Posted by jimB on 5/24/2009, 2:48 pm
69.3.100.54
Ray in the "repentance" thread below you wrote: I am under the impression that the corporate culture of the Roman Catholic Church has been such that they believe the Church saves, while many Protestants belive that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Such a slogan does not mention the role of the Holy Spirit.
It is almost impossible to say something coherent about the amoeba-like mass that is generally lumped under, "protestant." In an historical sense, one can say Lutherans and some Calvinists were protesting against some things they thought Rome was doing or preaching in error. But what does that have to do with for instance the Southern Baptists?
I doubt one can say much about "protestants." Rome however is a more easily found target.
Rome teaches that it holds from Peter onward, a unique guardianship over what they call the 'deposit of faith.' That is that they are right and by extension all others are wrong whenever there is an issue. (I think I got that right.)
As such, faith within the church is uniquely 'correct' and what God has in mind. That does not mean the same thing as 'faith in the church.'
To my knowledge, Rome does not teach one should believe in the church. Rather what is required is compliance and belief in what itteaches. That logically requires devotion within the sacramental fellowship of the Roman church; both a consequence and a foregone conclusion. That is, if you believe their teaching you want to be in communion with them.
At least some of the "bible church" folks are very oriented towards what they believe is the Spirit. Cf. the charismatics.
In short I think you have committed more than one gross oversimplification in this paragraph and then gone on to compound several in your subsequent discussion of them. Which is why I broke this out of the thread below.
FWIW
jimB
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