Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 151.  Tue 11-17-92 22:38  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Jim Varnado
 Subject: Scripture, Tradition, et al.

ÚÄ
³ Hi Father:
³ > The challenge: "show me where it says so in the Bible" is not really
³ > very powerful.  The Bible is not the only repository of God's
³ > revelation, as I said in message #709.  To be solidly grounded in the
³ > truth, we must look to the Church.
³ >
³ >                                         Sincerely in Christ,
³    Having read both msgs to Joey, I would have to disagree with your above
³ statement.  The Bible is the repository of God's revelation.  Your wording
³ in msg 709 to Joey is slightly different in menaing than the above quote.
³ Oral tradition, reason and yes, even experience must conform to the Holy
³ Word.  It has been my observation that tradition has devolved or
³ degenerated to "we've always done it this way."  and Jesus has been
³ ignored.  Jesus is the standard.  If we are to be conformed to the image
³ of Christ, we cannot be conformed to tradition, reason or experiencethese l
³ ast three do not comprise a living being.  IHS  jim
³
ÀÄ[JV=>FM]
 
Dear Jim,
 
Of course, the Bible is the repository of God's revelation, but the
Bible is not the *only* repository of God's revelation.
 
Nowhere does any book of the Bible list all the other books and claim
that, all together, they contain the whole revelation.  Nowhere does
the Bible establish an equation: God's Word = the written word of
Scripture.  The notion that Scripture Alone contains all of revelation
was a 16th century innovation.  The Bible itself does not teach it,
and until we decently bury it, we can never be united.  Both Scripture
and Sacred Tradition preach Christ, but only in the Church, the Body
of Christ (Eph. 5), the Pillar and Foundation of Truth.  Christ
assured his appointed teachers, "He that hears you, hears me," and he
assured them of the continuing guidance of the Holy Spirit, who would
remind them of every thing He taught and guide them to all truth.
 
I respect (while rejecting) your observation that "tradition has ...
degenerated to `we've always done it this way.'"  But you will forgive
me if I prefer Paul's command to his Thessalonians: "Stand firm and
hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral
statement or by a letter of ours" (2nd Thess 2:15).  His command is
inspired by God (2nd Tim. 3:16), and therefore "is useful ... for
training in righteousness", and could never lead to Jesus' being ignored.
 
And since Jesus is the standard, as you so well say, then we must be
conformed to the image of Christ.  And the only way we can be sure that we
are so conformed is actually to belong in faith and obedience to the
Body of Christ, which is the Church (Col. 1:24).
 
                                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
 
                                                Father Mateo