Heresy Definition and Comments gbs
Because I read on this forum comments concerning the heretic, the following is provided for perspective.
Definition:
A heresy is a doctrinal position that conflicts with an orthodox doctrine.
An orthodox doctrine is one formally accepted by one of the church councils.
Contention exists among some groups over which of the church councils have authority.
Therefore, the definition of heresy is dependent upon which of the church councils are accepted as orthodox by a particular group.
There is an assumption that orthodox doctrines are consistent with what is taught in the Bible.
(1). However, it is conceivable that a doctrine could be biblical and be a heresy if a church council decided an opposing doctrine was orthodox.
(2). Conversely, a doctrine could be orthodox and be inconsistent to what the Bible teaches. An example of an orthodox doctrine that is inconsistent to what the Bible teaches would be found in the Vatican II Roman Catholic Church Council which declared that both Jews and Moslems were saved by their faith in the same God that Christians worship.
(3). Also, it is conceivable that a doctrine could be unbiblical and not be a heresy. An example would be the debate over falling from grace and the perseverance of the saints or once saved always saved. Logically, only one of these positions may be biblical, but neither contradicts a doctrine formally accepted by one of the seven early church councils generally accepted by protestants; therefore, since neither can be a heresy, one of them must be unbiblical but not a heresy. The Catholic doctrine concerning Mary is considered heretical by the Orthodox Church.
According to this understanding of heresy most disagreements among Christians should be between
(a) which position is biblical or unbiblical rather than calling the others position a heresy;
or
(b) the disagreement may between whether a position is orthodox or not by the debaters, and if it is the case that it is not orthodox, it is appropriate to label the doctrine a heresy and the person who holds it a heretic. 4/15/2006 gbs
Comments:
Not all orthodox believers are correct in their beliefs and not all heretics are wrong in their beliefs. The distinction is in the application of what is orthodox. There are doctrinal positions in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church which have been approved by their church councils which other branches of Christianity do not accept as orthodox. According to the Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church all Protestant are heretics.
Among Christians during the first 400 years there were a number of doctrines were believed which at a later date were declared a heresy. Specifically, the nature of Christ, the nature of the Godhead, and the nature of the Holy Spirit were areas of massive disagreements. In some centuries a large majority of Christians believed and taught what would in a later church council be declared a heresy.
Today, the issue with labeling someone a heretic is the use carries with it an implicit idea that a heretic is not just wrong but is outside the possibility of salvation. This idea of heresy is applied to the LDS and JW with a meaning which Christians think is appropriate. However, saved Christians may also be saved as evidenced by the large numbers in the first 400 years.
Today’s Christians are mistaken to use the early church councils’ decisions which labeled early Church leaders as heretics as a legitimate argument to discount the writings of every one of the heretics. Strange as it may be to accept, some heretics made significant contributions in other doctrinal areas. Historically, it was often the arguments of future heretics supporting what would become a heresy which became the impetus for the counter arguments which became orthodox.
According to some branches of Christianity and a number of Protestant denominations I would be classified as a heretic.
In practice, I do not want to be an orthodox Catholic, but a heretic according to the Catholic Church.
Knowing Church history drastically changes ones view of heresy and whether or not one is offended by being labeled a heretic. The heroes of the Protestant Church were all heretics according to the Roman Catholic Church. 9/28/2017 gbs
Because I read on this forum comments concerning the heretic, the following is provided for perspective.
Definition:
A heresy is a doctrinal position that conflicts with an orthodox doctrine.
An orthodox doctrine is one formally accepted by one of the church councils.
Contention exists among some groups over which of the church councils have authority.
Therefore, the definition of heresy is dependent upon which of the church councils are accepted as orthodox by a particular group.
There is an assumption that orthodox doctrines are consistent with what is taught in the Bible.
(1). However, it is conceivable that a doctrine could be biblical and be a heresy if a church council decided an opposing doctrine was orthodox.
(2). Conversely, a doctrine could be orthodox and be inconsistent to what the Bible teaches. An example of an orthodox doctrine that is inconsistent to what the Bible teaches would be found in the Vatican II Roman Catholic Church Council which declared that both Jews and Moslems were saved by their faith in the same God that Christians worship.
(3). Also, it is conceivable that a doctrine could be unbiblical and not be a heresy. An example would be the debate over falling from grace and the perseverance of the saints or once saved always saved. Logically, only one of these positions may be biblical, but neither contradicts a doctrine formally accepted by one of the seven early church councils generally accepted by protestants; therefore, since neither can be a heresy, one of them must be unbiblical but not a heresy. The Catholic doctrine concerning Mary is considered heretical by the Orthodox Church.
According to this understanding of heresy most disagreements among Christians should be between
(a) which position is biblical or unbiblical rather than calling the others position a heresy;
or
(b) the disagreement may between whether a position is orthodox or not by the debaters, and if it is the case that it is not orthodox, it is appropriate to label the doctrine a heresy and the person who holds it a heretic. 4/15/2006 gbs
Comments:
Not all orthodox believers are correct in their beliefs and not all heretics are wrong in their beliefs. The distinction is in the application of what is orthodox. There are doctrinal positions in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church which have been approved by their church councils which other branches of Christianity do not accept as orthodox. According to the Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church all Protestant are heretics.
Among Christians during the first 400 years there were a number of doctrines were believed which at a later date were declared a heresy. Specifically, the nature of Christ, the nature of the Godhead, and the nature of the Holy Spirit were areas of massive disagreements. In some centuries a large majority of Christians believed and taught what would in a later church council be declared a heresy.
Today, the issue with labeling someone a heretic is the use carries with it an implicit idea that a heretic is not just wrong but is outside the possibility of salvation. This idea of heresy is applied to the LDS and JW with a meaning which Christians think is appropriate. However, saved Christians may also be saved as evidenced by the large numbers in the first 400 years.
Today’s Christians are mistaken to use the early church councils’ decisions which labeled early Church leaders as heretics as a legitimate argument to discount the writings of every one of the heretics. Strange as it may be to accept, some heretics made significant contributions in other doctrinal areas. Historically, it was often the arguments of future heretics supporting what would become a heresy which became the impetus for the counter arguments which became orthodox.
According to some branches of Christianity and a number of Protestant denominations I would be classified as a heretic.
In practice, I do not want to be an orthodox Catholic, but a heretic according to the Catholic Church.
Knowing Church history drastically changes ones view of heresy and whether or not one is offended by being labeled a heretic. The heroes of the Protestant Church were all heretics according to the Roman Catholic Church. 9/28/2017 gbs
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