3 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What are the four main sources Christians use to understand God and faith?
(1) The Bible (Scripture), (2) Church teachings and history (Tradition), (3) Thinking and logic (Reason), (4) Personal and church experiences (Experience). These four make up the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.
What is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral?
A way to study Christian faith using four sources: the Bible, tradition, reason, and experience. It comes from John Wesley’s method.
Why is the Bible the most important source in theology?
Because it is the main book that tells us about God and faith. All ideas must be based on what the Bible teaches.
How do Christians view tradition?
Tradition helps us understand and keep faith alive, but it must agree with what the Bible says.
Who is Ellen White and why is she important?
Ellen White was a writer important to Seventh-day Adventists. Her writings help guide them but are checked against the Bible, which is most important.
What does it mean that tradition helps shape faith but is not the main rule?
Tradition influences how we think about faith but does not replace the Bible as the main authority.
How is tradition connected to Jesus being with the church?
Tradition shows how Jesus has guided the church through history, often through the Holy Spirit’s help.
What does reason do in theology?
Reason helps us think clearly and understand faith better. It should be used carefully and with spiritual guidance.
Can you give an example of reason helping with the Bible?
In Genesis 24:64, ‘lighted off the camel’ means ‘got down from the camel,’ not lighting a fire. Reason helps us understand this correctly.
Why do some question eternal punishment using reason?
If Jesus paid for sins, it seems unfair for people to be punished forever, so reason questions if endless punishment fits with God’s justice.
What role does experience play in understanding faith?
Experience supports what the Bible and tradition teach but must be checked to avoid mistakes.
Can you give an example where experience confirms faith?
Many Christians find that giving money to the church (tithing) brings blessings, which matches what the Bible teaches.
What is the risk of trusting only experience in faith?
Experience can be wrong or misleading if it’s not guided by the Bible and reason.
What does “normative” mean in theology?
The main and most important source that sets the rules for faith (usually the Bible).
What does “formative” mean in theology?
Something that shapes faith but is not the main authority (like tradition, reason, experience).
What can we learn from old church mistakes like Arianism?
They teach us to trust the Bible and true church teachings to avoid wrong beliefs.
How does the Wesleyan Quadrilateral help with theology?
It helps us know where our ideas come from, keeps us balanced, and helps avoid old mistakes by using four sources.
What is “sola scriptura”?
It means the Bible alone is the highest rule for faith and how we live.
Which Christian traditions influenced Seventh-day Adventists?
Protestantism, Methodism, Anabaptism, Restorationism, and Millerism.
Why should reason be guided by the Holy Spirit?
Because human thinking can be wrong, so we need God’s help to understand faith correctly.
How do tradition and the Bible relate?
Tradition is respected but must always follow the Bible, which is the final judge of what is true.
How does church experience help theology?
Church life today helps confirm Bible teachings and shows what helps or hurts spiritual growth.
