Principles of Peace in Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation
Let’s try to clear up 2000 years of argument between devout followers of Christ in one post!
Each of us have an authoritative hierarchy structure for how we build a life of religious devotion to Christ on a sure foundation.
Here’s a brief summary of these authority structures:
The Protestants share a conviction that the Bible is the ultimate authority for God on Earth — the ecumenical councils providing creeds and explanatory definitions consistent with the Bible. — Followers can receive private spiritual witness and guidance, but no guidance is valid if it contradicts the Bible, or appeals to any authority other than the Bible. The Bible is infallible word of God and the 66 book cannon is closed, as defined by the reformation counsels.
Catholics claim that Christ left one true church through an unbroken priesthood from Peter. The church has the authority to interpret the Bible and settle disputes as the final authority of God on Earth. — Ecumenical councils established creeds and doctrinal explanations as an extension of the authority of the church. — No private revelation can contradict what is established by the Church. The Catholic Cannon is closed, the Pope guides the church, within the Magisterium, as the final authority.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claims the priesthood line from Peter was broken at the death of Christ’s apostles. — The ecumenical councils were counsels of men without authority from God. The result was division and confusion; and ultimately a need for a divine act of restoration. — The restoration began w/the prophetic call of Joseph Smith, and restorative revelation. The cannon isn’t closed, the authority is restored, scripture is reliable but not infallible — People can receive personal revelation and witness: To know the truth of the Gospel of Christ and the truth of The Restoration and scripture; personal revelation cannot contradict the core truth claims of the restored church. The living prophet leads the church as the final authority.
All profess Christ as the only source of salvation, the Son of God, the divine sacrifice — a propitiation for sin — a blood atonement — and the glorious resurrection. Beyond these claims the differences and arguments are differences in authoritative structure.
Do you look to a church as the ultimate authority under Christ, or the Bible alone? If a church, how do you judge which is true? If the Bible alone, how do you judge the correct interpretations?
In the end we are ALL fallible human beings trying our best to determine the truth and answer these questions for ourselves. We choose authoritative structures for a sure foundation. Many are raised in our sect, and remain loyal to it. Many are sincerely seeking what makes the most sense to them. Many don’t attach themselves to ecclesiastical structures.
We don’t have to be at war with each other. We should all claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege.
We can proclaim our beliefs in boldness without vitriol and condemnation for others. We can proselytize in a spirit of love and humble pacemaking. We can invite sincere seekers to come and see — experiment on the word and partake of the fruits of our teachings — without being in contentious contests with each other.
Ultimately, it’s imperative that we defend the sure foundation the American Founders laid for the sustaining of diverse group of believers, working constructively together by common values, for the righteous liberty of all. We can do this if we will allow each other to worship how, where, or what we may, so long as that worship and belief upholds the order of our social contract and Judeo-Christian civil society.
Now, let’s stop fighting and making sectarian war!! And let’s live what we believe, defend Religious liberty, seek common ground, and evangelize in humble sincerity and love for God and all men.
Each of us have an authoritative hierarchy structure for how we build a life of religious devotion to Christ on a sure foundation.
Here’s a brief summary of these authority structures:
The Protestants share a conviction that the Bible is the ultimate authority for God on Earth — the ecumenical councils providing creeds and explanatory definitions consistent with the Bible. — Followers can receive private spiritual witness and guidance, but no guidance is valid if it contradicts the Bible, or appeals to any authority other than the Bible. The Bible is infallible word of God and the 66 book cannon is closed, as defined by the reformation counsels.
Catholics claim that Christ left one true church through an unbroken priesthood from Peter. The church has the authority to interpret the Bible and settle disputes as the final authority of God on Earth. — Ecumenical councils established creeds and doctrinal explanations as an extension of the authority of the church. — No private revelation can contradict what is established by the Church. The Catholic Cannon is closed, the Pope guides the church, within the Magisterium, as the final authority.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claims the priesthood line from Peter was broken at the death of Christ’s apostles. — The ecumenical councils were counsels of men without authority from God. The result was division and confusion; and ultimately a need for a divine act of restoration. — The restoration began w/the prophetic call of Joseph Smith, and restorative revelation. The cannon isn’t closed, the authority is restored, scripture is reliable but not infallible — People can receive personal revelation and witness: To know the truth of the Gospel of Christ and the truth of The Restoration and scripture; personal revelation cannot contradict the core truth claims of the restored church. The living prophet leads the church as the final authority.
All profess Christ as the only source of salvation, the Son of God, the divine sacrifice — a propitiation for sin — a blood atonement — and the glorious resurrection. Beyond these claims the differences and arguments are differences in authoritative structure.
Do you look to a church as the ultimate authority under Christ, or the Bible alone? If a church, how do you judge which is true? If the Bible alone, how do you judge the correct interpretations?
In the end we are ALL fallible human beings trying our best to determine the truth and answer these questions for ourselves. We choose authoritative structures for a sure foundation. Many are raised in our sect, and remain loyal to it. Many are sincerely seeking what makes the most sense to them. Many don’t attach themselves to ecclesiastical structures.
We don’t have to be at war with each other. We should all claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege.
We can proclaim our beliefs in boldness without vitriol and condemnation for others. We can proselytize in a spirit of love and humble pacemaking. We can invite sincere seekers to come and see — experiment on the word and partake of the fruits of our teachings — without being in contentious contests with each other.
Ultimately, it’s imperative that we defend the sure foundation the American Founders laid for the sustaining of diverse group of believers, working constructively together by common values, for the righteous liberty of all. We can do this if we will allow each other to worship how, where, or what we may, so long as that worship and belief upholds the order of our social contract and Judeo-Christian civil society.
Now, let’s stop fighting and making sectarian war!! And let’s live what we believe, defend Religious liberty, seek common ground, and evangelize in humble sincerity and love for God and all men.
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