« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2006, 04:10:44 AM »

I am a convert who was raised in the Church of the Nazarene.  Admitedly sincere Christian people. 

When I got into defending my faith the more I learned the more I realized that Protestantism hinges on one giant impossibility: Sola Scriptura.

If the Bible is the sole rule of faith then what was the rule of faith for the first 300 years of Christianity before there was a bible?  And where does it say in the bible that it is the rule of the faith?  Nowhere.

The NT is full of exhortations to rely on the leaders for teaching, doctrine and even disciplinary issues yet it says nothing about itself.  Any references to "Scripture" in the NT are references to what we now call the Old Testament.

So the bottom line is who says that the Bible is the sole authority of a Christian???  Well, Martin Luther - and many after him, that's who.  It's man's doctrine, not Gods.

Christ gave us His Church and appointed leaders.  Those leaders recognized the need to replace lost ones (as they did when Judas died).  Disputes and schisms started right away...and what was the answer?  The leaders taught what was right. 

Even Protestants rely on "experts" to teach on the meaning of various passages...so since there are so many of them, how in the world are we to know who is right?

It's simple to me now.  We rely on the authority of Christ's Church.  And who are those authorities?  They are those who have been replaced right down the line from the original 12 that Christ gave us.

Remember: Christ did NOT write anything.  Instead he gathered those who would lead his Church, taught them, and sent them out to teach.

Much can be learned, also, from other early Christian writings about how things were done and what was taught.  See many of them here: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers

It is a long road, Ben.  Read, read, read. 

Also, I strongly suggest that you join a good R.C.I.A. program at a local Catholic Church.  If you'll tell me what city you're in, I'll help you find one. 

By joining one, you are only learning.  There is no commitment to join the Church in doing so.

Finally, let me say this.  Don't go with what "suits you best".  Go with what you find to be the best representation of the truths of the historic Christian faith.  The best start for learning what that is is the New Testament and the writings of the earliest Christians.

Read the book of Acts with an open mind and you'll see Christ's Church and the Authority of the leaders He assigned all through it.

Did I ramble too much? 

i really like your answer too Rick, especially about not going for what you are most suited to, but where you find truth!  i just wanted to add that it is really interesting how people got along for so long without books, of course the first one would eventually be the bible.  and jesus spoke so much in parables, it was a form that could be easily remembered and repeated for one thing.  in fact many devises were used that are specifically useful to oral translation.  you are definitely the right person to come to for answers, IMO.