Optional Homework!!

Hey guys!

This is just a little in between post, to get you thinking.

I came across a website, which I believe is run by Seventh Day Adventists, though I am not 100% sure.  Suffice it to say that they are very protestant, and even believe that the Catholic Church is Revelation’s “harlot of Babylon” and the Pope is the anti-Christ.

The website is http://www.bibleprophecytruth.com/

And at the bottom of the site, I found a section given to “Ask a Bible Question.”

I asked, and a few weeks later I received a response.  I asked a question because I am trying to get better at an apologetics strategy that I’ve recently learned about (*I’ll describe that below*).  The question I asked is as follows:

“Where in the Bible does it say that we should go by the Bible ALONE when it comes to all matters pertaining to faith and morals?

 Also, who has the authority to interpret the Holy Scriptures? And from where does this authority come?

-Lucas”

The purpose of asking about their faith, rather than just spitting out Bible verses, is to let them feel like they’re teaching me.  If they are put on the defensive, they will be closed off to what I have to say.  (In this scenario, of course I’m going to ask, but I’m merely trying to illustrate the principle of asking questions rather than answering a whole slew of questions like most Catholics who defend the faith )  

I received this response:

“Hi Lucas,

(1)    2 Chron. 20:20;  Isa. 8:20;   Amos 3:7;  Prov. 3:5, 6;  and many other places.

(2)    The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts our hearts and leads us into all truth:  John 16:13  and many other places.    God uses prophets too:  2 Peter 1:21;  Numbers 12:6  and many other places.

Great questions Lucas.     - AF, Pastor Luke.      www.BibleUniverse.com          www.BibleProphecyTruth.com”

I encourage you to look up each of these verses and read them for yourself.  Try to dissect them and find holes in the argument, because believe me, the holes are there.  Personally, I’m surprised they did not give me 2 Tim 3:16, as that’s the most commonly used verse to defend Sola Scriptura.  

(In case it’s not clear, (1) is in response to my first question of why the bible alone, and (2) is in response to my second question about authority to interpret).  I have already sent them my response (and am waiting eagerly to see what they say), but would like to hear from my readers!  What would you say?

**This apologetics strategy is number 2 of John Martignoni’s 4 Apologetics Strategies and tactics.  There are 4 main apologetics strategies that he teaches people to use: 1)The Ignorant Catholic, 2) Being Offensive (Aw-fensive) Without Being Offensive (Uh-fensive); 3) It's the Principle of the Thing; and 4) But That's MY Interpretation.

The best way to do this is to ask questions.  John runs the Bible Christian Society.  It is a nonprofit Catholic Organization based in Alabama.  I personally enjoy going to his website and reading the newsletters and 2-minute apologetics sections, though the rest of his site is interesting and helpful too.

His site is www.biblechristiansociety.com.

I hope you had a good weekend and have a great week!

Luke