“What do you do when the Scripture does not say anything?”
More often than not the Scriptures are far more relevant than we realize. They require more than half-hearted interest and vague familiarity. We are instructed to meditate on God’s Word day and night. When there is no specific command of scripture, the principles set forth in them still are our guide.
For example, the command not to murder applies to many situations. The Bible does not need to prohibit poisoning, hanging, or shooting to death a person in cold blood. The general command is broad enough.
But I think I see what you mean. The Bible does not specifically tell me what kind of car I should buy or drive. However, this decision can be based on Biblical teaching such as the importance of frugality, avoiding the financial entanglement of debts, humility, serving others, etc. God also has provided many resources to help us. We have the Holy Spirit. We have various authorities to guide and protect. These include family, government, and local church leaders. God often leads us to wise counselors and guides us through circumstances. He also gives us wisdom when we ask. (In His grace He often gives us when we don’t ask.)
“Our bishops are not apostles, but are descendants of them in a line of consecrations. This is a historical fact, test away.”
But you are answering to the fact that Scripture directs the followers of Christ to validate the legitimacy of the claims of divinely given authority. Titles are not the issue. Apostles, prophets, teachers, elder / bishops, or any other have tests that must be passed. The church has always had to defend against claims of divinely appointed spiritual authority up to and including false claims of writings claiming to be from an apostle such as Paul, as well as those who even claim “I am Christ”, which our Lord warned us of.
When the some in Corinth questioned Paul’s authority, he did not merely say he should not be questioned. He laid out the evidence. He was a witness of the resurrection. He was directly taught by Christ. He performed signs of an apostle. He performed the ministerial work of an apostle. He had the commendation of an apostle. He suffered as an apostle. His ministry produced the spiritual fruit of apostolic labor and teaching. Yet he still said that it would be the duty of believers to reject his message or the message of anyone else, including heavenly angels, if they ever contradicted the authorized message:
Galations 1:7-9
...there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed...
If Paul insists on such a test of authority, do you think those who claim even less authority are exempt?
What if a bishop disqualifies himself from service? There are essential requirements of the bishopric laid out in scripture. If one apostatizes do you claim he keeps the authority of his office?
1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Titus 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
If the Bible commands believers to separate from professed believers who commit sins against the body of Christ (such as fornication and idolatry), do you think bishops or other church leaders are held to a lower standard?
James 3:1
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Luke 12:48
...For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
(See also 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 mentioned in my previous post.)
“When there are two reasonable interpretations, you have to recourse to something extra scriptural.”
You would have to be more specific for me to know how you intend to apply this approach for me to either agree or disagree. While a statement like this could be true in a certain context, it is also possible to make true statements that are used to later justify actions that are not originally intended. If Satan can twist and use scripture, our words can certainly be misused even if they are true, correct and well-intentioned.
“Your claims of being ‘willing to be obedient to the Holy Ghost’ is a meaningless phrase, which anyone, including — with greeater authority — any Catohlic prelate can make.”
It is not meaningless, since it represents what Christ said about our willingness to obey and what He said about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. However, you have a valid point about anyone being able to SAY they are willing and guided by God’s Spirit. That being the case, this claim does not alone carry authority. It is similar to Christ forgiving sins. Anyone could say “your sins are forgiven”, but it would not necessarily be true. On the other hand, He validated His power to forgive sins by a display of supernatural healing. Likewise, we can examine the fruit of the lives of those making a claim to be led of the Holy Spirit.
“nowhere does it say that Christ could not alsoo save His mother from any sin”
Well that is kind of my point. All evidence supports that Mary was a true believer and disciple of the Lord. Christ’s sinlessness was due to His intrinsic righteousness and holiness - His divine nature. It was not due to Mary. Mary was made perfect by the Saving blood of Christ in the same way we, who also have faith in Christ, are made perfect.
No one will enter Heaven except those who are as sinless as Christ. Fortunately, His righteousness is imputed to us through the channel of faith and on the basis of God’s grace. Mary, as we know, was partaker of that same grace.
Matthew 5:20
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 21:27
But there shall by no means enter [the heavenly city] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Right. So we can apply biblical principles and factual knowledge with reason and reach solid conclusions. So why is it, again, that we cannot apply biblical principles and factual knowledge with reason and reach solid conclusions about Mary's immaculate conception, lifelong virginity, and assumption into heaven?
test of authority
St Paul also says that he who hasn't been sent cannot preach (Romans 10:15), and in fact Christ did send His Apostles (Mark 16:15) as himself (Luke 10:16, John 20:21). Further, St. Paul urges Titus and Timothy to consecrate others. Hence, valid apostolic succession is a part of that test. Naturally, obedience to the gospel is another part of the test, and prelates who fall to heresy are removed from office. Protestant ministers fail the first part to the one; they fail the second part if they preach unscriptural fantasies such as salvation by faith alone, authority of the Bible alone, or various Calvinist fallacies.
You would have to be more specific for me to know how you intend to apply this approach for me to either agree or disagree
This is a general logical proposition: if X is not sufficient to answer Y then the answer to Y is to be sought outside of X.
can examine the fruit of the lives of those making a claim to be led of the Holy Spirit.
Right. On this basis a teaching by a canonized saint whose life was martyred or was an example of holiness, and was examined thouroughly for obedience to the gospel has a greater weight than speculation of someone who made no sacrifices to teach, and often makes a comfortable living doing so.
Christ’s sinlessness was due to His intrinsic righteousness and holiness - His divine nature. It was not due to Mary
I never heard anyone suggest otherwise.