Sola (Mio Interpreto) Scriptura.

 
As Renee Linn, former Thomas Road Baptist Christian, found in her quest for the truth, just reading the bible was not sufficient to give her the answers she needed and when she came up with an answer, was it the correct one? She came to the conclusion that many before her have come to: Christians trust in their own interpretations of the bible, not in the bible itself.  Sola Scriptura is really not Sola Scriptura. It should be rightfully termed: Sola Mio Interpreto Scriptura. Because at the end of the day, if we are truly honest, everything we read from scripture is run through our own interpretive machine called our mind. There's nothing wrong with that, it's how we are wired. Catholics are the originators of the concept of faith and reason working hand in hand. (“I believe in order to understand”  St Augustine)
The problem of course is when we believe our interpretation is THE  CORRECT ONE which often times is directly contradicting the other group of believers down the street, who are also honest, God-fearing bible-loving folk who believe their interpretation is THE CORRECT ONE! This problem was actually solved 2000 years ago when Christ gave his authority to lead the Church in all truth by his Holy Spirit through Peter and the apostles, later termed the magisterium* (popes in union with the bishops).
    The way it actually plays out in real life is that many of these well-meaning folks don't really just believe in their own interpretation (sola mio interpreto scriptura) They have their own magisterium just as Catholics do.  Sometimes it's their pastor, bible-study leaders, radio preachers or their denomination's historic confession. Yet these very same folks who claim to adhere to solo scriptura are basing their beliefs on the interpretations of scripture from their own magisterium and "sacred"  traditions.  

"The quicksand in the Protestant belief system is the idea is that we can base our beliefs solely on what the Bible says. Sounds great in theory, but in practice it results in (HOW MANY?) squabbling denominations because the Bible must be interpreted." (RL)

Read the rest of Renee's post here on "Just Read the Bible"
Read Father Most's definition of Magisterium here.