10andBOUNCE said:
And I appreciate your opinion. And I can appeal to the idea that it is not verbatim giving clear instruction and guidance regarding the sole authority of Scripture. But I also do think you can apply these general concepts and ideas within reason and come to the conclusion that it makes the most sense to never stray outside the bounds of what Scripture says. I would much rather aim to stay within Scripture at all times, otherwise you are running the risk of straying outside of it with subjection to more man centered ideas.
Fair enough. I appreciate your reasoned response. Thank you.
I agree that doctrine and dogma absolutely cannot be contrary to what scripture teaches. But scripture can be read and interpreted in many divergent ways, so what point can be made by saying doctrine cannot stray outside the bounds of scripture without simultaneously saying "… as interpreted by me/my tradition/my favorite pastor under aegis of Sola Scriptura"?
As you well know Scripture is not some monolithic set of unambiguous prescriptions and prohibitions. It's a multiverse of different kinds of writings from different cultures and times that all have different ways of speaking to us. Surely we agree about that, right?
Scripture can be understood literally (the author's intention), allegorically (the realities and events about which it speaks can be signs; typology), morally (ethical and spiritual guidance) and anagogically (where am I going? what is my destiny?).
Moreover, silence is equally not a prohibition. It's a blank page that the church completes under the guidance of Sacred Tradition and apostolic guidance and divine protection from error. That is precisely how we as disciples of Jesus Christ obtained the canon of scripture. No Sacred Tradition and divinely protected authority to declare what is sacred and true = no reliable canon. It simply is historical fact.
Question: what about divorce? The Incarnate Son of God clearly and unambiguously prohibited divorce as recorded in scripture. In Matthew 5:27-32 we see that divorce and remarriage is prohibited. Jesus says: "27You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity,* makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."
By using the phrases "it was also said" and "but I say to you," Jesus is contrasting His teaching with what the Law said, not simply clarifying it. Consequently, He is prohibiting divorce and remarriage entirely, because it was that way from the beginning.
In Matthew 19:9, Jesus clearly says that under the New Covenant there will be a return to the original creation intention of a lifelong marriage to one person.
In Mark 10:1112 and Luke 16:18, Jesus says that whoever divorces and remarries another commits adultery.
In both Mark and Luke, Jesus has definitively forbidden remarriage, not only for the divorcee, but for those who would dare to marry them, even if they themselves were never married before.
The Lord permits separation only for porneia, a Greek word that generally means unlawful sexual intercourse due to either blood relations (incest) or non-sacramental unions. The Lord does not permit divorce for moicheia (adultery).
In other words, porneia here refers to a union that was never a valid marriage from its inception. If you divorce and remarry, you're committing adultery, except in a case when that first union was not a real marriage.
Paul confirms this: "To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not divorce his wife" (1 Cor. 7:1011).
What are we to think about the widespread approbation of divorce in the Protestant world? My question is not primarily about judging the rectitude of allowing divorce despite the clear teaching of Jesus. It's about how unmoored beliefs and teachings can become from what is a very clear and direct teaching by the Son of God himself when the paradigm is "every man and his Bible a Pope" approach to determining dogma and doctrine is the rule. It's simply nonsensical if we want clear understanding and teaching on the cardinal matters. Without a divinely protected authority it simply cannot exist.
This is why it's such a paradox to me that the Protestant belief system founded on Sola Scriptura rejects the very thing that gives credence to its foundation.
I fully expect that none of that will resonate with you or any other Protestants who read it. Ok, fine. I have droned on about it more than enough.
Peace and blessings! I pray that the Spirit of Truth will flood into all our hearts and lead us to our heavenly home.
