Wisdom of Holy Scripture in turmoil or truth?

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I observe many of my brother Catholics debunk the doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) and defend the doctrine of pluralism, that other sources for divine truth exist, and have no issue with contravening Scripture. Contrast that with many (not all) non-Catholics, who posses a unique understanding of Scripture that arguably surpasses many of us - me included! Can someone who understands this dichotomy please share some thoughts on this topic, and where you think this will lead the Church in the decades to come?
 
Walk-worthy said:
have no issue with contravening Scripture.
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When you say that many Catholics “have no issue with contravening Scripture,” what scriptural passages do you have in mind? We sometimes see threads here at CAF about Sabbath observance, for example, where the poster argues that Christians are obliged to comply with all the rules laid down in the Pentateuch.
 
I’ll get back to you on specific examples, but (respectfully) one area that I think is disproportionate to Scripture is the doctrine of Mary being a source of salvation power. In Catholic grade school we were taught it was good to pray to Mary because She can bring peace in our hearts. But I was never taught that she can save us from eternal damnation!
 
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Another is good works as a sort of prerequisite for salvation, instead of the transformative power of salvation that produces good works.
 
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Protestants or those who hold to Sola Scriptura often argue with each other over the meaning of Scripture regarding important truths-because Scripture is sometimes vague or ambiguous with more than one plausible interpretation possible. The bible was never intended to serve as a catechism. The Church received and preserved and preached the gospel before a word of the New Testament was written and the bible, itself, reveals that not everything was written and that the disciples were also to hold to oral, underwritten teachings.

The Catholic Church reveres Sacred Scripture as the Word of God. She also reveres Sacred Tradition, issuing from her lived experienced from the beginnings of the faith, as the word of God, both constituting the two sources of His revelation.
 
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The sheep and the goats, Matt 25:31-46, teaches that good works are a prerequisite for salvation, doesn’t it?
 
BartholomewB said:
The sheep and the goats, Matt 25:31-46, teaches that good works are a prerequisite for salvation, doesn’t it?
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Yep. The passage is best related to a teaching of the Church that many Protestants can’t quite get a solid handle on, even though it’s absolutely central to the faith. From the catechism where para 1022 quotes St John of the Cross regarding our “particular judgment”:
"At the evening of life we shall be judged on our love."

That is the mature and concise understanding of the gospel.
 
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I really like how you put this into perspective. Thank you!
 
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God. It is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them. Ephesians Chp2 8-9. From the Catholic Bible.

Again, I point to Scripture in contrast to the reply above. I guess there are various interpretations, but
at the end of the day we have to reach an agreement about what is God telling us through His word.

WW
 
I think the Apostle Paul knew what he was talking about and the truth of his gospel applies today as it did 2000 years ago. That’s my humble take on this.
 
And I contrast my post above with the Reformer’s myopic reading of Scripture, and resulting stunted understanding of the role of faith. Sola Scriptura is absolutely bound to produce disagreement and error in understanding of the faith, because now we have a whole passel of individual readers attempting to interpret the written word- which cannot speak for or explain itself. God established a Church for that purpose, a Church that received the gospel at the beginning, the Church whose members wrote the New Testament.
 
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I think its more a matter of percentage of Truth if one could describe it in such a way.

Say you have any mainline Protestant Church they probably have 95% or more of the truth.

That’s why the Catholic Church is called the FULLNESS of Truth (100% the best chance possible of getting to Heaven by following its teaching)

Even Satanic Cults have a little bit of truth because the demons they worship are in fact real persons which point to a spiritual realm, but they are far from the path of gaining salvation.

so is it possible to get to heaven outside of the church? This is also not that simple because if you knew the Catholic Church was the one true church and you left…that’s a major problem and your soul is in jeopardy because you are not following your conscience all the way. But if you have lets say 95% and you think that 95% is all there is to know about truth then you have 95/95% and you’re liable to go to heaven, but that is why Catholic evangelization is so important. You are helping them have a better chance of meeting Jesus and receiving graces.
 
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I sometimes think the majority of Catholics are not disciplined students of the Bible. They basically just leave theology and the intellectual aspects of their faith to the clergy, and are fearful of independent study and discernment. Is that a fair statement? People such as myself that seek are few in number!
 
Absolutely right, and it is A MAJOR problem today. Its not uncommon to hear “the best Catholics are converts” and being a cradle Catholic in this day and age (I’m in my later 20’s) I learned almost everything I knew after a major revert back to my faith that is still going on. Guess where I got most of my teaching? Online, from Catholic (ex protestant) converts like Steve Ray, Scott Hahn, Keith Nester, all the Staff on Catholic Answers…its so true man, Cradle Catholics need bible studies like the protestants…we could learn a lot from them.
 
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I agree. Not that reading the Bible or being a theologian is essential to knowing the faith. again, the doctrine of Sola scriptura has resulted in more confusion, and spun off denominations, than any other source I can think of in Christianity. But reading the Bible is very very profitable and it brought me back to the faith after leaving it for years. It took me longer yet to understand that I would understand the Bible much better yet as I began to read it in light of the Church’s teachings. Meanwhile I was Protestant for quite some time
 
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That is not taught even now! Remember that the Catholic Church has the most developed and profound theology on earth! It takes some study to probe the depths with understanding. Simply put: No Mary, no Jesus. She was with Him from virgin womb to virgin tomb. She was chosen and created by Christ to be His mother. She was given to John, then to the entire Church as mother (Revelation 12).

She brought Christ in the flesh to us and now leads the world to Him. Problem with that?

Secondly, find two “bible Christians” who agree on doctrine.

Can’t. Countless disagreeing denominations the proof. Do all Catholics agree? No! But they should, as the teaching is set in stone. Not so with the printed word, which may be easily twisted.

Scripture is not original to Christianity and it is not enough. Bible alone does not follow the teaching of Christ to His apostles. It does not follow the early Church. It does not follow anything until 1500s Germany. See a problem?
 
“myopic” suggests a narrow view of things. I respectfully disagree. St Thomas Aquinas was not myopic and spent nearly his life interpreting the Bible. St Patrick was an evangelist, a second century Billy Graham if you will! I do appreciate your perspective and thanks!
 
Wow! Wouldn’t Sola Scriptura bring closure to a lot of the ambiguity/confusion that you’re talking about? It would in my estimation!
 
I didn’t say there was anything wrong with studying the Bible, Catholic theologians and Bible scholars do it all day long. As well as more and more lay people. I maintain that the Reformer’s position on the role of faith, Sola Fide, was myopic-and not consistent with the whole context of Scripture.
 
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