I have been a negligent blogger.
To be honest I started this blog out of a reaction to discussion in my "Foundations to Modern Europe" class. We were talking about the concept of "sola scriptura" and whether or not Luther, Calvin, and the reformers could genuinely form right doctrine and right practice of faith truly from Scripture alone. My friend who has been influence by Orthodox theology and a wide spectrum of philosophy stated that everything doctrine they conceived as a rebellion against the Catholic church was and still is subject to another interpretation. Thus, tradition is never obsolete but always prevalent no matter what strand of Christianity one may practice.
I whole-heartedly disagree.
It seems to me the Reformers, those who rejected papal tradition and sought to held fast to the Scriptures did so with an apostolic mindset. That is, before them was the pure teaching of the law, prophets, and Christ, so let us hold fast and expose what God has dictated and commanded rather than impose what man has dictated and commanded. You can bring the argument up to me as was in the class to ask, "Then why, if you hold such absolutes are there such schisms in protestantism?", or "even the Reformers held to some tradition like infant baptism", but this argument isn't my purpose in writing. I am merely describing the context for creating this blog.
However. I do believe that the only was to develop sound doctrine and a faithful walk with Jesus is by accepting authority from the Scriptures alone! The scores of denominations simply put, explains that we are finite, and God is infinite. The preaching of the gospel must never be compromised and our walk with Him must always be sourced from Him. (check out this great segway) Colossians 2:6-7 demonstrates clearly that Christ is the one whom we must walk in, and we only find Christ in God's word taught to us by the Holy Spirit!
The picture given is used throughout Scripture of our growth (that is our sanctification) to that of a tree. "Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught." If you have received Christ by His grace through faith, just as I have, then Scripture commands that you walk in Christ. Believers have the Spirit of Christ in us, and we must walk in nothing less than holiness! Our day to day lives, like roots of a tree, have to burrow deep into the living water of our Savior. Any and all growth is sourced from Him. From this living water, the Word of God taught by the Holy Spirit, we grow up continually in Christ. He is the sap of the tree like the necessary blood in our veins that sustains life. And we are established in the faith. Not completed. Never completed. But established in conviction, just as you were taught. Just as Paul taught the Colossians. Not that they needed to lapse back into the law and be circumcised as some were teaching. But, live in the grace of the liberty and freedom of Christ Jesus! We are established in conviction of the gospel. That Christ's death was costly, but a free gift to the one who accepts in faith! Its humbling as I write this to think of was God did for me. What was made readily available to me, and all I had to do was lift my eyes to him in faith, and He would forgive my sins. Faith: simple for me, but costly for Christ. But His sacrifice was the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). This is "just as we were taught." This is what a tree rooted in Christ gets its sustenance and life from. Thank you Father...
This was a long blog. I resolve to hereafter keep them condensed for the ease of you the reader. my b-
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