O
Origen
Guest
I agree with the sentiment that debate on this topic is not possible and should be avoided.
However, given that a friendly debate is taking place, it’s good to understand that they only accept scripture as their authority, so don’t bother with Church doctors at first.
I find that you can defend all Catholic dogma from scripture, so pick out some good inspired passages. The result is usually that the protestant will tell you your interpretation is not correct.
This is good ground to be on, because then it becomes a debate over whose interpretation holds more authority. Now you are arguing from the strength of the teaching authority of the Church. Once Bible interpretation is conceded to be a matter of authority, then of course the doctors of the Church become relevant because most of them are saints, who lived exemplary lives and you have the authority of their committment to Christ, their sheer intellectual power, the fact that they have stood the test of time, and have been scrutinized by very smart people.
With respect to the content of the debate, I would note that this week our readings come from the book of Revelation, wherein in Chapter 2 John speaks to the church of Ephesus:
3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Could this paragraph possibly be more explicit in telling us that one must repent continually, be constantly reborn and renewed? More to the point: does this paragraph not explicitly state that your salvation can be taken away if you refuse to repent and renew - regardless of whether you have been “saved?”
You have to do a lot of cognitive gymnastics to make this passage say something protestant.
Best to you.
However, given that a friendly debate is taking place, it’s good to understand that they only accept scripture as their authority, so don’t bother with Church doctors at first.
I find that you can defend all Catholic dogma from scripture, so pick out some good inspired passages. The result is usually that the protestant will tell you your interpretation is not correct.
This is good ground to be on, because then it becomes a debate over whose interpretation holds more authority. Now you are arguing from the strength of the teaching authority of the Church. Once Bible interpretation is conceded to be a matter of authority, then of course the doctors of the Church become relevant because most of them are saints, who lived exemplary lives and you have the authority of their committment to Christ, their sheer intellectual power, the fact that they have stood the test of time, and have been scrutinized by very smart people.
With respect to the content of the debate, I would note that this week our readings come from the book of Revelation, wherein in Chapter 2 John speaks to the church of Ephesus:
3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Could this paragraph possibly be more explicit in telling us that one must repent continually, be constantly reborn and renewed? More to the point: does this paragraph not explicitly state that your salvation can be taken away if you refuse to repent and renew - regardless of whether you have been “saved?”
You have to do a lot of cognitive gymnastics to make this passage say something protestant.
Best to you.
.)