Sola vs. Sola

I found this while surfing around and it is definitely worthy of a post and a link.

Source (http://www.scottbrownonline.com)

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Seven Solas of the Modern Church

Layman's guide to the key drivers of the 21st century church

1. Sola Cultura - let culture define church life

2. Sola Successa - let numerical success legitimize activities

3. Sola Entertaina - let entertainment be the guiding principle

4. Sola Edificia - let the edifice be the center of church life

5. Sola Programma - let programs dominate the peoples time

6. Sola Thralldoma – let the people be enslaved by whatever thrills them

7. Sola Processa – let the church be managed by business philosophies and processes

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Then there is the contrasting page concerning the five solas of the protestant reformation.

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In contrast, to the seven solas of the modern church, the five Solas of the Protestant Reformation were,

1. Sola Scriptura! The Scripture Alone is the Standard

2. Soli Deo Gloria! All for the Glory of God Alone

3. Solo Christo! By Christ's Work Alone are We Saved

4. Sola Gratia! Salvation by Grace Alone

5. Sola Fide! Justification by Faith Alone

Each of these “solas’ stand in sharp contrast with the principles guiding modern evangelicalism because they argue against man made accretions in the church.

We need to consider if we in the modern church are in a similar situation that faced the reformers. Has culture over swept biblical patterns? Have we added practices, offices and principles that are not found in scripture? Have we invented a new brand of Christianity, unknown to the scriptures? If so, it’s time for another reformation.

Here are two Scottish reformers commenting on “Sola Scriptura,” which was the key battlefield during the Scottish reformation. The Scottish reformers despised the inventions of the church and believed they were idolatrous. Here is the testimony of two reformers.

Scottish Lutheran Henry Balnaves declared,

“Among the vaine works invented may man, which outht to be eschewed as unprofitable, wee, “the superstitious worshipping of Saintes; going on pilgrimage; purgeing ,in purgatorie; hallowing of water, or other elements; foundation fo masses to publike or private idolatrie; offering or sacrifices making, not commanded in the Word of God; choice of meats; forbidding marriage in the church of God; and abominable abuses of the whole Christian religion by the shaven, oincted, or smeared priests, bishops, monkes, and firers…”

In a letter answering a question regarding freedom and liberty of conscience in wearing church garb. He called it “unprofitable apparel”. “If surp-claithes, cornett cap, and tippet has bein badges of idolaters in the verie act of ther idolatire, what hes the preacher of Christian libertie and the open rebuiker of all superstitioun to doe with the dregges of that Romish beast.” (From, Patterns of Reform , James Kirk, P340)

John Knox affirmed,

“These Diabolicall inventiouns, Crossing in baptism, kneeling at the Lord’s table, mummeling or singing of the liturgies” and he severly attacked, the Mingle mangle as now is commanded in your kirks including the use of the surplice and the commemoration of the saints day, which he considered neither commanded by Christ nor found in the prayers of the apostles, nather yit received in any well reformed kirk. (From, “Patterns of Reform”, by James Kirk, p337-339)

Similarly, the Belgic Confession explains,

"We believe that [the] holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein...Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures nor ought we to consider custom or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God... Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule" (VII).