As some of my readers know, I am a very strong advocate of the doctrine of Sola Scriptura- Scripture Alone. It is my fervent belief that Scripture is the inerrant Word of God and therefore, is all-sufficient for any and all Christians in any and all places and times.
So you will understand my sense of dismay when a recently proposed Bible study was once more abandoned in favor of yet another study of a theological book written by someone not under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This decision was justified to me by the claim that the chosen work made more sense because it came with a study guide, was more relevant to where certain people were in their current Christian walk, and because no one wanted to engage in a “what’s this mean to you” Bible study. Needless to say, I felt like I had just gone down the rabbit hole with Alice and it took me some time to respond. This happens to be a feeling I often get whenever I watch the news, which is why I no longer watch the news. But I digress. Anyway, allow me to tackle these three objections one at a time, starting with the last and proceeding backwards.
Of course, concern over a Bible study degenerating into a group of people all sharing what a particular passage means to them is perfectly legitimate. Regrettably, asking the question What does this mean to me? has led to some pretty strange interpretations. But this problem is not insurmountable. One simply has to set down a simple ground rule: the purpose of this study is to answer the following question - What does this mean? In other words, what meaning did the author intend to express to the original audiance? When you set out with that goal in mind, you’re cooking with gas.
I’ll answer the second objection with a question of my own. How does any written or spoken word become more relevant to any Christian at any particular time in their spiritual walk than Scripture itself? It doesn’t matter how doctrinally sound, erudite, or ancient the theologian may happen to be or have been. Since their works, helpful as they might be, are not the equivalent of Scripture, their words can certainly never be more relevant than the Word of God itself. And since no responsible theologian has ever made such a ludicrous claim for any of their writings, it is a sure sign of quackery when someone does.
Finally, it grieves my spirit that so many of my fellow Christians feel incompetent to study Scripture and are perfectly content to leave Biblical interpretation to the “experts.” They seem to fear that a self-perceived lack of intellect will lead them astray if they dare to do more than read Scripture and memorize a few familiar passages. If so, then they’ve forgotten that the true author of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, resides within them. Furthermore, He is not only willing, but eager to reveal His meaning to them. Its why He went through the trouble of having Scripture written in the first place – is it not?
In closing, let me make this last observation. Brothers and sisters from oppressive cultures and countries never fail to impress we American Christians with their immense faith and holy living. Might not one reason for their great spiritual success be that they cherish and religiously study the single worn and torn Bible kept hidden from the authorities and are never distracted by the plethora of study guides, commentaries, inspirational writings and prayer books that we in America have at our disposal?
thanks for your thoughts Dan…I appreciate your groundedness:o)
By: amy on July 6, 2008
at 4:15 am
I’ve been thinking a lot about this post since you put it up.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to it because there some thing I would agree with you and some that I wouldn’t.
In the end, I’m thankful for your desire to search the scriptures out.
Here is something that I read while on vacation:
Nehemiah 8:1-8.
Ezra read directly from the law, but there were others who “helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.”
The men with Ezra helped to explain the Law. Just something to consider.
By: ~M on July 7, 2008
at 5:23 pm
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Acts 17:11
By: ianmcleod on July 9, 2008
at 9:41 am
So, can’t you do both?
It would appear that both are affirmed in scripture.
By: ~M on July 9, 2008
at 3:16 pm
Yes, but the secondary sources should remain just that, secondary. Lets face it, most of our fellow Christians do not spend a great deal of time reading, let alone studying anything, albeit for often ligitimate reasons. Still, even for myself: an avid reader and researcher, for every hour spent reading or studying something other than Scripture, is an hour not spent reading or studying Scripture. Let us ask ourselves this question, what if tomorrow we awoke to discover that all we had access to was one copy of the Scriptures and no other written resource, would they alone be sufficiant to guide us in our Christian walk?
Furthermore, each of us are commanded to test everything that we hear. For you and I, we currently enjoy the advantage of solid Biblical leadership, but that can change quickly. Just look at the example of the Macedonian and Galatian churches. No sooner did Paul depart than false teachers arrived to undo all the work he had begun. Nearly everyone of his epistles addresses some issue in which the addressies have strayed from the Truth. The only defense against such decline is for every member of a congregation to be well grounded in the Word. Remember, we are each commanded, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1st John 4:1. We can only obey this command, if we know the Word of God. Likewise, Peter instructs us, “…you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1st Peter 2:5 Every believer is commanded to become an expert, i.e. a priest, no exceptions. And the best way to become an expert is to study the Word of God itself. Furthermore, any aides or helps must be tested against Scripture, not vice versa.
What I see, and am deeply troubled by, is an over-reliance on secondary source material. This is a very subtle trick of the flesh, which hates the Word because it uncompromisingly exposses sin. Therefore, the flesh desires to avoid Scripture, and any distraction is perferable to staring directly into the Mirror of Truth, which is the inerrent Word of God alone.
By: ianmcleod on July 9, 2008
at 7:08 pm
Good points.
But, I know for myself, I need to be careful with assuming that I don’t need help understanding things.
For instance, my studies of Biblical Femininity.
I didn’t realize how misinformed I was and how much I would struggle with Feminism (even almost 9 years after I first began to look into it). I did read the Bible (still do). But, reading other books has helped me to look at the Biblical passages with a more informed eye.
Even right now, the area I’m working on (God is really doing the work!) is trusting God. The main text that I keep going back to is Ephesians 1. Trusting God for me is often wrapped up with the Sovereignty of God.
On top of all of this, I’m also reading the book, Trusting God, as well as The Bondage of the Will. And, I’m having conversations with trusted friends.
Each has been a means of grace, and I could elaborate on how the Bible, the friends, and the book have each played a significant role in helping me to understand this topic and apply it.
Being a biblical scholar isn’t enough. We have to apply what we read. I’ve found that knowing the Truth is essential. And reading other books helps me to learn how to specifically apply it.
By: ~M on July 11, 2008
at 7:58 pm
I’m thinking about posting a blog about the influance post-modern feminism has had on the American church. It is a very contraversial issue, however, and one that will likely cause me no end of trouble with my sisters in Christ, because I perceive post-modern feminist ideas/mores as being far more central in the ladys’ views of male/female relationships than they realize.
In response to your comment, I’ve only two more observations and questions. First, let me observe that it was an over-reliance upon non-inspired Rabbinical writings that misled first century Jews, causing them to miss the advent of their Messiah. Second, it was a practically exclusive dependance upon non-inspired priestly writings that led Middle Age Christians away from Apostolic Orthodoxy, necessitating the Reformation, which was in its essence a “back to the Bible” movement. Finally, why does everyone I converse with on this subject seem to presume that Bible studies inevitably preclude effective application? Are not the Scriptures adequate for operative application?
By: ianmcleod on July 12, 2008
at 1:06 pm
Well, post the thing on post modernism if you feel it would serve to edify and encourage.
Studying the Bible should lead to application. But, so should a lot of things — listening to a sermon, talking with trusted friends, etc.
Books are only a means of grace — not grace itself. God is the one who will open our eyes and help us to see what He has to show us.
So, we can either say that we will only read the Bible, then we could be limited a whole realm of means of grace. Or, we can place too much weight on other’s words.
A third option is that we humbly say, “Hey, I don’t understand everything.” I wouldn’t go to my father for an operation. But, I might ask him to take me to a surgeon. Someone specialized. Someone who knows what to do.
That is how, in so many words, I can view reading books other then the Bible. I don’t know everything, but I know I need help. I know that there have been things that I have learned and seen in a new light through books, conversations, sermons, etc.
By: ~M on July 15, 2008
at 2:29 am