Perhaps the biggest theological difference between the "Concerned" and those who aren't a part of that camp is the way they view Scripture. My difficulty with the way that the "Concerned" portray this distinction as if there are only two options.
The first option, (and the correct one on their thinking) is that Scripture is true not only in the whole but in every part. Scripture, on this view, is wholly a "God" document and contains nothing of humanity. This view, which is commonly described as "Biblical Inerrancy" seems to see all other views (such as the assertion that the Scriptures are "inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith") as a low or inferior view of Scripture. Based on the rhetoric they use, one might even assume that they think persons who hold this view aren't really Christians. At best, they are heretics who should be expelled from the church.
The second option, as they seem to outline the landscape, takes in all other views of Scripture. These views, inasmuch as they affirm humanity's role in the Scripture deny any involvement by God or question God's involvement to the degree that Scripture is irrelevant for faith or daily life.
Logically, they seem to think they have impaled folks who disagree with them on the horns of a dilemma. Either one affirms Scriptural inerrancy or one cannot trust anything in the Bible. However, this dilemma is a false one and there is a clear way between the horns of this dilemma. C.S. Cowles, who has taught at Point Loma Nazarene University, shows how one can affirm the truth of the Scripture without holding to inerrancy.
I thought this article was well reasoned and did two things well. First, it does an excellent job of explaining some of the difficulties with adopting the viewpoint of Scriptural inerrancy. The position entails many difficulties that proponents seem ot ignore. Second, I think it also does a good job of showing how one can love the Bible and affirm the truth it contains without holding to inerrancy. While this article is a bit long, it is worth your time if you are interested in these questions...
C.S. Cowles - "Scriptural Inerrancy? 'Behold, I show you a more excellent way'"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This is ridiculous! Holding to the Truth of Scripture but not the inerrancy of it? Absolutely ridiculous - I don't care where Cowles taught, he is definitely misguided and incorrect.
ReplyDeleteScripture MUST be inerrant. It must. Yes it does contain all things necessary to our salvation – inerrantly (is that a word?).
Cowles suggested that "...this is the primary reason why many embrace inerrancy. They argue that it must be divinely inspired because it is free of errors and contradictions."
That thinking is backwards and is NOT what orthodox / reformed Christianity claims. The Bible is inerrant because of its divine inspiration - not the other way around. Saying that the Scripture has errors is not only a low view of Scripture but also a low view of God. I would even go as far as calling this view idolatry. Not having the correct understanding - therefore - creating an image of God that, in this case, is very much a smaller, less significant, NOT all-powerful, NOT all-knowing, NOT all-sufficient, NOT 100% holy, NOT 100% righteous, NOT 100% just, NOT full of grace and NOT the God of the Bible. Romans 3:2 calls scripture "The Oracles of God"!!! Suggesting that God made 'mistakes' or 'was wrong' in His Word suggests that God is not God. Can you see how this conflicting view encompasses all of God as a whole and not just Scripture? It branches out into every aspect of Gods character (which is revealed in Scripture).
I'm am amazed at how far the Naz denomination has fell off of the straight and narrow - veering toward anything 'new and hip' out of the ignorance and mere laziness of their “thinkers / Pastors” – I grew up in this denomination and grew to love it as a child. But as an adult I am appalled at the ‘new ideas’ and ‘new direction’ and ‘new angles’ leadership is presenting. This denomination needs to be purged of its heretics and absolutely NEEDS trained pastors / teachers in their churches in order to divide Truth from error / right from wrong / Good from evil… This view of Scripture is so preposterous it’s actually making me angry as I’m typing – so – I’m going to stop!
Please – I beg you – read Scripture in light of your understanding of God – He does not make mistakes.
The article is now located at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pointloma.edu/Assets/PLNU/Wesleyan+Center/$!e2$!80$!9cBehold$!2c+I+Show+You+a+More+Excellent+Way$!e2$!80$!9d.pdf
Actually, it's at http://www.pointloma.edu/sites/default/files/filemanager/Wesleyan_Center/excellent-way.pdf now.
ReplyDelete