How do we discern truth from error, sound doctrine from
unsound doctrine, orthodoxy from heresy? How do we discern when a
doctrine is fully heretical and when it is only aberrational?
In Part One of this two-part article I presented a case for
doctrinal discernment as a necessary ongoing task of the church.
In this concluding part I will suggest some guidelines for
carrying out this task in a way that is faithful to Scripture.
*PRINCIPLES FOR IDENTIFYING HERESY*
Discerning orthodoxy from heresy should be done on the basis
of sound _principles,_ each of which in turn must be based on the
teaching of God's Word. I begin, then, by discussing four
principles which the church ought to utilize as tools to identify
and expose heresy. Although they are subject to misunderstanding
and abuse, all four -- properly interpreted -- are valid and
should be utilized together in doctrinal discernment.
(1) _The protestant principle._ Here I am not referring to an
exclusively Protestant position, but rather to a principle that
will be especially agreeable to Protestants (particularly
evangelicals). According to this principle, _the Bible alone is
the written Word of God, and as such is the infallible,
definitive standard in matters of controversy in the church._
This principle follows from the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself,
who taught that while human tradition and religious leaders are
fallible, Scripture is the Word of God and never errs (Matt.
5:17-20; 15:3-9; 22:29; John 10:35). Since to be a Christian
means, minimally, to be a follower of Jesus Christ, no person or
group can claim to be truly Christian that does not at least
acknowledge this special authority of the Bible.
I said that this teaching is not held exclusively by
Protestants, though it is especially agreeable to them. Both
Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy (the other two main
branches of Christianity) teach that the church's traditions are
infallible and authoritative, a teaching with which Protestants
cannot agree. Thus, these branches of Christianity do not adhere
fully to the protestant principle as defined here. On the other
hand, Catholicism and Orthodoxy do teach that the Bible is the
_norma normans_ -- that is, the norm by which all other norms are
to be judged. Thus, at least in some sense, the view of all major
Christian traditions is that Scripture has the final word. But
evangelical Protestants have upheld this principle more
consistently than Christians in the Catholic or Orthodox
traditions....
Source File: crj0071a.txt
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