Hey All! It’s been a while. I’ve had several topics in the hopper, but decided to pull out this one for today:
One of my favorite thinkers, Francis Schaeffer, lived in the Swiss Alps. There, one could hike up to what geologists call a “watershed.” This mountain peak forms a geological dividing line. Standing in the right spot, one could hold out his hands. Precipitation falling on the left hand (assuming he’s facing north), would run down into streams, rivers, and eventually into the frigid North Sea. Precipitation on the right would eventually trace a path to the much warmer climes of the Mediterranean.
Point: Some decisions are fundamental. The choice you make will lead you to one of two destinations, each far removed from the other.
Case in Point: Jack Rogers. While working on my ThM, I wrote a paper regarding Mr. Roger’s book about biblical inerrancy (the idea that Scripture, being God’s word, is without error). He’d written his book in the early 80s, when the evangelical community was wrestling with the nature of Scripture. Roger’s argued that the Bible is, in fact, filled with historical and factual errors. The interesting thing was his effort to demonstrate theologians had believed this throughout the mainstream of Christian history. Mr. Roger’s book was thoroughly discredited as a piece of biblical and historical interpretation (for more on that, just shoot me an e-mail).
But what really stood out, at the time, was Roger’s effort to wed “evangelicalism” with a view that was decidedly non-evangelical.
He made a decision, and it has led him down an interesting course. I recently learned that Mr. Rogers has now written a new book, Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality. In it, he argues for the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, etc. He’s currently on a national book tour to promote his work.
The question: What is the Bible? is the Watershed issue for the Church today. It is interesting to consider where many leaders in the emerging Church might end up in another 30 years (make that 3).
Hey Adam and Borderlands Amigos~
Thanks for the latest post. I don’t know about everyone else, but I think John 1:1 was pretty clear….
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.
God isn’t a lie, so then the Word must be TRUTH.
Stay classy
Brick
brick tamiland
October 12th, 2007
There you go! John 1 is talking, of course, about Jeusus, the Word made flesh. I sometimes talk about Scripture, God’s Word Written, and Jesus, God’s Word Enfleshed in parallel ways. There obvious connections. Christians throughout history have believed that Jesus was fully God, fully Man in nature. Though he was a Man, He “knew no sin.” Similarly, the Bible is written by God and written by people. Yet, again, Christians have historically taught that Scripture, though written by various people at various time, was ultimately perfect, having been inspired by God. Peter speaks of the authors being “carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Administrator
October 14th, 2007
‘Is the bible inerrant?’ is like asking: ‘Does God speak to us in an objective way that we can all understand?’
If not by the Scripture then how would God communicate to us as a whole? How would we objectively know what he has said? How would he judge us? How would we please him?
A lot of questions arise when we deny the inerrancy of Scripture!
Keep it up Adam!
Tony
November 11th, 2007
Thanks, Tony!
Administrator
November 13th, 2007