FrozenChosen
Puritan Board Freshman
Is it fair to suggest that "the early church did X, so X is appropriate?" I see it happen a lot, I've done it a few times, and there is some discussion of the behavior of the early church on this board as well.
Do you all approve of such arguments? Well, not in the sense that the early church statement totally permits or disallows something, but is it a valid support for an idea?
It seems to me that if someone wants to rely on this kind of argument they haven't read the Corinthian epistles and other books.
For example, in some discussions with charismatics I've brought up the early church's rejection of the Montanists, not as a proof, but just to make them think. That's not the same as "well the early church did this so it's OK!"
What are your thoughts on using early church behavior in discussions? Do you mention them? In what sense?
Do you all approve of such arguments? Well, not in the sense that the early church statement totally permits or disallows something, but is it a valid support for an idea?
It seems to me that if someone wants to rely on this kind of argument they haven't read the Corinthian epistles and other books.
For example, in some discussions with charismatics I've brought up the early church's rejection of the Montanists, not as a proof, but just to make them think. That's not the same as "well the early church did this so it's OK!"
What are your thoughts on using early church behavior in discussions? Do you mention them? In what sense?