What gives one Baptist the right and authority to tell another Baptist what the statements in the Bible mean? And to criticize the person who disagrees?
In the CRC only CRC ordained pastors are permitted to speak to a congregation with this sort of authority but don't Baptists teach the priesthood of all believers? "All Baptists are equal but some Baptists are more equal than others?"
We also believe in the LIBERTY of conscience too!
Individuals can tell anyone what we believe but individuals cannot force them to accept what we beleive.
However, in regard to the corporate congregation, the Lord has given it authority as a administrative body of immersed believers to teach, rebuke and need be discipline those who depart from the faith and practice of the congregation as Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Thes. 3:6 plainly state and command.
By the authority granted to allbeleivers in Christ!
IF a fellow Christian, or a pretender one, is teaching/proclaiming hertitcal doctrines, ALL Christians have obligation to speak out and confront it, using the Bible as their source of spiritual authority!
Which naturally begs the question…So which “corporate congregation” has THAT authority? Church of Christ…United Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostals, Assemblies of God, Roman Catholics…ect…Since all the congregations I listed differ in their faith and practices…
My former Baptist preacher would stand in the pulpit and hold his KJV up high over his head and proclaim that every Church within a 10 mile radius was in error…and we’d all respond in unison with our KJV’s held over our heads with a hearty “amen”!
There are essentials that are necessary to be recognized as a true Christian and there are essentials that are necessary to be recongized as a true congregation of Christ.
In each case, the Scriptures demand there are false Christians (tares) and true Christians and there are false congregations and true ones. This is obvious from reading the scriptures.
However, distinguishing which is which is the problem of rightly dividing the Word of Truth and application.
The problem is not with the scriptures but with those interpreting the scriptures.
there are churches that practice/follow NT principles, and there are those groups that have actual Christians in their midst, but would not be a NT church!
>Doesn't the CRC also teach the priesthood of believers as well??
Yes, but we append the teaching with a idea that "all priests are equal but some are more equal than others."
(sidebar: Thinking back to my Baptist years, my Baptist teachers knew everything about everything and never erred in anything . . . spoke ex cathedra.)
(sidebar: I asked a Wycliffe Bible translator if he told "his" converts that they now had the inerrant Bible. He said Yes, they did have an inerrant Bible.
Boggles the mind.)
So what’s the governing body that get’s to decide what those “NT principles” are that constitutes a “NT Church”?...and who makes up this governing body?
The Scriptures are the final source of authority to determine that and no one outside of yourself can ever be held responsible by God for determining what YOU believe the scriptures teach as right and wrong.
No one can believe for you, make decisions for you, be held accountable for your sins, determine right and wrong for you. You are held accountable by God for studying and obeying His Word and no one else can releive you of that responsibililty.
Would say that for example the RCC/greek orthodox and many other churches NOT practicing NT principles/doctrines, but still have real christians in their midst, despite NON NT teachings!
"The Scriptures are the final source of authority to determine that and no one outside of yourself can ever be held responsible by God for determining what YOU believe the scriptures teach as right and wrong. No one can believe for you, make decisions for you, be held accountable for your sins, determine right and wrong for you. You are held accountable by God for studying and obeying His Word and no one else can releive you of that responsibililty."
Then most any interpretation is acceptable in this life. God will judge in the next life. Or, as Jesus said, "Don't judge another man's servant." We may be God's servant but far as I know no one on BB works for another person on BB thus criticism of a member of a Christian Church is unwarranted.
Ah, but here we see that even you do not abide by what you are proposing...
By whose authority do you criticize those who criticize others???
Surely, someone who truly believes they are following scriptural instruction by pointing out error should be allowed to continue in that belief right?
If I believe that the only way for me be faithful to scripture and to God is to point out the errors of others, then surely you who believe the opposite should let me continue in my criticism without criticizing me?