One of the biggest issues that has come up in my theology is that of Biblical inerrancy. What does it mean? Who says what? and How to come to a laymen's term answer are all questions that instantly pop into my mind. One of the most obvious things that I have noticed is that the arguments folks use to prove that the Bible is inerrant are very difficult to get my head around. I do know that there are key pieces of scripture that are used to prove the Bible's inerrancy.
One of the key passages in the Bible inerrancy question is this one:
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:18
First of all, what is the law? That's a very basic question isn't it? Could it be the law of Moses? The entire Bible itself? Maybe?
I do believe that Jesus gave a purpose to the law of Moses and that purpose is such: That it showed humanity's weakness and inabililty to follow God on their own. We're completely incapable of being everything that he wants us to be without Christ. Since this is the purpose of the law of Moses, then I do not think that's the law that Jesus is referring to here. It's purpose has been accomplished. It was accomplished then and it is accomplished now. It told the Hebrews back then how incapable they were and it still shows us today how incapable we are. There's got to be a bigger picture here.
I don't think that Jesus is referring to the entire Bible in this passage because that doesn't fit the context. The entire Bible has not been canonized by this point in history. Obviously he can't be talking about the entire Bible here. (And this is something that others would argue against, I know)
However it is important to look at the context of this passage. Jesus is getting ready to reinterpret the Hebrew scriptures. The verses that follow contain the words, 'You have heard..., but I tell you....'. Jesus provides his interpretation of the law. I believe that this is the law he's referring to here. Not Mosaic law, not the entire Bible, but the law that he gives us as he reinterprets scripture.
Okay, so now what. All of Jesus' law has to be accomplished. Everything He gives us to do is impossible to accomplish. He takes the Mosaic law and makes it even harder to follow.
Exactly.
I think His law is accomplished when I am in a relationship with him. Grace is the new factor that wasn't present here. When all of humanity realizes how much we are in desperate need of grace, then the law will be accomplished. I think that this will happen at the final end, when God reveals Himself.
I just think this passage has more to it that just face value interpretation. I don't think it proves that the Bible is inerrant, I think it proves God's grace. Isn't that the purpose of scripture? To see God and his judgement and mercy? Isn't it?
Feel free to comment. Even if you think I'm a heretic. I'm interested to see what people think.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Paul's frustrations
I know that I have been ignoring this blog for the past few months and there are good reasons for it. First of all I didn’t know what to write anymore, because I was so emotionally, mentally, and spiritually drained. I needed to hide out for a little while to have some time for myself and God. I needed and still need a break from ministry, because I was on the verge of a huge burnout. I am moving in a good direction at this point, and I’m excited to see what is in store for me. Another big reason was that I didn’t just want to put political opinions or denominational rants on here. There may be some, but I don’t want to get too involved with that. Some of the denominational rants hit a little too close to home for me and I am deliberately trying to be careful here. I’m trying. They will probably come out of me sometimes, but I really just want to put ideas about scripture on here. Mostly what I want to write about is what hits my brain when I open the Bible in the morning. Besides, that’s the stuff I get excited about.
All that being stated, one of the topics that I kept coming across after I graduated is the topic of the Universal Church and the Body of Christ. I decided to read Philippians a few months ago and I noticed that it’s full of Paul’s frustrations. This letter is all about working together as a Body of Christ. At the beginning of the letter it is evident that he’s shaking his head and trying bravely to be positive,
What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:18
Sometimes I think we fantasize that Paul lives in a Disney movie and that he’s just a great guy and nothing ever bothers him. He lives in chains, converts Roman guards, and does it all while all the birds are singing and skipping through the ancient world. But that is not the case at all. This verse in particular contains a tone of resignation in my opinion. It’s as if he’s throwing his hands in the air and desperately trying to be positive. After all, in the previous verse he informs the reader that some proclaim Christ, ‘out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment’. Now this is not to say that Christians try to make other Christians’ lives miserable, because that is another argument on another blog. However, it is to say that Paul is really suffering at the hands of his fellow ‘family’ members and he’s trying to be the bigger person.
I know firsthand how complicated the Christian Church is today. I am a Baptist after all, and we definitely know how to complicate things. I think that this verse and the context of it just makes Paul more real to me and it gives me hope. Because if Paul could find comfort, then maybe I can too.
All that being stated, one of the topics that I kept coming across after I graduated is the topic of the Universal Church and the Body of Christ. I decided to read Philippians a few months ago and I noticed that it’s full of Paul’s frustrations. This letter is all about working together as a Body of Christ. At the beginning of the letter it is evident that he’s shaking his head and trying bravely to be positive,
What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:18
Sometimes I think we fantasize that Paul lives in a Disney movie and that he’s just a great guy and nothing ever bothers him. He lives in chains, converts Roman guards, and does it all while all the birds are singing and skipping through the ancient world. But that is not the case at all. This verse in particular contains a tone of resignation in my opinion. It’s as if he’s throwing his hands in the air and desperately trying to be positive. After all, in the previous verse he informs the reader that some proclaim Christ, ‘out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment’. Now this is not to say that Christians try to make other Christians’ lives miserable, because that is another argument on another blog. However, it is to say that Paul is really suffering at the hands of his fellow ‘family’ members and he’s trying to be the bigger person.
I know firsthand how complicated the Christian Church is today. I am a Baptist after all, and we definitely know how to complicate things. I think that this verse and the context of it just makes Paul more real to me and it gives me hope. Because if Paul could find comfort, then maybe I can too.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Jesus Christ? A Cause?
Why is Christianity a cause? Why is it considered to be something to fight for? Is Jesus Christ my savior or my cause? I think that’s the fundamental question here. Did Jesus Christ die a horrible painful death for one such as I so he can be my cause? I think not. That idea simply does not settle with me, because that is not who Jesus is to me.
The one fact that I would like to point out here is that Jesus has already overcome the world. He did that on the cross. There is nothing that us Christians need to worry about because Jesus has already overcome the world. No fear needed. No battling needed. There is no reason to live our lives like our religion is better than all the others, and that our denomination is better than others, and that we have all the answers. Because these are all lies. I may think that my religion is better than all the others, and that’s simply because I haven’t found anything better. There’s no room for arrogance. As far as denominations go, there are good reasons for having them, but there is no room for arrogance in the church. We all need each other whether we like it or not. I know for a fact that not all Christians have their lives together. There’s no pretending or hiding from this fact.
Maybe I am just a party pooper, but I am tired of trying to be sympathetic to this type of warrior Christianity simply because of the implications of it. It means that as Christians we are warriors and that we have to fight for Jesus. However, that war has been overcome and done. So what is there left to prove? Jesus proved himself didn’t he? Another implication of this is that warrior theology implies that what I do for Christ is really important. He may have died on the Christ and rose again, but I am going to stand up and convert all my friends. I am just that important and significant.
Maybe not.
I think that the real truth that is missing from this warrior theology is that Jesus did not ask us to fight for him. He asked us to let him in and to let Him transform us into something more like Him. In the process of this transformation, we are to realize how unwarrior-like we are and to see how weak and small we truly are.
We need to simply be and not worry so much about how much we do. I can do all the good things in the world in His name, and its not going to matter if Jesus is not everything to me. Jesus needs to be my being and to be inside of me. That’s all that matters.
Why are there so many swords? Why do we really think that we can make a difference? There’s a whole evil world out there and we weren’t asked to take it by storm. We were asked to serve others, love others, and to follow our Christ wherever he takes us. To me this is a more daunting prospect than fighting for conversions.
The one fact that I would like to point out here is that Jesus has already overcome the world. He did that on the cross. There is nothing that us Christians need to worry about because Jesus has already overcome the world. No fear needed. No battling needed. There is no reason to live our lives like our religion is better than all the others, and that our denomination is better than others, and that we have all the answers. Because these are all lies. I may think that my religion is better than all the others, and that’s simply because I haven’t found anything better. There’s no room for arrogance. As far as denominations go, there are good reasons for having them, but there is no room for arrogance in the church. We all need each other whether we like it or not. I know for a fact that not all Christians have their lives together. There’s no pretending or hiding from this fact.
Maybe I am just a party pooper, but I am tired of trying to be sympathetic to this type of warrior Christianity simply because of the implications of it. It means that as Christians we are warriors and that we have to fight for Jesus. However, that war has been overcome and done. So what is there left to prove? Jesus proved himself didn’t he? Another implication of this is that warrior theology implies that what I do for Christ is really important. He may have died on the Christ and rose again, but I am going to stand up and convert all my friends. I am just that important and significant.
Maybe not.
I think that the real truth that is missing from this warrior theology is that Jesus did not ask us to fight for him. He asked us to let him in and to let Him transform us into something more like Him. In the process of this transformation, we are to realize how unwarrior-like we are and to see how weak and small we truly are.
We need to simply be and not worry so much about how much we do. I can do all the good things in the world in His name, and its not going to matter if Jesus is not everything to me. Jesus needs to be my being and to be inside of me. That’s all that matters.
Why are there so many swords? Why do we really think that we can make a difference? There’s a whole evil world out there and we weren’t asked to take it by storm. We were asked to serve others, love others, and to follow our Christ wherever he takes us. To me this is a more daunting prospect than fighting for conversions.
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