Sola Scriptura means “Scripture alone,” and this belief is a foundational element of protestant reformation. Sola Scriptura is the fundamental belief that the Bible is the ultimate and highest authority.
Of course, this is not claiming that the Bible is the only source of truth or authority. Instead, Sola Scriptura claims that all other sources of truth must be interpreted in light of Scripture, and all sources of authority must submit to the ultimate authority of Scripture. Above all, Sola Scriptura claims that Scripture, and Scripture alone, is the ultimate authority in our lives, both in our faith and in our practice, as followers of Christ.
Do we (still) believe that?
For Some Context
Over 500 years ago, the reformers were dealing with widespread corruption in the church. There were those in church leadership who were using their power, and their authority to heavily tax and abuse their own people. The teachings of the church, the selling of indulgences, and the use of religious ideologies for the benefit the church and its leaders at the expense of the people was rampant. As the Reformers would soon insist, these teachings and practices were not found in Scripture. Indeed, they were added to the teachings of Scripture by the church, and through the perceived power of the Pope, they were widely held as authoritative.
From this context came the unified cry of the Reformers; “Sola Scriptura!” Or, “Scripture Alone!” It was a cry to return to the teachings of God’s word, and to purify the church of the teachings that had been abusing the people of God. Ultimately, Sola Scriptura was a bold call for the church to be purified under the authority of God’s word, and that all other sources of authority would submit under the highest authority of God’s revealed word.
What about Today?
Well, what about today? Historians from every side of the argument are able to look back at the medieval church’s teachings and practices and see the blatant need for reform. However, are we still in need of reform? Do we still need to be crying out, “Sola Scriptura!”
Sola Scriptura and Postmodernity
Postmodernity has marked the way we understand authority today. One of the major tenants of postmodern thinking is the denial of absolute truth and absolute authority. Instead, post-modernity claims that truth is relative and the ultimate authority resides in the individual to decipher between what is true and what is not true.
Of the great sola’s of the reformation, “Sola Scriptura” is the most counter-cultural mantra for a postmodern society. Sola Scriptura flips postmodern thought upside down. Postmodernity interprets Scripture through our feelings, our experiences, our thoughts, and our values, whereas Sola Scriptura interprets our feelings, our experiences, our thoughts, and our values through Scripture. Sola Scriptura does not deny personal truths, rather it submits all truth claims to the ultimate truth found in the authority of Scripture alone.
The reformers looked at a world who had strayed from the authority of God’s word, and they cried “Sola Scriptura!” All authority, including our own authority, must submit to the ultimate authority of scripture alone.
Sola Scriptura and the Church
On October 11th, Pope Francis stood before a large collection of church leaders at the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of the catechism, and “affirmed that there has been a development of doctrine in the church and a change in the consciousness of the Christian people on the question of the death penalty.” * This kind of progressive development in the official doctrine of the Catholic Church in order to address contemporary cultural issues is not new . On October 11th, 1962, 55 years ago, John XXIII said, “It is necessary first of all that the church should never depart from the sacred patrimony of truth received from the Fathers. But at the same time, she must ever look to the present, to the new conditions and new forms of life introduced into the modern world which have opened up new avenues to the Catholic apostolate.” *
Irregardless of your stance regarding the death penalty today, whether you celebrate or disagree with the Pope’s statements, there is an important aspect of this story that we should not miss. The Catholic Church has been clear that the church, led by the Pope, has authority equal to the Scriptures in terms of faith, doctrine, and practice.
This should cause us to ask some really important questions, questions that must be answered by Catholics and Protestants alike; Does the church, or its leaders, have equal authority with Scripture? Does the church have the authority to develop doctrine that clearly is not found in Scripture?
The Reformers’ cry was to see the church come back to what the Scripture teaches, and to come away from any authority that would claim equality with God’s word, even if that authority was the church. Scripture is God’s revealed word, both fully inspired and ultimately authoritative. If we believe that, then we must deny any claim of authority that is expressed to be equal authority with Scripture, irregardless of the person, the office that person holds, or the institution from which that person operates.
So Again, What about Today?
Are we still in need of reform? Do we still need to be crying out, “Sola Scriptura!” I hope that you are able to say with clarity and confidence, YES! One of the single greatest attacks of the enemy is to question God’s word. It began in the garden and continues today with equal effectiveness. Sola Scriptura is the battle cry of the people of God to fight this attack, to draw us back to the authority of God, and to submit more fully to authority of God’s word.