I was in my first year of college when I was invited to a seminar. The first night the speaker, in general terms, made references to parts of the Bible in support of his theological belief. On the other hand, he gave a general indictment against the Bible. The more he would speak, the more I got defensive. At the time set for Q&A, I challenged his premise, but his response made it seemed as if we agreed. I was yelling loudly inside, NO!!! All I could verbalized was quickly rebutted and made to look as if we were in agreement.
I left that first meeting bewildered. “Lord”, I said, “you know we were not saying the same thing give me wisdom to deal with this issue tomorrow.”
I heard the Holy Spirit said to me, “don’t defend, listen and I will do the rest.” I have learned many of lessons since that time.
So, next evening I did just that, I listened and not defended.
During the Q&A I started by saying…If one part of the Bible contains errors, then the same % of error applies to all or any part of the Bible. To what level of accuracy can I defend one part over the other. Therefore, your theological stand is now supported by a certain level of error which makes your theology faulty. I continued, how can you selectively choose what parts are not correct and what parts are correct on the basis that it agrees or disagrees with your point of view. You either have to trust the entire thing or none at all. That was the only question/statement I was allowed to make that night.
I have been reading of late, and this same attitude seems to be more pervasive–Let’s disregard the parts of scriptures that I do not agree with and the other parts, I will keep. The Bible is outdated, some even say. If there is no moral foundation and theological absolute, then we will fall for everything. Without the absoluteness of God, in whom all exist truths, all truths then are relative. If we start parsing the Bible into outdated and current portions, who will determine which parts will be outdated in the next generations. What is morally repulsive today could be morally acceptable tomorrow and visa versa. You cannot pick and choose what to accept and what to reject based on your own knowledge. There has to be a point of moral absolutes. Do not try to force me to dilute the scripture because it contradicts your lifestyle. I will not!!
Well, here is my stance. I believe the entire counsel of the Bible not only when it agrees with my viewpoint, but also when it does not agree with my viewpoint.
We believe that the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God; that it contains the only true way to our salvation; that every true Christian is bound to acknowledge and receive it with the influence of the Spirit of God as the only rule and guide; and that without faith in Jesus Christ, true repentance, forgiveness of sins, and following after Christ, no one can be a true Christian. [1]
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