Sola Scriptura, Part 9

Subjective Christianity is advocated as an approach where individual believers are encouraged to embrace and live their faith in a personal manner, allowing love and relationship with God to transcend rigid dogma and divisive stances. Key biblical principles such as personal accountability before God and unity in diversity within the body of Christ are emphasized, as drawn from the teachings of Romans.

Each individual is accountable to God, and instead of judging one another, we should foster peace by not causing others to stumble, emphasizing personal faith and righteousness. In discussing Erasmus, his critique of "formalism" in Christianity highlights the importance of understanding the teachings of Christ rather than merely adhering to traditional practices, advocating scripture as a transformative power.

Erasmus, a noteworthy scholar and reformer, adhered strictly to critiquing based on scripture and early church teachings, without aligning with any side in the divisive Protestant Reformation. He favored intellectual integrity and unity over conflict, advocating for reform through reasoned scholarship, even amidst pressure from figures like Martin Luther who sought his exclusive support.

Erasmus, a knowledgeable observer of both Catholic and Reformer practices during the Reformation, critiqued the inconsistencies between Protestant reformers' proclaimed spiritual values and their actual behaviors, indicating that the shift was not entirely towards virtue. This historical tension between Catholicism and Protestantism can be understood through Hegel's dialectic, where conflicting thesis and antithesis (e.g., the nature of Jesus or religious practices) lead to a synthesis of ideas, promoting an evolving understanding over time.

Subjectivity and existentialism, as proposed by Søren Kierkegaard, offer a path to unity and peace within Christianity by emphasizing personal understanding and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in interpreting Jesus and the Bible, while rejecting rigid adherence to singular scriptural interpretations that have led to denominational splintering. Erasmus critiqued Luther for demanding uniform scriptural interpretation under the guise of "sola scriptura," highlighting instead that truth and revelation also stem from unwritten Sacred Traditions, advocating for less divisive approaches in faith.

Erasmus, a prominent figure challenging theological norms of his time, emphasized the importance of human free will and religious tolerance, advocating that a believer's personal relationship with God mattered more than outward religious practices. Though Martin Luther profoundly criticized the established Church, Erasmus believed that dogmatic rigidity led to conflicts and that true subjective religion remained unrealized; his views on Christianity, akin to those of Kierkegaard, suggested a path that could have potentially saved millions of lives by promoting peace and introspection rather than doctrinal disputes.

True followers of Christ are expected to follow a path similar to Jesus, facing rejection and suffering rather than pursuing worldly popularity and success. As Jesus rejected the demands for comfort and earthly power, believers are called to prioritize spiritual growth and the hard truths of the Kingdom, anticipating a life of sacrifice rather than one of mass appeal.