Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
My thought is that in the various schisms, notably the Great Schism of 1054 and the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, a lot was lost; in fact, so much was lost, that we didn't know what was lost! So a minister like WN or WL could impose their logical trains of thought upon the entire populace, unfettered by any restraint.
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Aron, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I can’t stand up to your intelligence, so I can only speak from simplicity of my mind. I agree with you that lots of things were lost. Unfortunately, the loss can be only noticed by people like you who have a good understanding of what the Church was before.
Look at the modern Christianity. Since the Great Schism and the Reformation, it’s falling apart, breaking into thousands and thousands of churches. Some of them allow gay priesthood and same sex marriages. Some of them reject the Trinity. Some don’t believe in the Resurrection. Some doubt that Christ is the Son of God. They all share the same Bible but have thousands of interpretations.
The early Christians didn’t have the Bible but they managed to keep the union by one faith, one practice, one mind, the same Sacraments, and the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority. There were small groups of people who had their own views but they were called heretics. Heretics did not belong to the Church. They opposed her.
The Church was created by our Lord as a vessel of salvation. Jesus Christ as the Captain gave His crew the right directions, promising that His ship would never sink. A thousand years later, a respected member of the crew decided to lead the ship by himself. He usurped the position of His Captain and called himself His vicar. But most of the crew stayed faithful to their Captain and rejected the usurper. The latter separated himself from the first ship and became the captain of his own boat. With time, his boat became even bigger and stronger than the first ship. However, the vicar of the Captain abused his power to such an extent that many passengers and members of his crew became displeased with his course. There was a big riot. During the riot, the protestants left the second boat and started to build their own boats. 5 centuries later, the boats and their captains still grew and multiplied. Almost nobody remembered the first ship. Some captains even said that she had never existed. For them, the Church was no longer the ship of salvation, but a collection of row boats.
So, they all had different captains, different crews, different faith, different practices, different minds, and different understanding of Sacraments. The numerous boats almost had no connection to the first ship. The only link was the Manual and a few doctrines (like the Trinity). All captains used the Manual of the first ship, rejecting her history, experience, practices, and knowledge. The captains believed that the first ship was a wreck and her crew went rogue. However, the same captains trusted the Manual which the “rogues” of the first ship had produced, protected, and actively preserved.
Accepting the Manual, the captains didn’t bother about its original interpretation. They thought they were smart enough to figure out the course. Few of them knew that the ship was first, and the Manual was second. They even forgot that the vessel of salvation is the Captain’s ship, not the Book, much less their boats. The Manual can give an idea about the course, show the direction and tell a lot about the Captain, but the Book can’t replace the Captain and His ship. Besides, the Manual doesn’t explain itself. Therefore, it is not enough to have the Manual to reach the shore. But who cares when you have your own boat?
So, one day WN and WL became captains of their own boats, too. They were natural-born captains, smart, well-trained and knowledgeable. Before they became captains, they were ship’s boys and got lots of information from captains of other boats. Surely, WN and WL thought they knew the direction better than others. They had the ancient Manual. What can be wrong with it? WL studied the Book well enough to announce that all other captains were miles off course. It was only him who knew the direction. He also claimed that his boat is the only right boat and only those who follow him will reach the shore of salvation. (Well, many captains claimed the same. So we can’t blame him. Will his boat bring her passengers to the shore?.. God knows. I am not sure about my own salvation, how can I judge others?)
As for the first ship, it’s still there. Her Captain has kept His promise. He has steered His ship through years and storms and she has survived. The passengers and the crew have kept the union by one faith, one practice, one mind, the Seven Sacraments, and the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority. They still remember the importance of the Manual but don’t forget the writings of the ancient crews whose consensus helps them interpret the Manual, keeping the same faith. They know that the ship is a vessel of salvation, but they also remember that not everyone on the ship can be saved. Judas was one of the Twelve and still perished. So, to stand on the ship and to reach the shore is not the same. The salvation is not granted automatically with the ship. It’s just the first step, the beginning of the journey and not the end. Salvation is a process of transformation. It’s not a matter of being declared “not guilty” by legal decree. It’s an organic restoration to union with the Captain, a process of “being saved” by God’s grace. The process doesn’t depend on membership or ranks. Moreover, the first ship has no monopoly on grace and truth and love. It belongs to her Captain Who saves those whom He wills; and He desires the salvation of every human being.
So, how much to throw out? According to who and compared to what? Where is the criterion of truth? Is it my own understanding of the Bible or WL’s interpretation or some other captain’s understanding?
No one knows for sure until he sets the right criterion and starts his own research. But who to ask? Passengers, crews, and captains of other boats? But where is the criterion which can guarantee that it’s the original teaching of the Church and not a personal opinion of some people in a boat?
To find out the truth, explorer should begin... at the beginning, from the original texts of ancient Christians:
Gospels, the books of the Apostles, the Didache, The Shepherd of Hermas, the books of Apostolic Fathers (the disciples of the Apostles), the writings of their disciples and other Church Fathers, the Creeds, documents on the Church Councils, the lives of saints and the lives of ascetic Desert Fathers. Such an explorer can figure out the differences between his modern faith and the faith of early Christians. If the explorer's version of Christian faith, doctrines and practices doesn’t match the consensus of the Church Fathers, then the conclusion is easy: it’s whether his or their version of Christianity is wrong. And it’s up to him what to do with it. To throw his views and accept theirs, or to continue living in his comfortable boat.
I am sorry, I could be wrong but that is how I see it. Please, brothers and sisters, excuse me and my poor English.