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*["...There is a big difference between tradition and the traditions of man...sadly..."]
***The Protestant Church maintains that the Bible ALONE is intended by God to be the source of doctrinal truth (2 Timothy 3:16). The Catholic Church, however, says, "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God..." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 97.)
The Catholic Church reasons thus:
(1)"The apostles left bishops as their successors. They gave them ttheir own position of teaching authority." (paragraph 77)
(2)"This living transmission, accomplished through the Holy Spirit, is called tradition..." (paragraph 78)
(3)"Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence." (paragraph 82)
The Bible speaks about Tradition. Some verses speak FOR tradition and others speak AGAINST it. Of course, the CONTEXTS are different and carry different meanings. For example:
(1)FOR Tradition...2 Thessalonians 3:6...2 Thessalonians 2:15...and 1 Corinthians 11:2
(2)AGAINST Tradition...Matthew 15:3-6...Mark 7:8-9...Colossians 2:8
The Bible is FOR Tradition where it supports the teachings of the apostles [2 Tessalonians 2:15] and is consistent with biblical revelation.
Yet, it is AGAINST Tradition when it "transgresses the commands of God" [Matthew 15:3]. By Jesus' own words, Tradition is NOT to transgress or contradict the commands of God. In other words, it should be in harmony with biblical teaching and NOT OPPOSE IT in ANY way.
It is not enough to simply say that Sacred Tradition is EQUAL to Scripture based upon the decree of the Catholic Magisterium. Like any spiritual teaching, I must compare it to the Bible. In other words, do the teachings of the Catholic church that are derived through tradition transgress the commands of God?
When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:1-6, He reprimanded them for NOT understanding God's word. They were appealing to the Tradition of the elders [i.e., those who had passed down ORAL and WRITTEN tradition]. Jesus, on the other hand, exposed their error by CITING SCRIPTURE. Whatever might be said about this passage...at least one thing must be observed: The Tradition of the religious leaders was SUBJECT TO the Word of God. Are the religious leaders of the Catholic Church EXEMPT from SUBJECTION TO the WORD of GOD? And likewise, is their Sacred Tradition also EXEMPT? Absolutely NOT.
Where the Protestants would interpret Tradition in light of Scripture, it seems that the Catholic Church does just the OPPOSITE. Consider the following: "The Second Vatican Council indicates three criteria for interpreting Scripture in accordance with the Spirit who inspired it. 1. Be especially attentive 'to the content and unity of the whole Scripture'...2. Read the Scripture within 'the living Tradition of the whole Church.'...3. Be attentive to the analogy of faith." (paragraphs 111, 112, 113, 114).
It is number 2 that is the main concern here. What does it mean to read Scripture "within the living Tradition of the whole Church?" If Scripture is "within the living Tradition," then Tradition encompasses Scripture. In other words, it is the tradition of the Church that interprets Scripture. This is in CONTRADICTION to the Word of God spoken by Jesus in Matthew 15:1-6.
Some object and say that the Pharisees didn't have apostolic AUTHORITY and SUCCESSION that was ordained by the apostles as does the Catholic Church and, therefore, Matthew 15:1-6 cannot be used to nullify Sacred Tradition.
But the issue in Matthew 15:1-6 is NOT succession of authority...but the traditions of men being used in OPPOSITION to the truth of the Word of God. Essentially, the Pharisees were seeing the Word of God "within" their Sacred Tradition. The Catholic Church [like the Pharisees of old] has perpetuated the SAME error. Jesus, in contrast to this, cited the Word of God to judge their traditions.
(Continued)