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Post by alfie on Mar 9, 2010 1:52:36 GMT -5
Since there are hundreds of Church Fathers and most of them don't share the same beliefs, how did the RCC decide which Church Fathers and their teachings to accept for its doctrine?
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Post by Cepha on Mar 10, 2010 18:16:50 GMT -5
Since there are hundreds of Church Fathers and most of them don't share the same beliefs, how did the RCC decide which Church Fathers and their teachings to accept for its doctrine? They had the same guidance that they used to decide which of the hundreds of scriptures there were floating around would become The Holy Bible...The Holy Spirit guided them. That way, out of imperfect men, perfect doctrine came about because the doctrine is God's (not man's). We don't believe that The Holy Spirit at any time just quit guiding The Christian Church. It never left us. It has always been there and will be here until the return of Christ (as stated by Christ Himself). We don't believe that God would give us "some" grace then abandon Christianity. This is how The Church has been able to withstand all of the attacks upon it from outside The Church and worse, from within The Church. The Church Fathers are like the rest of us...imperfect, not in 100% agreement on everything (except what is considered "doctrine" by The Church). The only thing that Catholics all agree on is doctrine. It is made up of many different races, cultures, nationalities, etc...and we all have one thing in common. 1 belief in God. This is how The Church Fathers can have different opinions, yet still be Catholic. When it comes down to it, The Church Fathers don't make The Church, they are "part of" The Church (just as we are as laymen)...members who submit their wills "to" The Church.  |
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Post by alfie on Mar 18, 2010 21:10:17 GMT -5
Since there are hundreds of Church Fathers and most of them don't share the same beliefs, how did the RCC decide which Church Fathers and their teachings to accept for its doctrine? They had the same guidance that they used to decide which of the hundreds of scriptures there were floating around would become The Holy Bible...The Holy Spirit guided them. That way, out of imperfect men, perfect doctrine came about because the doctrine is God's (not man's). We don't believe that The Holy Spirit at any time just quit guiding The Christian Church. It never left us. It has always been there and will be here until the return of Christ (as stated by Christ Himself). We don't believe that God would give us "some" grace then abandon Christianity. This is how The Church has been able to withstand all of the attacks upon it from outside The Church and worse, from within The Church. The Church Fathers are like the rest of us...imperfect, not in 100% agreement on everything (except what is considered "doctrine" by The Church). The only thing that Catholics all agree on is doctrine. It is made up of many different races, cultures, nationalities, etc...and we all have one thing in common. 1 belief in God. This is how The Church Fathers can have different opinions, yet still be Catholic. When it comes down to it, The Church Fathers don't make The Church, they are "part of" The Church (just as we are as laymen)...members who submit their wills "to" The Church. There, is only one problem with your argument and that is none of the writings of the ECFs were inspired by the Holy Spirit in the same way the Bible is. |
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Post by Cepha on Mar 19, 2010 9:05:56 GMT -5
There, is only one problem with your argument and that is none of the writings of the ECFs were inspired by the Holy Spirit in the same way the Bible is. That's a great point. The guidance for scripture is in a league all it's own, but there is no proof that they weren't guided by The Holy Spirit. You and I can be guided by The Holy Spirit as well (not just The ECF's or our religious leaders). We all have access to that guidance. At least, I believe so. So, the ECF's could very well have been guided by The Holy Spirit. Can I say that I know this for sure? No, I cannot. But with that, I can also say that they weren't guided by The Holy Spirit. What we can do is judge the fruits of their works! And if it's good, more likely than not, it was the guidance of The Holy Spirit that served them in those decisions. |
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