Pillar and Foundation of Truth

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

I was listening to a talk given by Scott Hahn on his conversion and this part really struck me:

Another friend, a theologian, called me and said, “Scott, what is this I’m hearing that you’re considering the Catholic faith?” “Well, no, Art, I’m not really considering the Catholic faith.” Then I decided to pose him a question. I said, “Art, what for you is the pillar and foundation of truth?” And he said, “Scott, for all of us Scripture is the pillar and foundation of truth.” I said, “Then why, Art, does the Bible say in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the pillar and foundation of truth is the church, the household of faith?” There was a silence and he said, “Well, Scott, I think you’re setting me up with that question then.” And I said, “Art, I feel like I’m being set up with lots of problems.” He said, “Well, which church, Scott? There are lots of them.” I said, “Art, how many churches are even applying for the job of being the pillar and foundation of truth? I mean, if you talk about a church saying, ‘We’re the pillar and foundation of truth; look to us and you will hear Christ speak and teach’? How many applicants for the job are there? I only know of one. I only know that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that it was founded by Christ; it’s been around for 2000 years and it’s making some outlandish claims that seem awfully similar to 1 Timothy 3:15.”

Thoughts?

 

[Curious]

oo…I started a very similar thread over in apologetics forum called Pillar and Foundation. I hope I posted mine in the right place!! Perhaps we could sort of merge so it won’t be so repetitive.

Curious

 

[Rachel_Malloy]

Ok, here’s what we’re gonna do here…

I took a look at your post Curious and think it will do fine in Apologetics. That’s a Catholic perspective, Catholic apologetic discussion.

Here in non-Catholic Religions, we’re gonna focus on the non-Catholic aspects of what the Bible says.

In other words, if your church follows the bible, what are your thoughts on this idea posed by Scott Hahn?

 

[JMJ_coder]

bump

 

[Allweather]

The first reading at Mass this morning is Acts 15:1-6.

Here we see the Apostles and presbyters convening to deal with the question of whether gentile converts to The Way needed to adhere to the Mosaic Law, including with respect to circumcision.

Some people claim the Church is invisible. But it sure looks to me like the Church, the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth, has a visible structure of Apostles, who are busy dealing with theological and doctrinal problems, and spreading the word about Jesus.

 

[manualman]

A visible and AUDIBLE church with the job of dealing with sticky issues Jesus never discussed. Like circumcision of gentiles… and embryonic stem cell research.

 

[BlestOne]

The problem is with authority. Who is authorized to make decisions about circumcision or stem cell research? When you have Christians who proclaim everyone is their own authority how do you have a pillar and foundation?

Can we liken this to a rebellious child rejecting the authority of a father? I think we can since every covenant and every teaching from the Father and the Son is expressed to us in a familial setting. Even the word covenant is a family bond isn’t it? Just as an earthly father is the head of his household and is charged with maintaining discipline and education, so our Spiritual Father in heaven is our ultimate authority. He has, through Christ his son, established an authority on earth as well… his Son as High Priest, and our spiritual fathers… priests to maintain his Church on earth. The Church as a whole has to be our authority on teachings of faith and morals as well as our source of understanding in the scriptures.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

When you have Christians who proclaim everyone is their own authority how do you have a pillar and foundation?

And the people can be numbered like sand. So what authority do you build your Church upon? Do you build it upon the authority of Peter the Rock or do you build it upon the authority of the members numbered like the sand? (Note: allusion to Matthew 7:24-27 intended)