>> All conversations on the things of God should be for glorification of God, for the edification of Christians and for the salvation of those not yet saved.
'Right glory' is what the Greek word orthodox means. The 'dox' in orthodox means 'glory' in Greek. The 'orth' in orthodox means: upright/true/correct. As when an orthodontist straightens your teeth to make them upright or correct or pointing true. Or an orthopedic surgeon attempts to straighten one's spine to make them stand upright, or orthotics are employed to straighten and correct one's feet.
When the Latins illegally and unjustifiably altered the Creed, adding the filioque, or when you Emile unwittingly contradict the very Creed you seek to propound, denying the explicitly clear precept of ONE Apostolic Church, you cease to glorify God and the Church correctly! Is this a small thing?
One cannot on the one hand claim to confess the Nicene Creed while also speaking of multiple Apostolic Churches, which we know confess different dogmas and doctrines, not holding communion with one another.
This is ecumenism, religious relativism--the pan-heresy of our age.
>> It should never be to simply win and arguments or to demonstrate superior grasp of a theological point.
Glorifying God in the proper manner, with strict adherence to the tenets outlined in the Holy Symbol of faith, which has been confessed by countless millions of Christians worldwide throughout the age of the Church, has nothing to do with a mere demonstration or an attempt to win an argument. It has everything to do with glorifying God in the correct fashion, which is why we were given the Creed in the first place. So people could not go around promulgating their private (false) interpretations.
There is only ONE Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The Scripture and the Creed are explicitly clear: One Lord, One faith, One baptism. (Ephesians 4:5). Just as we are not polytheists confessing belief in multiple gods, nor are we anabaptists, repeating baptism over and over again, so likewise we confess One Apostolic Church, not multiples.
>> Doctrines and dogmas are very important in the Christian faith but their ultimate goal is to glorify God, edify God's people and help unbelievers believe.
What need is there for the "but"? If the ultimate goal is to glorify God, is this achieved by altering the simple meaning of the Scripture and the clause in the Creed which states there is only One Church? How would we help unbelievers believe by seeming to contradict ourselves, coming off as illogical and relativistic? The Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Protestants all hold to different confessions, with different doctrines, many mutually-opposed to one another. They cannot all be the "One Faith" that St. Paul speaks of. The Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox cannot both be Apostolic Churches, period. To be the Apostolic Church, there must not only be an outward sign of hands having been laid on in succession since Apostolic times, but the Apostolic confession of faith must also accompany this. The Roman Catholic papacy has perverted the Apostolic traditions and dogmas delivered to the Church by Christ through the holy Apostles, so it can in no way be considered "Apostolic".
>> I think these principles should be central as we wrestle with our faith and religious beliefs.
There should be no need to wrestle with our faith and religious beliefs. The faith has already been delivered (wholly, in its entirety) once to the saints. (Jude v. 3) All we have to do is strive to learn the Apostolic traditions and not deviate from them.
2 Thessalonians:
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
The Latins in the West deviated from the Apostolic tradition, and in the process separated themselves from the body of Christ. The holy Apostle Paul doesn't merely suggest, but commands us to separate from those who do not adhere to the Apostolic tradition.
Here is yet another example in his epistle to the Romans. Notice how the Apostle Paul doesn't merely suggest, but in fact beseeches us:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
The Roman papacy for the last thousand years has caused divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles, and so we must avoid it, for it does not serve the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather its own belly, deceiving the hearts of the simple. |
