Astralis,

Sola Scriptura means Scripture alone. As Protestants we maintain that the Scripture alone is our authority. Our Roman Catholic opponents maintain that the Scripture by itself is insufficient as the authority of the people of God, and that tradition and the teaching authority of the church must be added to the Scripture.

The Protestant position, is that all things necessary for salvation and concerning faith and life are taught in the Bible clearly enough for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand.

Solo Scriptura is very different and that's what Keith Mathison is pointing out in the article you read. He summarizes his critique by writing:

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Proponents of solo scriptura have deceived themselves into thinking that they honor the unique authority of Scripture. But unfortunately, by divorcing the Spirit-inspired Word of God from the Spirit-indwelt people of God, they have made it into a plaything and the source of endless speculation. If a proponent of solo scriptura is honest, he recognizes that it is not the infallible Scripture to which he ultimately appeals. His appeal is always to his on fallible interpretation of that Scripture. With solo scriptura it cannot be any other way, and this necessary relativistic autonomy is the fatal flaw of solo scriptura that proves it to be an unChristian tradition of men.

I hope you can see the BIG difference here. Private fallible interpretation and relativistic autonomy make this treatment of Scripture speculative at best.

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"Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law" Psalm 119:18; "....I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name...." Psalm 138:2; "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17

The doctrine that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority was the "Formal Principle" of the Reformation. In 1521 at the historic interrogation of Luther at the Diet of Worms, he declared his conscience to be captive to the Word of God saying, "Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons -- for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another -- I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word." Similarly, the Belgic Confession stated, "We believe that [the] holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein...Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures nor ought we to consider custom or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God... Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule" (VII).

There are at least a couple aspects in which Sola Scriptura is in jeopardy in today's church. Firstly, it is with great irony that many who call themselves "Reformed" now impart to historic confessions an authority due only to the Scriptures. When this occurs the creeds are the end of a doctrinal debate. Where do the Scriptures speak of giving authority to subsequent creeds? Do not the creeds themselves disallow for such a position? Roman Catholicism cries "Scripture and Church Tradition". Should we now cry "Scripture and Creedal Tradition"?! By no means! Solo Scriptura! Secondly, many in today's church impart the force of authority to experience. This is where much of the Charismatic movement derails. The Holy Spirit illuminates the hearts and minds of men with Scriptural truths. This is not the issue at hand with the Charismatic movement. What is often said is that "the Lord showed me...". The statement then rises above being questioned unless there is blatant Scriptural error.

By what authority do we derive our convictions and practices? May it be by Scripture alone!




Wes

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts