Sebastian Heck
Puritan Board Freshman
In discussion about orthodoxy (theological, not the historical term) it seems that there is often misunderstanding on the authority issue. Who gets to decide what is orthodox? The typical evangelical answer will most likely be: me and my Bible. The typical Catholic answer would be: the church.
The Reformed (or Lutherans, for that matter), if they are confessional, should have a different take on the authority issue. I would suppose that orthodoxy is always an ecclesiatical issue, right? The church decides that pelagianism is unorthodox (i.e. heretic). The church decides that socinianism is out of bounds.
I am trying to get my mind around just what the link is between heresy and "unorthodox doctrine" (is it the same?), and between the confessional standards and orthodoxy (is it the same?)
Any thoughts, brethren?
The Reformed (or Lutherans, for that matter), if they are confessional, should have a different take on the authority issue. I would suppose that orthodoxy is always an ecclesiatical issue, right? The church decides that pelagianism is unorthodox (i.e. heretic). The church decides that socinianism is out of bounds.
I am trying to get my mind around just what the link is between heresy and "unorthodox doctrine" (is it the same?), and between the confessional standards and orthodoxy (is it the same?)
Any thoughts, brethren?