May 27, 2010 – Acts 2:37-3:26

I know there is a lot of debate going on with some of my notes or thoughts and that is great.  I should, as always, clarify that I am not an expert on any of this, I just throw thoughts into somewhat coherent words.  I encourage us all to put our thoughts into this exchange and do always do so in a loving and charitable way.  I hope we have done so thus far and I have enjoyed the exchanges. 

When I was reading this about the early Church, it brought to mind the 2 main beliefs of some Protestant denominations.  Really only one.  Between Faith Alone and Bible Alone I have heard many different arguments and debates.  Faith Alone, although I don’t agree with, I feel is a much more plausible belief than the Bible alone.  That understanding just doesn’t sit well in my mind.  Reading this section about Peter standing up and teaching these new converts and then the description of what they do as a community is in all Protestant Bibles (I am assuming this). 

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. …they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. “

There is nothing in there about reading the Bible or believing in the Bible Alone as your authority.  These early Christians learned not from the Bible but from the teaching of the Apostles.  And they did not read the Bible and interpret it on their own.  There was no Bible.  How can a religion be based on a belief that could not be believed by its founders.  How can the First Christian Church say they believe in the Bible Alone when the First Christians did not share that belief.  I have never heard a convincing argument that the Bible Alone is what we are suppose to believe.  There must be some authority outside of the Bible that gives us the Bible and tells us the Bible is correct.  If God is that authority and the Bible Alone is true, Jesus should have given us the Bible before He left and should have said everything in here is all you need to know.