"In matters of faith, no [one], not even the Pope or the bishops, possesses the truth . . . This divine truth possesses us . . . Truth takes possession of us. But we must go a step further. It does not take possession of us individually, for this truth is entrusted before all to the Church. Similarly, at the level of the Church as a whole, we cannot strictly say: 'The Church is in possession of the truth, of the true faith.' Yet the true faith is unfailingly entrusted to the Church, the Body of Christ and the Bride of the Lord. It is entrusted to her as a sacred heritage which never becomes her own property. In other words, the sum total of her teaching will never exhaust all its wealth." -Piet Fransen
Agree or disagree? And with what specifically?
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4 comments:
I like it a lot. I think sometimes we (the Church) speak about it as if we've figured it all out. But we haven't and won't. I was reading somewhere the other day (Kinlaw's Let's Start with Jesus, maybe?) about this sort of thing. What was said was that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us...and they'll stand on ours. We learn more about the truth and we grow with each other...but we'll never "exhaust all its wealth."
I think this is an important point. So often, especially evangelical traditions, will so narrowly define what true Christianity is as to exclude others. ie only those baptized as adults or those who believe this non-essential doctrine are true Christians. I think some of the greatest wisdom of the early creeds and the early church is not only what they see as central to the faith, but also where they are silent, as to allow multiple understandings (the atonement, or how to understand communion). I would agree with Julie, we shouldn't speak as though we have it all "figured out."
Thanks Matt and Julie for your insightful comments. I agree with both. I would also add that what I think is of particular interest here is that the possessor of truth is the Church. This speaks against both fundamentalist protestants who want to claim that the individual is authoritative in his or her own right and can read the bible without any guidance, and it also speaks against those Catholics who want to rest the possession of truth solely with the Pope and the Magisterium. Truth lies with the People of God. As such, I think this quote and the line of thinking it witnesses to has many ecumenical possibilities.
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 12:33
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