@Philip James
The Claim of ALL AUTHORITY because of scriptures is challenged by scriptures that encourage all Christians to test the truth and validity of the church, the direction of the Church.
Martin Luther tested the church against scriptures and found it was not true. The church denied the test is valid. Is there any surprise there?
Martin Luther was convicted by men that didn't even try to use the Bible in his conviction. Just the oft stated position that these are the leaders are infallibly placed there by God.
If church leaders are so infallible why did God, Jesus tell us test everything. Why did Paul write criterion for choosing the leaders.
The Church fails these tests so it denies the truth of the test.
I am no where near Luther in knowledge. Yet even I have been sorely tested by church leadership. In a church bearing Luther's name the leadership is made up of families of many generations of pastors.
Yes a leader installed over me.
The leader started taking actions because of appearances, started taking actions that hurt people because of appearances. This was justified by those in the neighborhood church, in the church synod, by PASTOR SAID!
When this pastor started weighing in on earthly things, the paint wasn't new enough, the shade of color was wrong, this isn't right that isn't but all earthly things, he was right because pastor says! By the standard of he is the leader he is right. The people he drove from church needed to be driven out. The people that left in hurt and pain why those just weren't good Christians.
I stayed through all the moves all the maneuvering. I heard all the outright lies from the pulpit, all covered over by pastor says.
But the spirit got me through and showed me the way forward.
Along the way learning to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and yes testing even those answers. How does one test the Holy Spirit? First to prove it is Holy Spirit, because there are misleading spirits, false spirits. The test is looking for Grace, Love, Faith and forgiveness the most blessed gifts of God.
Paul wrote a test for those that wanted to be bishops.
But Paul didn't! Being blest by God in ways no other human has who should dare claim what Paul didn't do as any worth ?
I test every single church I go into.
In 500 years The Church has claimed ordained by God, that is all that matters.
Don't justify your church test it!
Not with parsed out scriptures as the Pharisees did but with all scriptures in a continuity of context. Stand alone verses taken from what? That is how the Pharisees made their righteousness!
The test fails the Bishops.
So I deny the Bishops
Alfredthefifth