Sola Spiritus and the Reformers
“The Bible is NOT a manual of musts. Without the Spirit it is at best a map of maybe’s.”
“For the Reformers to take the Bible, try and systematize its contents into five “onlies,” and then demand all people fit this mold was anathema to the liberty and freedom Christ that the Spirit brings all people – especially in light of the fact that most of the world did not have access to the Bible! The Reformers did much toward real reform but it’s time for the Reformation to be confronted, and for all people to agree that the Christian faith is subjective, individual, and completely between the individual and God.”
The Role of the Bible and the Spirit
“If you think you understand Christianity you are probably wrong.” Hey Steve – How about one of your modern Psalms, eh?
We left off last week talking about the Bible and a number of facts about it most people don’t consider. Check those out if you have the time they will make what we say here more understandable. In any case, when we consider the copying practices, the literacy rates, the Roman Catholic controls and the fact that the scripture was all in Latin – and in some cases, really bad Latin – God didn’t really truly use the New Testament of the Bible among the nations for the first 1500 years after His Son ascended into heaven.
Really give that some thought for a minute because it seems to me that if there was EVER a time that the writings of the New Testament would be needed in the hands of everybody it would have been right after the last apostle John died. But not so. And in the face of this we have to understand that God’s spirit was the leading force among those who sought Him in Spirit and truth. It certainly wasn’t men and religion – I mean just look at what the Roman Catholic church did in the name of God as His supposed authority on earth during all those years. So I think it’s fair to say that for true believers and seekers of God, His Holy Spirit is what kept them abiding in the vine.
At the Protestant Reformation, with the Bible having been translated from Latin to Greek and then to German and other languages, men stepped forward and did something that was heading in the right direction, but was not without problems. What they did was take the Bible and make it their master OVER the Spirit. Simple as that. It’s not that the Bible isn’t the single most important material gift God has brought through the ages to the hands of man, but as with all things, MAN has taken this gift and turned it into a idol of sorts.
- Sola scriptura: “Scripture only”
- Sola fide: “faith only”
- Sola gratia: “grace only”
- Solo Christo: “Christ only”
- Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God only”
It is believed that the emphasis on five onlies would help correct the Roman Catholic excesses present at the start of the Reformation. But they neglected to mention that over the course of the former 1500 years it was the Spirit of God that lead true seekers of God to Him. In other words, with the Holy Spirit moving in and through the world and through other believers, the Goodnews was shared and with or without a Bible they were saved! And the Holy Spirit kept and lead them to be fruit bearing branches in the vine.
Sola Spiritus
For the Reformers to take the Bible, try and systematize its contents into five “onlies,” and then demand all people fit this mold was anathema to the liberty and freedom Christ that the Spirit brings all people – especially in light of the fact that most of the world did not have access to the Bible! To me, the ONLY ONLY (the only Sola required) in the reformation would have been Sola Spiritus – but that didn’t make the grade.
Think about it. Sola Spirtus would allow for the spirit to work on all people all the time. Because its fruits are love that would have been what all people operated by. Because it does not fail seekers of God in spirit and truth would know Him as He writes His words upon the human heart, and divisions between people would have been
The Impact of Sola Scriptura
Since the reformation, everyone is trying to explain to everyone else what they must think, believe, and practice. Because of Sola Scriptura, men who are called to be lovers have become lawyers, and instead of what will be and what is in believers, we live under a what must be. Tragic. Sola Scriptura has caused many people to believe that there will be a theology exam at the gates of heaven – when the only test will be love – with that love being provided by Christ Jesus for all.
See the problem with written scripture being an only is we cannot agree on things! And the things we cannot agree upon become the basis for the things we divide over! What if the Reformers came forward, took a good long look at Christian history, read the word, understood that the Spirit moves where the Spirit will move, remembered that people can be Christians without the Bible, and then finally, that the Bible is a great gift.
Sharing the Good News
So we share the Good News verbally. And then we trust in the fruit and work of the Spirit, and then we all read our Bibles and grow together – allowing for differences, allowing for all manner of personal interpretations, allowing for some to see verse A one way and others to see it another, trusting that God will sort it out in the minds of those who love Him and seek Him in spirit and truth.
Instead, what the Reformers created was a world of religion, which has wound up being a world of division, anger, hatred, and in some cases, even deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.. Even when it comes to our groups that seem really off base on a reasonable view of the contents of scripture – if they are claiming Christ as Lord – let’s let God through the Spirit by Christ lead them in and through our love!
The Desire for Certainty
But this approach does not serve the natural religious man. He wants order and certainty and even control. So he takes the Bible, makes it a manual, claims to have the best view of its contents as a whole, and then pushes these views or summaries out on the hearts, and minds, and lives of others.
In this, he demands that the Bible teaches water baptism for salvation, or speaking in tongues for proof of salvation, or the doctrine of the Trinity, or of this, or of that, or of this – when in the end, the whole of the matter is between the individual and his or her maker.
So while the Reformation was certainly a step in the right direction, the time is for even that to be confronted – and for what should have been all along to step in and take over – total and complete subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love. for all.
OUT.
