Sunday, February 06, 2005

New Apostolic Reformation's alignment with the Protestant Reformation

Sola Scripture:
The NAR is agrees that the Bible is the only authoritative word of God. It is inspired by God and incapable of error. Critics claim that the NAR's acceptance of modern apostles and prophets reduce the authority of the Bible. However, the NAR leaders clearly state that all men are fallible, including apostles. They do not seek to create Popes and Councils over the Bible. Every modern prophet in the NAR makes it clear that modern prophecy cannot add to, replace, or devalue the Bible.

Solus Christus:
The NAR is in complete agreement. There is no other name by which we are saved. No one can add or subtract to the saving work of Christ.

Sola Gratia:
The NAR affirms that salvation is by grace alone, it cannot be earned.

Sola Fide:
The NAR confirms that salvation is by faith in Christ. We can combine terms and say that Salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria:
The NAR believes that we should only glorify and worship God as only He is worthy in deed, character and nature. He is to be glorified for the creation, incarnation, atonement and resurrection.

These five Solas are the heart of the Reformation and the NAR is in complete agreement with them.

2 comments:

Peter J Barban said...

I understand your disagreement Anchoress. This is the fundamental divide between Catholics and Protestants. We are fortunate to live in an age where we can choose our authority, both politcally and spiritually.

One of Luther's complaints was that the Church leaders (Popes and Councils) had introduced teachings and practices that were foreign to the Bible (the Assumption of Mary) or contrary to it (the sale of indulgences). Church leaders defended their authority by claiming continuity with the Apostles and Ancient Church tradition. When the newly formed Protestants showed that some official Catholic teachings were in fact contrary to the early church fathers,and that differing Popes and Councils have contradicted each other. The Church responded with "Viva Voce", the truth is whetever we say it is. This argument fails to pursuade me.

I want to note that I am not anti-Catholic. I believe that a Catholic can come close to the heart of God as can all variety of Christians. In fact, I have learned a lot from the great writings and music of the "Pre-Reformation" Church.

Peter J Barban said...

There was no Canon, or certified list of Bible books, before the time of Christ. Jews used the Septuagint, a Greek language translation of the Hebrew scriptures. The Septuagint included the "Apocrypha", those books accepted by Catholics but rejected by Protestants.

The first canon was created by the Jews in 92AD at the Council of Jamnia. They certified the Hebrew Bible and rejected the Apocrypha.

Early Christians continued to use the Septuagint. The Christian Canon formed around 393AD, including the Apocrypha. Catholic Scholar St. Jerome judged that the Apocrypha as noncanonical, but this was not acted upon by the Church.

Luther and the following reformers removed the Apocrypha from the Old Testament to match the Jewish Hebrew Bible in accordance with St. Jerome. Luther's personal reason was that the Apocrypha could not be inspired by God because they contained teachings that conflicted with "Salvation by grace, through faith."

Now since Luther and Calvin were not our infallible Popes, we Protestants don't have to agree with them. But we are persuaded that they got it right. I have read all the OT, the NT and the Apocrypha as well as several other early non-canon works. I'm not an Canon expert, but there's something special in the Bible, that is missing in the Apocrypha. I can subjectively feel the difference because the Word of God is living and active; sharper than any blade, able to divide soul and spirit.