christian@topaz.UUCP (03/02/87)
Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and
providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of
God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to
give that knowledge of God, or of His will, which is necessary
unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry
times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare
that His will unto His church; and afterwards, for the better
preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure
establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of
the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit
the same wholly unto writing: which makes the holy scriptures
most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing His will
unto His people being now ceased.
This is the opening chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith
(WCF), what the Presbyterian Church believes is the chief expression
of "that system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures." I believe
it's significant that the Confession begins with a section on the
Holy Scriptures because, after all, what we believe about God and
ourselves can only be correctly understood from the Bible. In other
words, if we have an incorrect view of scripture we will ultimately
have an incorrect view of God and His creation.
When I speak of myself as a "conservative Christian" I mean three
things about myself. First, I believe that the Bible IS the word of
God, inerrant in the original autographs and the only infallible rule
of faith and practice for the church. This statement distinguishs me
from a liberal Christian who often believes that the Bible merely
CONTAINS the word of God. Second, I believe that the church is an
historic entity which has existed throughout the centuries. As such,
it has produced a set of confessions which are meant to highlight the
common beliefs of the church. As a confessional Christian I receive
and adopt these common beliefs insofar as they faithfully represent
what the Bible teaches. This would distinguish me from, say, a
Unitarian who denies certain fundamental, orthodox doctrines (e.g. the
divinity of Christ). Thirdly, I believe in the validity of
denominational ties. The church is not simply a bunch of local
congregations, independent of one another, but there is a usefulness
to visible, organizational unity.
The nature of God's revelation and the Bible was an obvious point of
departure for protestantism from Roman Catholicism. One of the
principle issues had to do with the nature of authority. Roman
Catholics believe that the authority of the Bible rests on the
authority of the church. As such, the authority of the Bible is
secondary to the authority of the church. Protestants believe that
the authority of the Bible is rooted in the authority of God. We
believe that the Bible is to judge the church, not vice versa. That's
why the historic, protestant view of scripture has been that it is the
ONLY rule of faith and practice. The Bible is to be our guide, not
the traditions of men. Now this may seem to be out of sync with the
idea of confessions, but remember that a confession is only useful
insofar as it reflects the teaching of scripture.
The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought to be
believed and obeyed, depends not on the testimony of any man or
church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author
thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the
word of God.
WCF I.4
The Bible cannot be proved to be the word of God from anything
external to God Himself. This is because God is the ultimate
authority on which the Bible rests. We believe that there are only
two evidences to the Bible as God's word.
The first is the testimony of the Bible itself. In the OT the
prophets are continually bringing the word of the Lord to the people.
In the NT we find Jesus and the apostles quoting the OT in order to
show the unity of all God's revelation. Jesus considered all
scripture to be the word of God. In Matt. 19:4,5 we find Jesus
saying, "Have you not read that He who created them ... said, 'For
this cause a man shall leave...'" He explicitly declares that God is
the author of the words in Gen. 2:24. We also have the testimony of
Peter where he declares the writings of Paul to be scripture. (II
Pet. 3:15,16) The second evidence is the inward testimony of the Holy
Spirit in the life of the believer.
The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of the elect so that they react
properly to what confronts them in the Bible. The inward witness of
the Spirit is necessary due to the fallen nature of man. Man is
spiritually blind and, apart from the work of the Spirit, cannot
receive the things of God. This includes receiving the Bible as the
word of God.
What has been the effect of the liberal view of scripture on the
church? Even a superficial survey of the denominations will lead one
to the conclusion that many divisions were caused, in one way or
another, by a low view of scripture. As denominations corporately
moved away from the doctrine of inerrancy, all sorts of heterodox
teachings were allowed to influence the church. The Bible has
historically been regarded as the anchor of the church. It is the
yardstick by which all doctrines were measured. Without the Bible as
the infallible rule, how can a denomination answer a question such as,
"Can a minister who denies the virgin birth of Christ be allowed to
occupy a pulpit of our church?" The church will have a yardstick.
The question is what shall the yardstick be? Shall it be the fallible
ideas of men, which are subject to the winds of time, or shall it be
the objective word of God? I believe the life and health of the
church depends upon the correct answer to this question.
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His
own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly
set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may
be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to
be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions
of men.
WCF I.6
All scripture is inspired by God (theopneustos) and profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for
every good work.
II Tim 3:16,17
Dr. B. B. Warfield points out the word 'theopneustos' means not that a
product of human origin is breathed into by God, but that a Divine
product is breathed out by God.
--
Tom Albrecht
"Reformata, semper reformanda."