Sola Scriptura:

Of all the Protestant dogma's Scripture Alone is one of the most dangerous and absolute prideful doctrines to surface from the Reformation. Especially embraced in Fundamental, Evangelical, Baptist, and “Bible-believing” churches, many of these churches hinge on Bibliolatry. They exalt the Bible to the same level as the Christ, and then level charges of Blessed Mary Theoktos (God bearer) worship at other Christians. The KJVO movement has put the KJV of the Scriptures on such a high pedestal that they esteem it as much as Catholics do the relics of Saints. (Our Baptist friends generally don't kiss the Bible, although I have seen it a couple of times, and when they sometimes pray they go down on one knee, sometimes giving the appearance to bowing to the Bible. Some groups Stand when Scripture is being read.)

Jesus said in the Gospels that you can view a tree by the fruit it produces. The idea that Holy Scripture can be interpreted by each individual to understand Christian doctrine is absolutely false bordering on heresy. There are Hundreds of Baptist “associations, denominations” all over the world, each claiming they alone have the true “interpretation” of Scripture. There are Arminians, Calvinist, Dispensationalist, Sabbath Baptist, Denominations, Independent, KJVO'ist, Premillenial, Amillenial, Postmillenial, and the list could go on for days. There are thousands of denominations world wide which use Scripture as the sole rule of Doctrine. Every member of these Churches claim they have biblical “proof texts” to prove they are right. The Jehovah's Witness were formed from the 'Bible Student' movement, and used the KJV to “disprove” the Holy Trinity, until they translated their own 'bible'. In my dealings with Mormons they use the certain Biblical Passage's to try and disprove the Holy Trinity. It's interesting to note that even though in Scripture Paul refers to the Oral tradition, the SA followers have to reject this Biblical teaching. If we turn to the Churches that accept Oral Tradition along with Scripture as guiding the Church we see a much different scene. Among Anglo-Catholic, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches we see Churches overall very similar in Worship styles (Sacramental, Hierarchy, Music, Monasticism)

Passages such as 2 Timothy 2:2 “The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” Paul exhorts Timothy to pass along his oral teaching's. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.” Again Paul encourages the Thessalonians to hold to the Holy Traditions. Scripture Alone advocates believe the Holy Spirit guides each individual to interpret Scripture, where as the Catholic-Orthodox view is that the Spirit has through the ages guided the Church in the Councils, and Doctors and Church Fathers teaching's. Even in Sacred Scripture we see the Holy Spirit guiding the first Council of the Church in Acts 15:6 “The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.” St. Peter and St. Paul didn't tell everyone to go home and read the Scriptures and let the Spirit guide them, instead they held a Council, this setup the Biblical example of Church Councils being called to interpret the Sacred Writ. The question was whether or not followers of Christ had to observe the Jewish laws, believers were debating amongst each other, the Church guided by the Holy Spirit declared Doctrine just as the Church did many times; Council of Nicaea, Council of Chalcedon, Council of Ephesus, and many others. Many who deny Sacred Tradition refuse to accept it's place in the Church simply because they do not want the Authority of the Church to rule them. Acts 4:32 “The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common” Here Acts describes a Church united in doctrine I think we can safely assume following the LXX Jewish writings and the Oral teaching's of the Apostles. If this verse had described a Sola Scriptura multitude it would have mentioned an Assembly of God, Southern Baptist, KJVO Fundametal group, and a Evangelical Non-Denominational Church. 1 Corinthians 11:2 “Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.” We see Oral Tradition being praised by Paul.  

 

Heretics must reject Sacred Tradition. Both the LDS and JW churches claim that the Church lost it's way. Mormonism especially is very descriptive of the fact that the Catholic-Orthodox faith fell into heresy when affirming the Trinity. These groups must object to the Sacred Tradition as the Church has always affirmed Christ Deity from His virgin birth, and His eternal existence in the Trinity. Even Arius when claiming Christ was created (the same heresy held by the Jehovah's Witness and Mormons) claimed the Trinity was a man made doctrine and not found in Scripture. This sounds very familiar to people who attack Catholic-Orthodox doctrine today. Claiming Mary, Confession, Mass, Intercession by the Saints, and the hierarchy are not found in Scripture.

The Holy Church has, with the help of the Holy Spirit, taught the faithful Doctrine and Canon throughout her 2,000 year reign. She is a Spiritual Kingdom, both the Body of Christ and Christ's Bride. Thank God for the Church- her Sacred Tradition, and Sacred Scripture from whence we derive Doctrine and Canon Law!