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The problem with higher critics and cut and paste Theology!
I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that it is God breathed and it is the revealed word of God. You would hope that all believers would profess the above yet sadly today that is certainly not the case. As I am writing this there are councils that meet to decide what portions of Scripture meet their approval and which parts need to be axed.
Brian Edwards in his book 'Nothing but the truth' writes ...
'The simple fact today is that there are many who claim to be 'Christians' but who do not believe in the inerrancy of the Bible or submit to its final authority. One third of Church of England Bishops do not believe in the virgin birth of Christ or his resurrection; David Jenkins, a previous Bishop of Durham, claimed the resurrection of Christ was 'merely a conjuring trick with bones' ; 110 Bible scholars in America have voted out of the New Testament many of the parables Jesus told;' (p334)
They don't believe in the virgin birth? Okay let's just rip out Isaiah 7 and furthermore how can we treat the rest of Isaiah's prophecy seriously? The resurrection didn't exist even though it was the greatest miracle and Psalm 16:10 prophesies 'Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption' Are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's account's a little suspect? Well then how about the rest of the New Testament.
VOTING ON WHAT PORTIONS OF RECOGNISED SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE VALIDATED AND GIVING AN OPINION OVER WHICH SCRIPTURES SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, CREATES SERIOUS PROBLEMS!
So some of the parables should be omitted? Why not go home and rewrite the whole book?
Okay so these are extreme examples - or are they?
Tozer in 'The set of the sail' p 96 comments...
''Either to avoid embarrassment or because he is not sure of his own beliefs the said liberal minister is usually careful to avoid definitions, so no one knows exactly what it is he is supposed to be looking for. But it gives tremendous lift to a man's self respect to think of himself, if only briefly and once a week, as a lofty idealist searching for the truth, a kind of cosmic prospector digging for gold among the hills of God. If his wife fails to recognise him by that description it really doesn't matter, for no one takes the whole thing seriously anyway. But it is a relief from the grind of business, traffic and taxes.'
I went to a lecture with some friends, Christian and non-Christian, the speaker was supposed to be an ordained Minister yet he spoke of the first three chapters as a true myth yet nevertheless true!
I have spoken to numerous people, even, so called believers who don't regard Adam as being a literal person - possibly as a true allegory if that is possible?
What does the Bible say?
'And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image and named him Seth.' (Genesis 5:3)
In Genesis 5 we have a Chronology from Adam to Noah with lifespans and names of children. Are we supposed to dismiss that?
'Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalel, Jared' (1 Chronicles 1:1)
In 1 Chronicles 1 we have a list of Adam's descendants all the way to Abraham? Do we take Chronicles seriously or shall we take Abraham out and remove Chronicles from the Bible as it obviously refers to a literal Adam.
in Luke 3 we have the genealogy of Jesus going back all the way to Adam. Now those who don't believe Adam was a literal person have real problems. Is it time to axe Luke 3 and the rest of that Gospel also?
What about Romans 5:14 'Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who is to come.'
or 1 Corinthians 15:45 'And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.'
Finally Jude thought Adam was a real person! 'Now Enoch the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints.' (Jude v 14)
Maybe you don't think that Sodom and Gomorah was destroyed by fire and brimstone? Jude did! 'as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengance of eternal fire.' (Jude v7)
Some people struggle with Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. Jesus didn't! The pharisees asked him for a sign so he answered them saying "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.' (Matthew 12:39-40)
The important thing here is, that God says what He means and means what He says! We must take Scripture seriously. We don't get the luxury of choosing what parts we want to include in our everyday lives. All Scripture is inspired by God. As I have mentioned Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture and expounds and clarifies how it should be understood. Verses read in isolation should be comprehended within the context of the passage and within the context of Scripture. If we seek to gain a private interpretation or stretch our imagination to far we are indulging in guesswork.
Paul warned of those 'having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away. (2 Tim 3:5) and 'always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.'
No wonder Jesus said 'Do not come to think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.' (Matthew 5:17-18)
Amen! |
