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Date:         Fri, 11 Sep 1992 11:25:00 EST
From:         "DRCV06::GRAHAM" <GRAHAM%DRCV06.decnet@DRCVAX.AF.MIL>
Subject:      Tradition, Sola Scriptura and church "fathers."

I read both of James' essays on Sola Scriptura and the Cannons of the
Council of Orange.  Very interesting reading, recommended to everyone.

These two essays caused me to think on a lot of church history I had
learned and forgotton in the past.  You know, the church is an interesting
and amazing thing, and, for the most part, has completely ignored the
Scriptures and sought its own way.

You can look at many of the "councils" of the church, Orange,
Constantinople, Carthage, Laodicia, Nicia, Trent, the list is nearly
endless.  Who went to them?  Men, just plain, nothing special about them,
men.  They were not apostles, nor the successors of apostles since there
are none.  They argued, fought, sometimes killed each other, and still
couldn't agree on the meaning of the Bible, or even its contents.

And, who on earth decided that some of them were "fathers?"  Jesus
explicetly indicated who was the Father, and no man has a right to such a
title, living or dead.  These "fathers" were nothing special so far as I
can see.  They didn't write scripture, they weren't apostles.

Paul refers to tradition that is not in the present cannon.  So what!  This
is no excuse for admitting non-apostolic traditions into any body of
believers.  The only traditions we have from the  apostles is already
written in the New Testament.  All other traditions is lost, and that is as
it should be.  Those things some would have us believe are traditions, as
valid as Scripture, are inventions of the post apostilic church, and are,
to me, completely irrelevant and false.

The Bible is not in any way a subset of tradition.  It is the only
tradition left to us by the apostles.  There is no universal set here,
nothing else.  These many councils and writers accomplished nothing as far
as I can see.  They wrote a lot about the bible, which is not needed.  The
Bible is not that big.  It can be understood by anyone posessing the Holy
Spirit, and not by anyone else.  We do not need past gurus to ordain
orthodoxy for us.  We have the words of the apostles and Jesus Christ, we
don't need any more than that and what the Spirit does in our own hearts.

Remember that the Word of God is not the bible, it is Jesus.  The Bible is
part of the Word, and the Spirit in the heart of the born again is the
other part.  Tradition outside of Scripture is not going to help anyone in
any way.

I tell you, after the discussions of the past few days, If I didn't know
for myself what the Bible says, If I didn't believe with all my heart that
I am born again and wasn't completely assured of my standing with God, I'd
give it all up!

The assault of men's opinions and commentaries and traditions began before
John finished his gospel, and continues to this day.  If the Holy Spirit
wittnesses in your heart of the truth of the Bible, you don't need
tradition or organized religion to follow in the steps of Christ.  If you
need cruches, you should find the true Way.

I do not condemn any person here, but I offer my heartiest condenmation to
every religion or ogranization or so-called church who stands in the way of
the believer and his God and that God's Word.

Dan Graham
P.S., This is written in frustration, partially.  I wanted it that way.  If
I think about it, I might not send it, and it needs to be sent.