I think that’s a distortion of what Protestants believe. Protestants typically believe that the Bible is the highest rule of faith for the Church along with Tradition and Reason (Anglicans, Methodists), or that the Bible is the sole infallible authority for the Church, with those things not prohibited being adiaphora/indifferent (Lutherans), or what cannot be supported in Scriptures is not to be in the Church (Calvinists, Baptists). Many Protestants are quite happy without having an “infallible human authority”, and would probably view the insecurity somebody might feel of “not knowing for sure” as a pastoral issue.
I was responding to a fellow Catholic who asserted the following: “I think we both are embarrassed/shamed by our Church’s conduct over sins in the Priesthood. On the otherhand, we will never have such sorrow with the eternal New Covenant Bible.” Her comments seemed to indicate a belief in Sola Scriptura. I am well aware that you cannot make the statement “Protestants believe X”. After spending several decades in various Protestant churches, the one recurring theme was a lack of agreement on nearly every doctrine. I do agree, however, with your summary above.
Authority for humans just cannot be circular declarations that one is the Grand Poobah because one says so, which is sort of what the average Catholic often sounds like in their defence of the Pope. Even Jesus Christ spoke with authority, acted with authority- he persuaded people, he didn’t make dogmatic declarations high up on a gilded throne, his throne was the Cross after all. Did all the popes do this? I’d submit they failed to persuade people (look up “Great Western Schism” if you want to know more).
Catholics say that those who rely on Sola Scriptura are arguing in a circle: the Bible is the Word of God because the Bible says so, and yes, the same argument is used against Catholics, who believe that Jesus instituted the Papacy. I enjoyed Mark Shea’s treatment of this charge in his book, “By What Authority?” The Catholic Church would argue, however, that it’s a line, straight back to Matt. 16:18. Jesus founded His Church on Peter and gave him the keys. Keys denote succession. And He gave His Church the authority to teach in His name. "He who hears you hears Me."
The Fathers believed alot in the authority of the Scriptures, referencing them constantly as an infallible authority. So “sola fide” is not so “far out” in terms of Tradition, either.
**Totally agree with your first sentence. You lost me on the second part. Consider:
“But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, falsewitness; ‘not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,’ or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.’” Polycarp, To the Philippians, 2 (A.D. 135).
“They only who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life with God; but as to those who keep not His commandments, there is no life in them.” Shepherd of Hermas, 2 Comm 7 (A.D. 155).
“On this account also Paul the Apostle says to the Corinthians, ‘Know ye not, that they who run in a racecourse, do all indeed run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. Every one also who engages in the contest is temperate in all things: now these men that they may obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. But I so run, not as uncertainty; I fight, not as One beating the air; but I make my body livid, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when preaching to others, I may myself be rendered a castaway.’ This able wrestler, therefore, exhorts us to the struggle for immortality, that we may be crowned, and may deem the crown precious, namely, that which is acquired by our struggle, but which does not encircle us of its own accord (sed non ultro coalitam).” Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4:7 (A.D. 180).
I would refer you to
scripturecatholic.com for many, many others.
scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#tradition-I**
There’s only about 9,230 Protestant churches. There are hundreds of Catholic and Orthodox churches though, some schismatic from their parent churches (Society of Saint Pius X, Old Believers in Orthodoxy, not to mention Old Catholics and Polish National Catholic Church, etc.). Some of this is unfair too, many of those Protestant “churches” allow intercommunion with other churches and consider their differences organizational rather than matters of faith and salvation. Protestants typically don’t think of the Church as merely an institution like a corportation or empire. Catholics do.
Here’s an article on this:
freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1956752/posts
The author explains where he got the 33,000 number. He divided the churches further into denominations. You would have to agree that not all Lutherans, for example, believe the same thing. There are the Missouri Synod, ELCA, etc. Further, a 2008 study by Gordon Conwell Seminary put the number at 39,000 with a projected number of 55,000 by 2025. Apparently, the study was quite controversial…wonder why. Anyway, you can retrieve it by using the “Way Back Machine,” or some other internet recovery system. That’s how I got it.
There are several different Rites within Catholicism, either they are in communion with Rome or they’re not. Jesus established one Church. Peace in Christ…
