Quote:
Originally posted by Peter
That's interesting Rev Winzer, thank you. In light of Jesus' rebuking the Pharisees for their traditions I thought that Karaite Jews with their rejection of the alleged Oral traditions of Moses and insistence upon the scriptures were closer to the truth then orthodox Jews. Doesn't this view militate against sola scriptura and the RPW? Don't the Papists defend their superstitious doctrines by saying that they received them from traditions handed down from the apostles?
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Concerning the first question, we recognise the power of the church to make decisions with respect to the circumstantials of worship. As one who ministers in a church with a strong Scottish Presbyterian background, I appreciate the traditions which have come down to us, especially in relation to addressing the Most High in thee and thou.
Concerning Popish abuse, they make such traditions "necessary to salvation," whereas Protestants affirm that all things necessary for faith and life are either expressly set down in Scripture or may be deduced by good and necessary consequence. Because we allow for a deductive system of Christian theology, tradition is a key element of the interpretative process for Protestants, and hence we have historically placed a great emphasis on creeds and confessions.