The Bible Alone?

[WHITE LIFE]

Many people follow the doctrine of Solo Scriptura. This doctrine claims that the "Bible Alone" is the authority in matters of faith.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that there is Sacred Tradition that goes along side Sacred Scriptures – and that you cannot have one without the other.

I respect the people that have both these beliefs, and it would be interesting to hear from some people as to which way they see things.

[Ali Blue]

Well... I kinda believe in the "Sola Scriptura" thing.. But I'm willing to listen to other insights as long as they don't go against anything in the Bible and only if they're not totally abstract and just don't make any sense for Christianity or our beliefs or anything. If there's something questionable that is outside the Bible, I drop it. Better not believe it and stick with the Bible than go against God. I don't know if that really makes a whole lot of sense..

[WHITE LIFE]

Thanks Ali - and yes, you make perfect sense.
I don't believe in anything that goes against the teachings of the Bible - and I think that is important.
Equally important, however, is that we find the "Fullness of Truth" that is taught in the Bible.
Many times, it seems, some people pick and choose as if faith is some sort of cafeteria selection.
For instance, the Bible teaches that personal interpretation is not an acceptable way of dealing with the scriptures (see 2 Pet. 1:20-21, 3:15-16). But, how many people do we know that say "Well, this means this or this means that." - and yet, it goes against what the teachings of the Church are.
It is a great gift that God gave us the Church to act in an official manner to interpret the scriptures. I don't know about you, but I know alot of people that think that the Bible is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth". Yet when we look in the Bible at 1 Tim 3:15 we see that it is the "Church" that is the "pillar and foundation" of the truth.
I'll quote it here to save you from having to look it up...

15
But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

I guess my main point is that most Christians want to do what Jesus has in His Will for us. We can know what that is if we follow His instructions that aren't necessarily in how we personally interpret the scriptures so much as how the scriptures are taught to us by the Church that He established, and not in some man-made church.
Do you agree?

[Joan Omnipresent]

No.

;-)

[Ali Blue]

I don't think the church is necessarily always right, but that's because we're all just human.. I think people take what the church says for granted too much. We need to test and retest what other people tell us because there is always a possibility that they are wrong.
I follow God and the Bible, that's all that I can rest my faith in.
I believe that the 'different interpretations' thing is just another way for people to try to make their lives easier. People look at something and say "oh! That means this!" When I was little I used to tell my mom that God told Rahab to lie so it was okay for me to lie too. Hey, I was young and devious okay? Cut me some slack. Anyway, it all depends on the situation in the Bible. Rahab lied because it kept God's servants safe and helped his people. Period.

[Jandalf on Toast]

15
But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

Aye, I see where you're going with this... and we naturally have absolutely no reason to think this above verse is a false statement. The fallacies lie with the people who come to the church and through the covenant with Jesus are admitted into it; since we aren't still perfect, unfortunately there will be misinterpretations among the fellowships here on earth. The problem lies not with the church, which is founded upon God, but with the people in the church (they constitute the church too, I know, but from the context of this verse Paul is likely referring to God as the church's foundation and the church itself in one breath). The last part of the sentence is a little ambiguous... I think by the "pillar and foundation of truth", Paul makes the direct reference to the living God. But, um... I won't try and pry apart the sentence structure anymore. ;D

I think the biggest problem lies with the fact that people in general are too willing to get caught up in the little details and entangle themselves in debates and bureaucracy when really all we have to do is focus and fall back on the very first commandment; if it's kept, the rest all just falls into place. If we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, strength, etc., then it follows that we will do our level best to please him (which of course does not include stealing, adultery, murdering, and so forth).

[Tiana, eh?]

Hee.

I'll have to find and tear apart the Greek translation sometime if we must get into details. I think I want to study the languages the Bible was written in. You wouldn't believe how useful phrasing is in determining the definate meanings. XD.

If we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, strength, etc., then it follows that we will do our level best to please him (which of course does not include stealing, adultery, murdering, and so forth).

The last part made me laugh.

And I think that the statement made by Jandalf should sum up this entire conversation with the memory of that verse... "The first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind." I can't remember the reference. I'm lazy. Then it goes on to say the second one is to love your neighbor.

You know, in the long run, all it comes down to is that commandment. If you love God, you'll keep his commands (or make a decent effort to when you recognize your wrongdoings... ehehe... we're all still sinners with a sin nature). The whole "bureaucracy" in churches just tears them apart. Isn't the point of having our religion here TO love God? Not to argue about silly little things. XD.

And as for the original poster's comment...

I believe in sola scriptura, or whatever the term was. Even though the Church is founded on Christ, the churches now adays have gotten a bit far from the original, and there's a lot of denominational crap and whatnot when all that really should be focused on is the Bible as truth and God as the one and only God, none of this silly stuff with "OMG! We shouldn't be watching TV. OMG! We shouldn't have a red carpet. OMG! Padded church pews?!!?!?! OMG!!! YOU DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN ME! YOUR BELIEFS ARE UGLY AND WRONG!!"

Etc.

XP.

[WHITE LIFE]

Hi,
It is true that people make up the church that is here on earth, and that we are imperfect. I believe that there is only one true Church that Christ established. That Church (upper case) has been in existance for over 2,000 years. There is only one Church that can claim this. However, there are many, many "churches" (lowercase) that have come about as a result of people forming denominations. I believe this is a cause of much confusion and goes directly against the wishes of our Lord when he prayed that we all be one as He and the Father are One. Let's pray with the Lord that we might all be one, and seek the fullness of truth that can be found in the One, True Church that He founded. Enough with the separation already!

[Ali Blue]

We are all one though. In spirit and in truth. If we have the Holy Spirit in us, we are one. The church isn't based on labels.. just forget about those. I agree totally with Jandalf and Tiana. If we all are attempting to follow those first commandments then there are no 'denominations'... Just don't look at labels. They don't matter.
I'm just going to reinforce what Tiana said about the whole 'tiny details' thing. tiny details are... ick. just ick. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to interpret the Bible in fullness. People, come on. There comes a point when you just go to far. You have to know when it's time to stop analyzing and time to start obeying.
note: when using 'you', i don't mean you personally, but you generally... yeah..

[WHITE LIFE]

I agree with all of you. It is important to live the commandments. Faith alone simply is not enough.