It would be utter silliness for anyone to fall into this trite challenge, for your "concicular decrees" are no more binding upon us as the Westminster Confession of Faith is binding upon you.
Au contraire, mon fraire. Those who met in council were the successors of the apostolic offices, to whom was given "all authority"
[color:"0000FF"]Mark 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.[/color]
He also promised unto one of them, and by extension, all who would hold that office, the blessing of infallibility in doctrinal and moral matters:
[color:"FF0000"]Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.[/color]
So we see that Jesus has indeed established a hierarchy to rule His earthly kingdom until His return. No covenantal structure is without authority.
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What matters is what the inspired, infallible, inerrant written Word of God teaches, to which many will distort, deny and depart.
Indeed. The multitudes of Protestant denominations, sects, cults, isms, and schisms -- all disagreeing with each other and yet all claiming to be led of the Holy Spirit into the "true Gospel" -- is a profound testimony and witness to this fact. At the same time, there remains but ONE Catholic Faith -- the same as was given to the apostles by Jesus Himself.
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I don't find it surprising that the majority of alleged Christian men would hold to Pelagianism/semi-Pelagianism, for it is the "natural theology" of a sinful mind and heart whose primary lust is to free themselves from their Creator as He has revealed Himself in His Word and make themselves "co-regents".
ROTFLMHO!!!!
I'm sorry. I just remember when I believed in Calvinism. The word Pelagianism was a "dirty word" to us theologically. Therefore, I am sort of superimposing upon you this picture in my mind of your icon with his pipe twirling in his mouth as you say the words!
My friend, obeying God is not Pelagianism. It is faith. God calls us to faith not as robots who can do no other than to obey because we are programmed to, but as the beloved Bride of Christ who freely gives her consent to the Beloved. That is the essence of what it means to "cut covenant" -- i.e., that we do so from a decision of our will, not from some inner prompting which we can not resist. We are human beings, not Borg (WARNING! You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile!).
If a man is not free to say "yes" to God, then it is not marriage, it is rape. God comes to us as our Beloved Bridegroom and waits that we either accept or reject His proposal to enter into the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.
