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Heavendweller -> RE: What is the worst thing to happen to Christanity? (4/2/2008 5:24:18 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Ps103
The worst thing that has happened? Same as in the NT: factions, dissention and in-fighting, which, rather than draw unbelievers to Christ not only pushed the unbelievers farther away (because, like Jesus said, people will know we are His followers by our love for one another, and we fail miserably in that), but also wounds those within the Body and pushes them out.
I am not talking about winking at sin, which we are not to do--I am talking about the near-constant bickering and one-upmanship that can be easily demonstrated by clicking on any thread in this folder.
Ps103:
Well said! While the early church of the several first centuries was faced with confronting heresy, the heresies were not as abundant and plentiful as they have been within Christendom for the past century. And the early church respected and held to the apostle's doctrine, which was then handed down, explained, reiterated and defended in the church councils. This Tradition preserved the Christian faith and spoke with one voice and in unity.
Today we have many traditions, many teachers, many Bible expositors all claiming adherence to the Holy Scriptures yet arguing ferociously with each other. I attribute this to Scripture alone enthusiasts who think that they can simply pick up the Bible and interpret it for themselves without any regard for the apostolic teaching and Tradition. Thus each person claims to use the scriptures to defend their position while intense disunity and disagreement reign.
And you are right, the threads on crosswalk.com are evidence of just that. Just try to get an answer on most any doctrine of the faith and guaranteed there is a plethora of opinions, all claiming the Scriptures as their defense.
Why is it necessary to re-interpret the faith with every generation? Sola scriptura enthusiasm, which was born out of the Reformation must take responsibility for this. Even Martin Luther made a remark near the end of his life to the effect that even the milk maids thought they knew better how to interpret the scriptures than the Church. So much for the perpescuity of scripture. So any Christian can think they have the God-given authority to pick up the Bible and interpret what it means.
Claiming scripture alone without holding to the teachings and proclamations of the early church councils is damaging to the unity of the body of Christ and to preserving orthodox doctrine.
HD
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