Romans922
Puritan Board Professor
I have a former presbyterian friend who is now Eastern Orthodox (EO).
Our discussions about ANYTHING always lead to Sola Scriptura and him saying that isn't Scriptural and that protestants are hypocritical on this point. Him pointing out the Protestant churches use of Church Tradition as an authority. Examples: Canonization of Scripture, the church councils, the development of the Trinity, the use of Calvin, Luther, etc.
Because I deny Tradition as a final authority, he responded in this way, "You would deny the Church her God given place by accusing her of being so devoid of the Holy Spirit, that the men who replaced the apostles in the Church could not keep the faith for 2000 years. You claim that God is so sovereign yet you would deny that the same God either couldn't or didn't guide the Church for the last 1600 years. Your view of God seems pretty weak."
As to the use of icons he has said, "You are bearing false witness against your neighbor when you insinuate that I am an idolater because the Orthodox venerate icons. In the Old Testament it was forbidden to attempt to represent God because no accurate representation could be made. He had never shown Himself. After the Incarnation it is acceptable to represent Christ , the Incarnate Son of God because He became a man. I worship the Holy Trinity, I do not worship the icons. To venerate an icon is like the child who kisses her father that she sees outside her window going to work. When she kisses the window what is she kissing? She is kissing her father. When I venerate an icon I am not venerating wood and paint. I am venerating Christ."
Continually it is very frustrating for me, it keeps going back to Sola Scriptura (I know that is the hinge of any argument with him). Actually the Holy Spirit is the hinge But for argument sake, Sola Scriptura. Any thoughts???
Our discussions about ANYTHING always lead to Sola Scriptura and him saying that isn't Scriptural and that protestants are hypocritical on this point. Him pointing out the Protestant churches use of Church Tradition as an authority. Examples: Canonization of Scripture, the church councils, the development of the Trinity, the use of Calvin, Luther, etc.
Because I deny Tradition as a final authority, he responded in this way, "You would deny the Church her God given place by accusing her of being so devoid of the Holy Spirit, that the men who replaced the apostles in the Church could not keep the faith for 2000 years. You claim that God is so sovereign yet you would deny that the same God either couldn't or didn't guide the Church for the last 1600 years. Your view of God seems pretty weak."
As to the use of icons he has said, "You are bearing false witness against your neighbor when you insinuate that I am an idolater because the Orthodox venerate icons. In the Old Testament it was forbidden to attempt to represent God because no accurate representation could be made. He had never shown Himself. After the Incarnation it is acceptable to represent Christ , the Incarnate Son of God because He became a man. I worship the Holy Trinity, I do not worship the icons. To venerate an icon is like the child who kisses her father that she sees outside her window going to work. When she kisses the window what is she kissing? She is kissing her father. When I venerate an icon I am not venerating wood and paint. I am venerating Christ."
Continually it is very frustrating for me, it keeps going back to Sola Scriptura (I know that is the hinge of any argument with him). Actually the Holy Spirit is the hinge But for argument sake, Sola Scriptura. Any thoughts???