Scripture and Tradition

The Protestant reformation arose in the sixteenth century in reaction to the extra biblical teaching of the Church of Rome.

During the Middle Ages most people that were part of the Roman Church believed that the tradition taught by the Church and what the Scriptures taught were the same.

As Martin Luther and others started to study the Bible they soon discovered that many of the teachings (traditions) of the Church were not only different but that they even contradicted the Scriptures

Here is a list of some of the things that they discovered from the fruit of their study of the Scriptures. Keep in mind this list is to show that the only authority in the life of the believer and in the life of the Church is the inerrant authoritative Word of God. We see how easy it is for all kinds of different and strange teaching to come into the Church when the Church moves away from Sola Scriptura.

1. The Bible teaches that all have sinned except Jesus (Rom. 3:10-12; Heb.4:15), but tradition teaches that Mary was sinless.

2.The Bible teaches that Christ offered His sacrifice once for all (Heb.7:27; 9:28;10:10), but tradition says that the priest sacrifices Christ on the altar at Mass.

3. The Bible says that we are not to bow down to statues (Ex.20:4-5), but tradition says that we should bow to certain statues.

4.The Bible says that all Christians are saints and priests (Eph.1:1;1 Peter 2:9), but tradition says that saints and priests are special castes within the Christian community.

5. The Bible says that Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man (1Tim. 2:5), but tradition says that Mary is co-mediator with Christ.

6. The Bible says that marriage is a gift from God (Gen.2:22-24; Prov.5:18-19; 18:22), but tradition puts restrictions on those who would desire to serve God in the Church as priest or nun.

Mark 7:13 sums it up, here are the word of Jesus:

And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others."