"Nuance" refers to valid interpolations within the accepted definition of a term or terms. There are definitely times for nuance. There are times for circumspection, definitely. And then there are times to simply answer the question. You owe it to yourself and others to say how you know what you know, especially on the most important matter that any human will ever consider: the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Catholics and non-Catholics obviously answer these questions in different ways. Shouldn't be news there. But are you willing to not only stand by a position, but defend it? You'll have to answer that yourself. But we do ask hard questions here. We owe that to ourselves, and to God who made us. The Reformation wasn't all that complicated; the basic outlines of the two notions of how a Christian knows what he knows are pretty clear. Make a choice, and go with it.
Of course it's a trap. God sets little traps for us all the time, when we go wrong. I do want you to reach the same conclusion I have concerning Christ and the Church. Do what you like. But forgive me if I don't really think you've found some new, innovative way to be Protestant that no one prior has thought of. Every person who does theology has to, sooner or later, say how he arrives at "X, and not Y."
I admit it, I'm just arrogant enough to answer repeated offerings of, "No, you wouldn't understand" with, "Try me."
Of course it's a trap. God sets little traps for us all the time, when we go wrong. I do want you to reach the same conclusion I have concerning Christ and the Church. Do what you like. But forgive me if I don't really think you've found some new, innovative way to be Protestant that no one prior has thought of. Every person who does theology has to, sooner or later, say how he arrives at "X, and not Y."
I admit it, I'm just arrogant enough to answer repeated offerings of, "No, you wouldn't understand" with, "Try me."
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