Well, thanks to Facebook, I've been involved in another bizarre "conversation" that, while weird and frustrating at times (and which, in the end resulted in my being ejected from the discussion and blocked from the page), was still quite informative.
For starters, this particular conversation grew over an argument about whether or not Jesus is God. For a while, I watched from the comfort of the sidelines as the parties of both camps threw scripture verses out there, each side refuting the interpretation of the other side's scriptures. When that didn't work each side resorted to throwing out his own version of this particular appeal: "if you would just look at the clear and unambiguous words of Scripture, you would see the truth."
Aaaah, that sounds so reasonable, doesn't it? It's an appeal to common sense. It's a "come, let us reason together" moment. It seems like the way to solve the problem: let's just go to the text, say a little prayer for guidance, read the words, shake hands and walk away united. It should work, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't. Sure it seems reasonable, but that's as far as it goes. Deep down, it's fundamentally flawed thinking.
The problem isn't with the words of scripture, per se. It's the meaning those words are imbued with. In the argument I was watching unfold, both camps took the same words and each read remarkably different ideas into them--contradictory ideas in fact. Their own ideas.
For starters, this particular conversation grew over an argument about whether or not Jesus is God. For a while, I watched from the comfort of the sidelines as the parties of both camps threw scripture verses out there, each side refuting the interpretation of the other side's scriptures. When that didn't work each side resorted to throwing out his own version of this particular appeal: "if you would just look at the clear and unambiguous words of Scripture, you would see the truth."
Aaaah, that sounds so reasonable, doesn't it? It's an appeal to common sense. It's a "come, let us reason together" moment. It seems like the way to solve the problem: let's just go to the text, say a little prayer for guidance, read the words, shake hands and walk away united. It should work, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't. Sure it seems reasonable, but that's as far as it goes. Deep down, it's fundamentally flawed thinking.
The problem isn't with the words of scripture, per se. It's the meaning those words are imbued with. In the argument I was watching unfold, both camps took the same words and each read remarkably different ideas into them--contradictory ideas in fact. Their own ideas.
Neither side could understand how the other could not read their particular proof texts and not come away convinced. And so, inevitably, the conversation devolved into who's led by the Holy Spirit and who's a servant of Satan.
As the opinions piled up and the number of posts increased, we "learned" that everyone's level of spirituality was directly related to the strength of his agreement with either of the two sides. For example, if you happened to agree with Side A, then Side A thought you were a Saint--a Biblical scholar of staggering proportions. However, side B typically thought you were a rube. On the other hand, if you, by chance, should agree with Side B, well then, it was clear (to Side B) that you were a powerful theologian--a visionary, able to cut through the clutter, lucidly beholding (and expounding upon) great spiritual mysteries. Unfortunately, Side A comfortably and knowingly assumed you were going to hell.
And all of this occurs because the Bible is exceedingly clear and unambiguous in all matters, right? And we'll know we're right because we know we're led by the Holy Spirit--and that's His job, right? To lead us into all truth? And even though the other people we encounter may SAY they're led by the Holy Spirit, we'll know whether or not that's true by this simple litmus test: do they agree with what we say Scripture says? If they agree, they pass and are clearly spirit led and are brothers and sisters who should be embraced. If they disagree with our positions--and since we KNOW we are spirit-led--we therefore know that they are . . . yes, you guessed it: Devil Spawn. Satan's Emissaries. Servants of Beelzebub.
Now, I'm not here to knock the Bible in any regard. The Bible is the written word of God, handed down to us through the Apostles and various followers of our Lord. The Bible is a tremendous gift from God to the world. And yet, nowhere in the Bible do we read that the Bible is the SOLE rule of faith. In fact, we read in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the "pillar and bulwark of the truth" is the Church of Jesus Christ--not a written word. In fact, Paul's passage reads as such:
I would love to believe that the Holy Spirit leads each of us to understand Scripture for ourselves in ALL MATTERS. I would love to believe that we're all equally valid interpreters of the Word. It's a nice idea. It puts a lot of power in our hands. If it's true, we're all theologians, we're all experts on doctrine, we're all Doctors of the Church.
But if it is true, why is there so little consistency? If the Holy Spirit is leading us all, why is there so much variance in our beliefs? And we must be careful not to opt for the "easy-out" answer--the answer given almost everytime this question is asked: "we disagree in non-essentials, but in essentials, there's unity."
Really? Is the Spirit so weak? He's only able to persuade unity in certain doctrines, but other things are outside of his control? He is said to lead into ALL truth and yet, we so often are willing to accept just some.
So why aren't we united? It's what Jesus wanted. Why can't the Holy Spirit pull it off? If the original plan of God was to give us the Bible and then provide the Holy Spirit who would lead us (each one, separately) into all truth, then why in the world hasn't it happened? Human error? Human sin? These are things God didn't foresee?
God knew the system of personal interpretation would be flawed, would lead to much disunity, many arguments and widespread division, but He proceeded with it anyway just because He couldn't come up with a better idea? Does that makes sense?
But what if we're wrong about this notion? What if we're incorrect about God's plan regarding the Bible and the teaching of truth? What if He never meant each one of us to pick it up and find out the truth for ourselves all by ourselves? What if He established an authority--a teaching authority--a pillar and foundation of the truth? What if this was the authority who would be led by the Holy Spirit and pass on the teachings of the Lord accurately? What if this authority was created in order to teach infallibly and guide the faithful?
If we can believe that the Holy Spirit can guide each of us personally into all truth, preserving us from error, is it such an impossibility to think that He could do the same with the Church?
As the opinions piled up and the number of posts increased, we "learned" that everyone's level of spirituality was directly related to the strength of his agreement with either of the two sides. For example, if you happened to agree with Side A, then Side A thought you were a Saint--a Biblical scholar of staggering proportions. However, side B typically thought you were a rube. On the other hand, if you, by chance, should agree with Side B, well then, it was clear (to Side B) that you were a powerful theologian--a visionary, able to cut through the clutter, lucidly beholding (and expounding upon) great spiritual mysteries. Unfortunately, Side A comfortably and knowingly assumed you were going to hell.
And all of this occurs because the Bible is exceedingly clear and unambiguous in all matters, right? And we'll know we're right because we know we're led by the Holy Spirit--and that's His job, right? To lead us into all truth? And even though the other people we encounter may SAY they're led by the Holy Spirit, we'll know whether or not that's true by this simple litmus test: do they agree with what we say Scripture says? If they agree, they pass and are clearly spirit led and are brothers and sisters who should be embraced. If they disagree with our positions--and since we KNOW we are spirit-led--we therefore know that they are . . . yes, you guessed it: Devil Spawn. Satan's Emissaries. Servants of Beelzebub.
Now, I'm not here to knock the Bible in any regard. The Bible is the written word of God, handed down to us through the Apostles and various followers of our Lord. The Bible is a tremendous gift from God to the world. And yet, nowhere in the Bible do we read that the Bible is the SOLE rule of faith. In fact, we read in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the "pillar and bulwark of the truth" is the Church of Jesus Christ--not a written word. In fact, Paul's passage reads as such:
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.Paul WRITES Timothy instructions (the written WORD of God), but he doesn't tell Timothy that these writings are the pillar and foundation of the truth. That position is reserved for the Church of the Living God. The writings are instructional and helpful and definitely important--but they are not the Pillar and Bulwark or foundation of the truth. No writing can be that since the writing itself requires interpretation. The only entity that can provide interpretation is a teaching authority: the Church.
I would love to believe that the Holy Spirit leads each of us to understand Scripture for ourselves in ALL MATTERS. I would love to believe that we're all equally valid interpreters of the Word. It's a nice idea. It puts a lot of power in our hands. If it's true, we're all theologians, we're all experts on doctrine, we're all Doctors of the Church.
But if it is true, why is there so little consistency? If the Holy Spirit is leading us all, why is there so much variance in our beliefs? And we must be careful not to opt for the "easy-out" answer--the answer given almost everytime this question is asked: "we disagree in non-essentials, but in essentials, there's unity."
Really? Is the Spirit so weak? He's only able to persuade unity in certain doctrines, but other things are outside of his control? He is said to lead into ALL truth and yet, we so often are willing to accept just some.
So why aren't we united? It's what Jesus wanted. Why can't the Holy Spirit pull it off? If the original plan of God was to give us the Bible and then provide the Holy Spirit who would lead us (each one, separately) into all truth, then why in the world hasn't it happened? Human error? Human sin? These are things God didn't foresee?
God knew the system of personal interpretation would be flawed, would lead to much disunity, many arguments and widespread division, but He proceeded with it anyway just because He couldn't come up with a better idea? Does that makes sense?
But what if we're wrong about this notion? What if we're incorrect about God's plan regarding the Bible and the teaching of truth? What if He never meant each one of us to pick it up and find out the truth for ourselves all by ourselves? What if He established an authority--a teaching authority--a pillar and foundation of the truth? What if this was the authority who would be led by the Holy Spirit and pass on the teachings of the Lord accurately? What if this authority was created in order to teach infallibly and guide the faithful?
If we can believe that the Holy Spirit can guide each of us personally into all truth, preserving us from error, is it such an impossibility to think that He could do the same with the Church?
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