I always have to ask myself what a person means when they say Catholic and it often refers to the RCC. However, it still stings a little when I see that catholicity gets a bad rap.
In regards to sola fide, and this is a huge topic but one that is important. But for myself, I see that the RC and the Protestants both seem to have one third of the equation "right".
There are not a few dialogues between Orthodox and Protestants and Roman Catholics on this issue and the dialogue is fascinating.
Orthodox position is basically that works contribute to our salvation but do not accomplish our salvation. We don't separate justification and sanctification. It's all part of the "process".
Here's a response to the sola-fide issue by an Orthodox "Catholic".
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I certainly believe in the KISS principle: Keep It Strictly Scriptural...
OK, I would say, starting off, that the biggest arguement is this: the teaching of Sola Fide (by Faith alone) dates, not from Apostolic times, but is an innovation from the 16th century and is based on some false or erroneous premises that come from flawed Catholic theology and which were never part of Orthodox theology to begin with. Orthodoxy looks at things in a very different light. We may use some of the same words, but we mean very different things by them, such as "salvation" and "justification".
An important thing to emphasize throughout is that Orthodoxy does NOT teach that we are "justified by works" in any way or that we can "earn" salvation. So, in that, we are in total agreement with Protestantism. But it is important to point out the Epistle of the Apostle James 2:14-17 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
My favorite analogy is also one that the Apostle Paul is fond of, that of an athlete (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 and Phillipians 3:14). Does an athlete "earn" his victory through training and exercise? No, but it is only through making an effort, WORKing for it, that victory can be achieved. If a runner simply has "faith" that he will win, but does not exercise, or make any effort, he will NOT get the prize. Sola Fide is a non-sequitor, it contradicts itself, because the ACT of making a decision to have Faith, is a concious effort, a WORK. This was apparent even to John Calvin, which caused him to take the whole thing to (in his mind) the only logical conclusion which is PREDESTINATION. Of course, if they are Calvinists, all bets are off and even trying to get them to see another side to the discussion is probably fruitless. Orthodoxy teaches us that we continually particpate in that work in EVERY decision we make, whether or not to ACCEPT (another ACT) God's GIFT of Salvation.
So, we can agree with them that we are SAVED by God alone, not by anything we do. However, even as the Holy Apostle James tells us in Holy Scripture, without ACTING/WORKING in accordance with God's will, our Faith is DEAD and does not save, otherwise, why would the Apostle even ask the question "Can faith save him?" in such a manner? Seems to fit the KISS principle, yes?
How's that for starters?
Your servant,
Herman
If you want to read the dialogue
CLICK HERE.
It goes on to speak about the RCC's doctrines of merit/indulgences, justification vs sanctification etc.
There's also an interesting dialogue on this subject between an Orthodox "Catholic" Priest and 44 others who have replied to his comments on Sola Fide. This too stems from other dialogues which if you're click happy you find yourself on all kinds of different websites with different theological bents.
Life is weird.
Here's a snip-it:
I have been enjoying
the discussion on Sola Fide immensely. It has been very exciting to be able to review theology on this subject, particularly since it has to do with my personal future someday! I had thought of posting again, but my post would have had to be too long. So, let me sketch out very briefly a couple of thoughts that would need lots of filling in.
1. Eastern theology is much less based on a forensic approach to the atonement. We still tend to concentrate much more on the Christus Victor approach toward the atonement as our primary model of understanding. Because we do, works do not play as much of a part in the argument over atonement as they do in the post-Augustinian West.
2. Some of the problem is of definition, and, if I can control the definition, I can win the debate. For the Protestant West, no work is pure, therefore no work is acceptable, by definition. Philosophical arguments are made about intentions, unexpected results, etc., to prove that none of our works is perfect. That is coupled with the Romans verse on “filthy rags.” However, as even Luther points out, the place of works before and after salvation is different. There is quite a bit of merit to the quotation from Luther about the difference between a dead faith and a living faith.
3. The Orthodox would not say with the Roman Catholics that we are working out our justification.
READ THERE REST HERE (CLICK HAPPY?)
So as you can see, we have Three major Christian sects. Two part Catholic, one part (with many sub-denominations) Protestant.
I think each has something to bring to the table. I think that when people are willing to hold their doctrines/sets of belief under the brightest of light (Christ) and enter into dialogue with others we have to do so in humility. There is always the possibility that we are mistaken. Paul wrote, test everything. He wrote about refutation and false doctrines. But more importantly, in these strange times, we also have to remember that when these things shall pass, the only thing that we can take into the eternal, that which transcends time itself, is love.
Romans 12:9
Love must be
sincere. Hate what
is evil; cling to what
is good.
1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of this command
is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a
sincere faith.
God bless
