jo kus:"What does a Protestant base his faith on? His own interpretation of the Scriptures."
Actually, this is true statement concerning the Assemblies of God. Not all Protestant faiths are Sola Scriptura.
But most Protestants do not rely purely on their own interpretation of the Holy Bible. Most of the mainline Protestant denominations rely on creeds, Confessions, and catechisms that have been handed down through many centuries. These are not whimsical interpretations, but precepts that have been debated and discerned throughout the ages (much akin to the RC church).
Of course, all this must be taken with the understanding that men are fallible (something the Roman Catholic Church needs to learn). The Scriptures are THE authority. I think even the Catholic church would agree with this for the most part. I don't think the Catholic Church would say the Scriptures are in error - I think they merely maintain that some Protestant leaders have wrongly interpreted Scripture.
"The Scriptures are THE authority. I think even the Catholic church would agree with this for the most part."
The Catholic Church agrees with that in every particular.
"I don't think the Catholic Church would say the Scriptures are in error - I think they merely maintain that some Protestant leaders have wrongly interpreted Scripture."
That, and they have chopped a big part of them right out of the Bibles they use.
It's just not the case that anyone can read the Bible and understand it correctly all on his own. Even something as well-known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son I didn't understand correctly until in my late forties. (I always thought the older brother kind of had a point.)
Thanks for playing, but you are incorrect. The Assemblies of God doctrine is on display at
There are much more well positioned points of attack with which you can assault my Denomination without having to make up a silly falsehood such as each person in the Assemblies of God bases his faith on his own interpretation of the scripture. =)
I have heard some Protestants redefine what Sola Scriptura is, but never the above. But I'll take your word on that for now, as that is not our current issue.
Most of the mainline Protestant denominations rely on creeds, Confessions, and catechisms that have been handed down through many centuries. These are not whimsical interpretations, but precepts that have been debated and discerned throughout the ages (much akin to the RC church).
OK, so some Protestants rely on Tradition. However, what is the SOURCE of this tradition? It is men like Luther and Calvin, men who interpreted the Sciptures out of line with the Traditions of their Fathers in Faith. Thus, eventually, you must posit your faith on the interpretations of a private person, and sadly, at odds with what came before for 1500 years or more (such as the Eucharist)
It has ALWAYS been the accepted idea that Christ would guide His Church into truth - that the Spirit would guide them when they came together and defined the faith. For example, Acts 15:28 - "...and it seemed good to us AND THE SPIRIT". Ephesians 2 says that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets - meaning that we rely on their accurate passing down of the teachings of God, whether they be from the OT or directly from Christ in the NT. God is guaranteeing us men that the faith we have received is accurate. God doesn't protect Church men from sin, but He does protect His Church from error - the Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. If we can't trust the Apostles and their successors, HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE GOD'S WORD IN THE BIBLE???
That is one of the many questions where I had to answer - either I would be Catholic, or not Christian at all. You either trust these men who gave us the Scriptures and oral teachings from Christ, or you don't - and then the Bible can't be trusted either. That is the inexorable conclusion that comes from refusing to become Catholic.
Brother in Christ
But there is for the most part no central authority. No Methodist or Presbyterian Pope so to say. We see that even a Protestant Church that affirms the creeds and has a clear statement of faith is being divided by controversy. A good example is the issue of non celibate homosexuals in the minsitry and whether to accept to blessing of same sex unions. Look at how many mainline Protestant denominations support abortion. Look at how many think liberal politics is the mission of the church rather than the Gospel of Jesus. I pray for all Protestants who are holding fast to the faith as given in Scripture and affirmed in the creeds. But more and more it seems they are being put aside in the name of appeasing the secular culture.