Does Tradition complement scripture?

[john6:63]

Greetings

I know it’s been awhile since I last posted here at phatmass, as I’ve been quite busy reading and studying. I’ve also been meeting with Catholics, like PedroX, whom I appreciated the time he took to meet with me personally. I’ve also been meeting with my pastor and the associate pastor, by my wife’s request and I also believe that it is the right thing to do, since they are my home church. My wife has also arranged a meeting for me with a Methodist pastor who used to be Catholic and that meeting is today. Yes, she’s doing everything she can, but the Will of God is just too strong and I believe she’s starting to recognize this.

My wife and I have been discussing “tradition” versus “scripture,” or Sola Scriptura. I told her that I have read (and I maybe getting this wrong, so please correct me), that: “tradition cannot be backed up unless the tradition is grounded in scripture.” And that “scripture cannot be backed up unless it is grounded in tradition.” Now I maybe getting the wording here wrong, because I cannot find or remember the source I read this from. Or is this even a correct statement?

So this is how I explained this “tradition” and “scripture” stuff to her:

Baptism is a tradition in the Protestant Church that is grounded in scripture. Scripture speaks of baptism and is therefore grounded in Tradition.

Immersion is the ONLY mode of baptism in certain Protestant Churches (namely Baptists). This mode has been the traditional mode, and this mode ONLY is not supported in scripture. The Greek word has many meanings. This mode of baptism ONLY is not grounded in scripture. Therefore this tradition fails to support scripture and vice versa.

Altar Calls are a tradition in Baptist churches. Since scripture speaks of no such thing, altar calls cannot be considered scriptural. Therefore the tradition of altar calls fails to support scripture and vice versa.

Was this a clear way to explain this “roadblock” to her?

Thanks for your thoughts,
Blessings
-Tommy

PS. Is there any tradition in the Roman Catholic Church that isn’t backed up in scripture?

[son_of_angels]

It should be noted that there is a distinction in the Church between Tradition (capital T) and custom (tradition with a lower case t). The former is what has been handed down to us by the apostles through their successors and, no, there are none of these that are not "backed up" in Scripture, as the Scriptures belong to this tradition. The latter are simply practices that develop both by habit and local practice. Many of these are not "biblical" per se, but often point to biblical truths.

For example, the notion of "conditional baptism" doesn't really make sense biblically, but it points to the necessity of baptism, etc.

[homeschoolmom]

Next time you meet with PedroX, give him one of these for me and tell him (for me) to quit

[PedroX]

HS Mom,

Very funny! Now quit messin' around, I got some smokin' to do!

Tommy,


You have a very good grasp on what Tradition is. Lowercase tradition, or custom, are mostly matters of personal piety (the rosary) or matters of discipline (priestly celibacy). For example, the rosary is not found anywhere in scripture, nor are we commanded to do it by the church. Can you be a good Catholic and never pray the rosary? Yes. However, can you better a better Catholic because of praying the rosary? Yes.

Could the discipline of celibate priests change? Yes. Do we believe that celibacy is best for the Church? Yes.

Hope that makes sense.

peace...

[homeschoolmom]

Of course, to clarify, many of the parts of the rosary are in Scripture...

And some rites of the Church don't have the discipline of priestly celebacy.

I read a really great article on Tradition and tradition... now where is that? :scratch:

[phatcatholic]

Tommy....................you may want to check [url="http://www.phatmass.com/directory/index.php/cat_id/24"][b]this[/b][/url] out

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='john6:63' date='Jul 20 2005, 10:06 AM']Greetin

My wife has also arranged a meeting for me with a Methodist pastor who used to be Catholic and that meeting is today. Yes, she’s doing everything she can, but the Will of God is just too strong and I believe she’s starting to recognize this.

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Have you noticed that some parts of a Methodist service have come out of the Catholic mass? Some of the prayers are the same.

In 1981 i left the church. I decided I was going to discorver the "real church Jesus founded." Well after about 2 years of research I discovered that every church after the Catholic church was found based on a man's "opinion."

It started with the Lutherans and today it pretty much has come down to this..If Billy Bob (sorry I'm in Georgia) goes to Bubba's church and doesn't like Bubba's preaching he leaves and starts his own church. Which works until Duke goes to Billy Bob's church and doesn't like what Billy Bob is preaching and leaves to start his own church. ETC. ETC. ETC.

I came back to the Church for pretty much that reason but also because I don't want to belong to a church that changes when I do.

I don't want to be part of a Church that has changed to keep the populace happy. There has to be accountability.

A good parent does not change the rules whenever the child doesn't like them.

[john6:63]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Jul 24 2005, 01:25 AM']Tommy....................you may want to check [url="http://www.phatmass.com/directory/index.php/cat_id/24"][b]this[/b][/url] out 
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Wow! This site is just awesome! Anything one could possible need and more. Thanks for a great site; I’ve learned a lot!

[homeschoolmom]

And Tommy... What Phatcatholic is probably too modest to mention is that he is mainly responsible for that wonderful reference section. Thanks, Phatcatholic!!!