Posted on 11/10/2009 11:07:30 AM PST by GonzoII
Scenario: You’ve been talking with Bob, a fellow worker at the office, for weeks about the faith. You can see you’ve made headway in presenting him your biblical case for Catholicism. So you decide to invite him to an apologetics Bible study you have at your parish.
He agrees to come on one condition: You must first come to a Bible study at his “non-denominational” assembly for four weeks. Then he will come to your meeting for four weeks. Immediately, you jump at the chance. You’re fired up! The Lord has given you an open door for evangelism.
Upon arrival at Bob’s assembly, “Church of the Open Door,” Bob takes you to a room filled with about forty-five congenial people with Bibles in hand. After drinking punch, eating a few cookies, and talking small talk for a few moments, the leader of the group, Robert, asks everyone to find a seat so the Bible study can begin.
After a short prayer, Robert says the topic of study over the next four weeks will be salvation. But first, he says, “We must begin with the assumption that all present believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Sacred Scripture. And also that Sacred Scripture is the regula fidei or sole rule of faith for all believers. In other words, the doctrine of sola scriptura.”
You immediately raise your hand with a question. “Do you mind if I ask why you believe this seemingly foundational doctrine? I don’t believe sola scriptura to be true — in fact, I don’t believe that the Bible itself teaches such a doctrine at all.”
You hear a few subdued gasps and feel the eyes of all turn to you, as Robert quickly responds: “The Bible very plainly teaches sola scriptura in 2 Timothy 3:16...
(Excerpt) Read more at envoymagazine.com ...
If you don’t agree, why not just excuse yourself from the meeting?
The premise of the meetings was to explore and learn. That can't really take place when the conclusion must be reached before the lessons and discussions begin.
LOL! So, the Catholics mustn't share their faith? I've never seen an evangelical excuse himself when he thought he had something important to add to a Catholic Bible study (and yes, I am witness to such). I would think that a Bible study, of all places, would be an appropriate place to defend biblical notions. If they want to start their meeting with an unbiblical mandate, it should be discussed...
Does that entail that these things have no need of being expounded by proper authority, or we can just pick up the Bible and understand everything?
Excellent article, thank you for posting it Gonzo.
Christ established a Church, not a Book.
OK. So I’ve never jumped into one of these threads, but I’m game for anything.
If Christ established a Church, then what is its relationship to the Book?
You have asked multiple questions. First off when Christ said what He said about having foretold US all things HE was the proper authority. And it had already been penned by the chosen holy prophets that foretold US what would be. Even in Psalms 22 which Christ quoted while hanging upon that Cross.
Our Heavenly Father does not need us, we need Him and Christ is our 'vehicle' through which we were given to have access to the Heavenly Father. NOT any earthly organization that thinks they can make it up as they go along, or wrap in ancient traditions to increase the pew sitters.
By the time John wrote Revelation there were 7 churches. And from the Book, John penned what their ailments were and still are.
Who has the power of attorney now?
Mt:28:18-20: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Mt:28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Mt:28:20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
The Church is obedient to, and preacher of, and guardian of the Bible.
Those were local churches belonging to the one Church that Christ establshed.
I'll just add that it is the Church that is the pillar and ground of the truth.
Yes, there were at least 7 congregations of believers, 7 ecclesiae if you will. There were many more congregations however. For instance, the believers in Jerusalem, Philippi, and Thessalonika were not mentioned in John’s writing, amongst others.
Perhaps the question would be better asked - from whence does any church derive its authority? If from someplace other than the Word, why?
And the Catholic position on the individual and his/her relationship to Christ would be what? in regards to the Church?
Also, is there a verse that states that the foundation of truth is the Church?
I thought that the guidelines, ie the assumed beliefs, for the meeting were discussed first. Sorry
Sorry, I thought a mandate had been established.
And the Bible tells us in John 21:25 that "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."
So if the Bible says that it does not contain everything that Jesus did, it is not a complete authority on its own.
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