@donadams, why is this mistake still being made?
Many posters have explained sola scriptura never states scripture is the only authority for all things everywhere. When you think that's what is sola scriptura you're fooling only yourself.
@prism has put it well, scripture is the
highest authority, not the only authority. Sola scriptura was/is designed to speak to the
sufficiency of scripture to speak authoritatively to explain salvation and how to live a life of faith. Nothing more. Thinking sola scriptura is something more than that is only you fooling you. The only one who is wrong on every single occasion when the straw man is assumed is you.
Then, when that dross is poured onto Prots, it's you fooling you twice over.
Unless, of course, you know what is being done is foolishness, and do it anyway.
We do not think what you think we are thinking, and scores of threads have been wasted arguing strawmen. Anglicans have their institution. Baptists have theirs. Other denominations and sects have theirs so
you can never argue we think scripture is the ONLY authority. Likewise, we all subscribe to various doctrines, doctrines that were formed for a variety of reasons,
one of which is to provide and authoritative statement for what should be believed. It cannot honestly be said Protestants think scripture is the ONLY authority and be right, make sense, or have anyone here think you're being honest, using your brain, forming an intelligent argument or not think you're either an idolatrous ideology or you're trolling. Again,
scores of threads have been wasted on this and because the same message has been sent to you many, many times we all know some things about you, none of which are good.
- You're not really listening.
- If you are listening, then you do not care.
- Either way the posts do not reflect what scores have said,
- Which means you're not really participating with any authenticity,
- and disrespecting everyone who has clarified sola scriptura and been ignored.
- Since many of us have clarified the matter numerous time the use of the word "assume" is insidious. You're not really assuming anything because you know better, and we know you know. It's not good or right to assume anything about anyone but to falsely ask about a straw man under the guise of an assumption is.... well, depraved would be an appropriate label but I am trying to be helpful, not divisive.
- It undermines what could otherwise be collaborative discourse built on what we commonly share scripturally, theologically, doctrinally, and practically so the consistency, and chronic persistence of the problem indicates on some level you want it this way and post accordingly, in some unstated effort to maintain the inanity and the disrespect built on the utterly fallacious strawmen we think there is only one authority.
None of it changes the fact that ALL the early Protestant Reformers were Roman Catholic reformers making a sincere, honest, and faithful effort to get the Roman Catholic Church to see some of its errors. In the end, the Protestant Reformers proved correct, but it took the RCC decades to come around, recognize their errors, and reform themselves. Centuries later the RCC issued apologies, regrets and invitations to the theological and denominational descendants of those they wrong prosecuted. If it were not for the murderous and maladaptive reaction of RCC leadership, it's very likely there would not be any Protestants.
It's time for some honesty. When you come into a thread like this where a Prot (like
@prism) is exploring Reformed theology
centuries after the Reformation where and when it now has little to do with the events 500 years ago, we're all hoping something more than tired and worthless strawmen will be provided; something other than proof there's no genuine interest in the topic and are here solely to disrespect everyone else. That one single question says it all...
No!
Stop assuming. Stop assuming things that are not true about others. Just stop it. I searched the entire thread to see who said, "
scripture is the the only authority" since it was placed in quotation marks. No one here in this thread has said any such thing. Anyone looking up the definition of sola scriptura readily sees the doctrine explicitly limits itself and never claims to be the sole authority over everything. Which means the doctrine's definition was quote mined. That's dishonest. When that misrepresenting quote mine is put on prism (or anyone else) that's disrespectful.
This op is about what is true of the Reformed position on eight specified matters. The op doesn't ask for Catholic, Orthodox, Pietist, Ascetic, or any other perspective on those eight matters OR any other perspectives' view of the Reformed views. Which means you haven't been on topic in this thread
since you enjoined it. Whatever accurate knowledge you may have on Reformed positions may be helpful, and will likely be appreciated, but it is clear that is not happening,
you like to inject RC views, cannot help but sabotage every thread with attempts at hijacking it with RCCism and really disrespectful and disingenuous inquiries like, "
I assume you don't believe 'scripture is the the only authority'?"
Sola Scriptura is not one of the eight matters listed in this op.
@prism has provided an answer to be embraced, not one to be disrespected or ignored. It is an answer from which you could build from consensus because the RCC endeavors to submit itself to the authority of God's word.
Op-relevant contributions to the thread are invited.
And
@prism, don't let him bait you into digressions where you're arguing Reformed versus Catholic doctrine. The op asks about the "true" Reformed positions on the Ordo Salutis, grace, repentance, baptism, Church and State, the "Regulative Principle, and imputed righteousness. No non-Reformed member posting non-Reformed content can or will have anything correct, valid, or useful to contribute. A non-Reform-minded poster cannot post Reform-minded content. Ignore them.
