“I defy the Pope and all his laws,” said Tyndale to a man who considered the pope’s law superior to God’s law. Tyndale went on, “If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the Scriptures than thou dost.”
Got to love those holy and righteous Catholics! It is because of this history that I feel uneasy when Catholics talk about salvation only within the Church or the Church determines what the Bible means. The Orthodox Church has similar beliefs. They are a bit better because they focus on the early Church Fathers moreso than the Medieval theologians. I think we can lean much from all of them, but to call them infallible or to give any organization full authority to dictate and enforce Bible doctrine can still be a very big problem.
My favorite characters of this time are John Hus and John Wycliffe, but Tyndale is up there too. A true hero of the faith.
I think about this idea of "no salvation out side of the Church" or something like that, stated very early on and embraced by many in this more historical institutions - and meant institutionally.
For the first 1500 years of Christendom, and with the relative lack of mobility, the statement likely made sense. After all, there was one church in my town, and if I was outside of it - how could I be in the church?
We have come to a point, especially in the last 200 years or so, and far more today: in the West, everyone can individualize their church experience. We are all Protestants now. By that, of course I don't mean by institution or tradition. I mean we all have choices about where to attend and how to worship.
With all that said, there is a richness to theological history that is not very well emphasized, if at all, in many protestant circles.
Got to love those holy and righteous Catholics! It is because of this history that I feel uneasy when Catholics talk about salvation only within the Church or the Church determines what the Bible means. The Orthodox Church has similar beliefs. They are a bit better because they focus on the early Church Fathers moreso than the Medieval theologians. I think we can lean much from all of them, but to call them infallible or to give any organization full authority to dictate and enforce Bible doctrine can still be a very big problem.
My favorite characters of this time are John Hus and John Wycliffe, but Tyndale is up there too. A true hero of the faith.
https://thecrosssectionrmb.blogspot.com/
I think about this idea of "no salvation out side of the Church" or something like that, stated very early on and embraced by many in this more historical institutions - and meant institutionally.
For the first 1500 years of Christendom, and with the relative lack of mobility, the statement likely made sense. After all, there was one church in my town, and if I was outside of it - how could I be in the church?
We have come to a point, especially in the last 200 years or so, and far more today: in the West, everyone can individualize their church experience. We are all Protestants now. By that, of course I don't mean by institution or tradition. I mean we all have choices about where to attend and how to worship.
With all that said, there is a richness to theological history that is not very well emphasized, if at all, in many protestant circles.