The baptist tradition is not the Catholic tradition.  We do not place the ecumenical councils over the Scriptures.  Rather, we affirm and assert Sola Scriptura.  The councils do function as part of the rule of faith and defined orthodoxy for generations.  However, if they do not articulate the truths found in Scripture they are only helpful for us to understand history, not truth.  Catholics read the Scriptures with the councils as their grid, the Pope as their grid, their biship’s interpretation as a grid.  I judge my preacher, elders, the councils, everyone and everything according to God’s revelation.  I do seek help from others concerning how to read God’s Word because I am not going to reinvent the wheel, but get on the bus (or the Jesus train if you are a big Toby Mac fan). 

Some do critique the councils.  Warfield questioned Nicaea because of the language of eternal generation.  This sounded like the Son was derived from the Father to him and this would deny the Scriptures teaching that he is wholly God (God has life in himself).  Well, the early fathers used this language technically to teach exactly what Warfield was seeking to defend, the lesson being that the Scriptures can correct tradition. 

All this to say, I read the Scirptures with many safeties in my heart and mind.  One must read and understand for himself/herself, but not in a way that removes them from accountability to a church.  Nor should they be irresponsible so as to ignore all the saints before them.  God had others write so that we might be blessed.  The big decision is knowing who to read–you know because you judge them according to the Scriptures.  So we kind of have a checks and balances approach.  I read the Bible, and my church and the saints before me check and balance me.  Read the Bible with the newspaper, the recent systematic and a church history beside you, your brothers all around you, and the saints before you!

Posted in Church History |