in many "mainstream" Protestant sects.
I can work with and learn from someone with a strong scriptural background. There's not much I can do with someone whose theology changes by the nanosecond to conform with an ever-devolving sense of political correctness.
I have no doubt that if the radical left were to embrace the "virtues" of cannibalism next week, it would take some of their "mainstream" theological fellow travelers about two days to create some specious theological basis to justify it and promote it.
I'm not a biblical fundamentalist; I'm Catholic and glad of it. Given the choice between biblical fundamentalism and the alternatives likely to be proposed by this gentleman, I'll take biblical fundamentalism any day of the week.
How about some early Church Fathers.
I asked for scripture.
This is part of what would be called non-negotiable topics, I suppose. It's Tradition, that which was revealed and handed down. It's not something that can be changed.
They are closer to Christ and the Apostles than the Bible.
sola scriptura. I wonder which one that was? Hint: Martin Luther founded it.
FYI ping.
The authority to bind and loosen was given specifically to all the Apostles (Peter first, then to others), and to no one else. Those who, by the authority received from the Apostles, were appointed to continue the Apostolic ministry are the only ones who can, in turn, pass it on to others.
There can be no serious discussion with Protestants so long as they imply that the Church was in apostasy for the first 1500 of its 2000-year history. There can be no real discussion about our interpretation of the Bible so long as you use a different Old Testament then the one Apostles used.
I felt like now was not the time to bring that up.
Well said.
Source from the written Catholic Magisterium and Tradition, please. This is no way to approach the Prods - which is what this thread is all about. The Lutheran Bishop's appeal was addressed to the Vatican.
So if the wine actually becomes Jesus' blood and the bread actually becomes Jesus' flesh, then wouldn't that mean that Jesus is actually being sacrificed over and over and over again millions of times since the last supper?
That would contradict Hebrews 9:26, 10:10, 9:12, 7:27 and other verses that emphasize that "Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many..." Hebrews 9:28
How about this:
During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, "My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language 'Akeldama,' that is, Field of Blood. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.' And: 'May another take his office.' Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection."So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place." Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26)
Why should we expect the good bishop to respect the authority of an ecumenical council? We did that between 1545 and 1563 in a town called Trent. Recognize the pronouncements of the Council of Trent and then we can talk.
Martin Luther knew what the definition of "is" is, and to this day Lutherans hold the bread and wine of the Eucharist to be the body and blood of Christ—not just symbols.
Not quite. Lutherans believe in consubstantiation, i.e. that Christ is present with the bread and wine, that the substance of the bread and wine remain after the consecration. It would be as if our Lord had said: "Here is my Body," rather than "This is my Body." Catholics are the true literalists here in that we take our Lord's words at face value to mean that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, i.e. transubstantiation
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.