Saved by Christ; Gospel, Missions, Bible teacher; Apologetics, Theology, church history. Desiring that Muslims as people come to know the true Messiah المسیح
< chortle >. Monks have beaten each other silly over such things for centuries and you sit there and glibly say "Oh, the church could resolve the question...we just haven't gotten around to it yet." That's like seriously suggesting Rome COULD write an infallible commentary on Scripture and resolve all questions, right? It's just such a hassle! :-)
@CheekyJesterton@HwsEleutheroi@Cath_SteelMan Where can one find these infallible interpretations? Can you provide me a full detailed list? While you're at it, can you tell me the official position on Thomism vs Molinism? If not, why not?
Yes, yes, of COURSE "councils, dogmas, and the Magisterium!" Please, how can you be so blind? I can walk on the campus of Boston College today and get a DOZEN interpretations of every dogma, every council, every magisterial statement. You just are unwilling to recognize that every dogma *must be interpreted*. Every council *must be interpreted*. Every Magisterial statement *must be interpreted*. In fact, someone has to even tell you which such statements are meant to be fully authoritative! And here's the kicker: the answer to those questions might just change within your lifetime! Or even worse, right after you die! Your elaborate system accomplishes *nothing* and does NOT give you the vaunted certainty you wield as a sword against the *ontologically unique* nature of Scripture.
If I had the time, producing an AI graphic of the wide ranging views on all sorts of topics within Romanism would be enjoyable. A graphic with Tucho Fernandez next to some Traditionalist bishop could produce some humorous contrasts! But they just don't get that they use one standard for everyone outside, and another for those "inside." Or maybe they do and just don't care too much about it.
@TTom13 Yeah, that's the humorous part, really. He can pretend his Magisterium is all so lovey and unified while they are light years apart but then make a graphic like that. Self-deception is real.
Oh, but it is the point. I have never gotten Roman Catholics to defend their actual positive claim of authority. They will only attack the sufficiency of God's inspired Word, they will not defend their own claims. Your system produces Boston College and Father James Martin, along with Francis and now Leo---with Tucho Fernandez in the background. It is simply ridiculous to pick on differences in phraseology when your system produces a HUNDRED TIMES the width of expression and difference. In fact, it is simply hypocritical. And by the way, the point is that Scripture is ontologically unique in its nature, and hence the sole infallible rule of faith, NOT that this reality will end all doctrinal dispute. Please live up to your nick name and try for a little consistency.
USA: A street preacher confronts an apostate “pastor” participating in a pride parade.
Well done.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20
Many people ask me: When did you come to know Christ? Was it before or after you left the Roman Catholic Church? But then come the accusations:
—“You were never well catechized.”
—“You’re a heretic.”
—“You left the "one true Church" after knowing the truth and will suffer eternal judgment.”
—“You became Protestant because you wanted an easier faith.”
—"You became protestant because you were continuing to sin"
None of that is true.
I was raised Catholic, taught the Baltimore Catechism, and was in pre-seminary formation. I didn't leave because I stopped believing in Christ. I left because I became convinced the gospel is clearer, freer, and more securely grounded in Scripture than in the system in which I was raised.
Today, fifty years later, I remain Protestant by conviction.
Here is what I believe, why I remain Protestant, and how I still affirm the core truths of historic Christianity.
https://t.co/84RgqSe1UI
This is why I usually send a longer article when asked about the Protestant argument for the origin and recognition of the canon of Scripture.
The question cannot be answered responsibly in a few lines on X. It involves inspiration, apostolicity, reception, providence, the role of the church, and the difference between recognizing the canon and creating it.
But when the reply begins, “I don’t have time to read,” that usually tells me something important: the person does not really want a thoughtful answer. He wants an argument.
The Protestant claim is not that the church “gave authority” to Scripture, nor that every believer invents his own canon by private intuition. The claim is that God inspired the Scriptures, providentially preserved them, and caused them to be received by his church. The church recognized the canon; it did not confer inspiration upon it.
So yes, the canon is a serious question. But it is not answered by pretending Rome solves the problem merely by asserting ecclesial authority. That only moves the question back one step: how do you infallibly know which church has that authority, and by what non-circular standard?
If someone wants a serious answer, I’m happy to provide one. But “I don’t have time to read” is not an argument.
Here is a link to an article I wrote on Substack that summarizes the protestant answer to the question of the origin and development of the Canon of Scripture. https://t.co/R6BNO3Qwsi