Do I Lack The Holy Spirit & Regeneration? Response 3

Thanks to all the readers for sticking with us through this dialogue. I hope our exchange shows that two people can respectfully disagree and remain friends.

Below, we hone in on our key disagreement: who gets the final say. Eric ultimately appeals to the Holy Spriit working through the Bible to instruct the true regenerated Christian. Unsurprisingly, two of these (the Holy Spirit and true regeneration) remain unverifiable.

Furthermore, his appeal is circular, as only those who interpret the Bible correctly possess regeneration and the Holy Spirit. Such an approach also allows for Eric (and Protestants in general) the luxury of dismissing those with whom they disagree. For example, as a Catholic, I disagree with Eric because I lack spiritual regeneration and the Holy Spirit. If I were truly regenerated and possessed the Holy Spriit, Eric and I would see eye-to-eye. We do not, so I must lack what he possesses.

Let’s look at his take on my claims.

My Claims Concerning the Bible

Dennis argues that Scripture does not “possess within itself enough clarity to exist without the need for external interpretive authority.”

I do not remember wording my argument in such a way. I argue that every attempt at biblical interpretation constitutes the exercise of an “external interpretive authority.” The key difference between Protestants and Catholics concerns the legitimacy of an “external interpretive authority” or lack thereof. Protestants simply lack any legitimate authority to interpret the Bible. Furthermore, appeals to the Holy Spirit and regeneration does not grant the Protestant legitimate interpretive authority.

The Catholic Church Stands Between the Bible and the Believer…

The Roman Catholic Church claims that it – the Magisterium – must occupy the space between the Bible and the believer.

…its interpretive decisions cannot be validated, challenged, or corrected.

Not really. Overall, the Catholic Church has only interpreted a sparse number of Bible verses. The Church occupies the “definitive” space in relation to the believer, as the Church possesses the authority to define doctrines and dogmas. Furthermore, its “definitive” decisions do receive validation in the sensus fidei, as through the Holy Spirit, the faithful:

…have an instinct for the truth of the Gospel, which enables them to recognize and endorse authentic Christian doctrine and practice, and to reject what is false.

Therefore, since the faithful recognize and endorse authentic doctrine and practice, and reject false doctrines and practices, the “definitive” nature of the Church does receive validation. “Challenges” come in the form of new ideas, especially heretical ones. Heretics also seek to “correct” the Church and bend her to their will.

Questioning the Magisterium

If one were to question the current Magisterium by citing Scripture, the Magisterium would say that it gets to decide what writings count as Scripture and what those writings mean. If one were to then cite a tradition or church father, the current Magisterium would say that it gets to decide which traditions are authoritative traditions and what those church fathers mean. The result is an untouchable and uncorrectable Magisterium – Sola Ecclesia.

To clarify, if Eric questions the Church’s teaching authority (as he does as a Protestant), this teaching authority is under no obligation to assent to his opinions. Again, historically, the Magisterium has authoritatively “interpreted” few Bible verses. Its role concerns settling disagreements that threaten Church unity and harm the human soul.

Who Listens to the Holy Spirit Agrees with Eric

the Holy Spirit serves as the external authority that opens the mind of believers (Acts 16:14) and leads them to rightly handle the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).

As Paul says later, it is those who have the mind of Christ that truly understand (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Moreover, here Eric clearly shows his cards. The Holy Spirit, as an unverifiable “external authority,” opens the true believer’s mind and reveals to them alone the right interpretation of the Bible. How can we verify such a thing happens? Only if they “rightly handle the word of God,” or if they agree with Eric.

Vincent the Anti-Catholic Catholic

Dennis seems to assume that Vincent is authoritative. But who decided that this represents the correct position? Could Vincent be wrong? How would anyone know?

I consider the 5^th century St. Vincent an authority in terms of his education and awareness of Church history, especially as it relates to early Christian heresies and their resolution. He calls out all the key heretics condemned by the Catholic Church before his time. The Catholic Church also affirms his position. I leave it for Eric to affirm as legitimate any of the heretics condemned by St. Vincent and the Catholic Church.

Doctrinal Development

For many modern readers, when they see the word “Catholic” in an ancient text they often assume it refers to the modern Roman Catholic Church. But that is an unwarranted jump.

After reading that statement, I find it hard to believe that Vincent would affirm modern dogmas such as Papal Infallibility and the Bodily Assumption of Mary.

Let me clarify for any modern reader: the ancient Catholic Church did not look identical to the modern Catholic Church. The reason? Time. The modern Catholic Church is 1500 years older than the ancient Catholic Church. Should we question someone in their eighties sharing a photo of themselves at four because they no longer look the same? No.

Furthermore, Eric’s inability to see St. Vincent affirming “modern” dogmas does not mean much. St. Vincent understood the Church’s role in defining doctrine and dogmas.

Circling Back to Circular Reasoning

To rightly handle God’s word, the regenerate person will utilize such principles – albeit imperfectly.

In closing, we again circle back to Eric’s appeal to circular reasoning to support his appeal to sola scriptura. Ultimately, only those who interpret the Bible correctly possess regeneration and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as a Catholic who disagrees with Eric, I lack spiritual regeneration and the Holy Spirit. If I were truly regenerated and possessed the Holy Spirit, I would see Eric’s understanding of the Bible as the correct one.

One last question for Eric. Why should I (or any Catholic) accept your authority over the authority of the Catholic Church?