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Preachin's Blog A little blog from an upstart theologian that will do its best to exemplify Christ while sharing a thing or two along the way. |
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![]() Thursday, July 29, 2004 Passé Biblical AuthorityI have the...opportunity...to work in a department which is comprised of seminary students. This does have its benefits and drawbacks. The drawbacks are more prevalent than the benefits. Today is a good example, as I was sitting, ensconced in my lovely little corner cubicle, a shouting match arose from the other side of our conference room turned cubicle farm. Two of my co-workers were in a heated debate over the nature of God's grace. One made the assertion that no homosexuals will ever receive salvation while in their state of immorality. The other disagreed heartily and thus began the debate. Now the conversation got mean fast with both telling the other to shut up and lesson to their, obviously, well reasoned positions. As I sat in my cubicle attempting to do some work I did take note several issues in this raucous debate. First was that they were arguing over the salvific state of people, something which really none of us mortal humans can fully discern. Second, they were both dabbling in several different theological palates to construct their arguments. For example one is a staunch Calvinist, yet at several points he deviated from traditional Calvinism to embrace a more existential approach to his debate. This was an interesting thing to hear them flesh out. Finally, the use of the Bible was secondary in their argument. It is on this point that I shall linger for a moment. At the outset of their debate they were both mentioning, in broad allusions with no clear citations, various biblical texts and thoughts from these texts. Through the course of their debate as the emotional level rose, so did the use of their philosophical worldviews over biblical basis. By the end of their debate the Bible was a mere book they had both tossed aside to pursue a more philosophical route. Now I don't have a problem with pursuing philosophical points in my theology, since I do believe philosophy is the bedrock for all our understanding and belief. That is to say I can, and do, believe that the Bible is the authoritative text for my theology to be based upon...but I believe that through a philosophical belief. The problem I have with these two, other than they took up my time and made for an unhappy workplace today, is they both said the Bible supported their particular position but never actually engaged the texts. I am curious how many of us do actually engage in such things. I have made it one of the goals of my summer, and this coming final semester, to begin nailing my personal theology down with a credible biblical basis to give an answer for anyone that asks me what and why I believe. I have sat in countless "Bible studies" both in Sunday School and outside of church where this Passé Biblical Authority was passed around like the measles in kindergarten. If we evangelical Christians, specifically Baptists, hold the Scriptures in such high regard (and rightly so) is it too much to ask that we proceed as the Bereans (Acts 17) and search Scriptures daily to have our faith validated and reproved? I believe it is our theological imperative to do so, lest we be boobs like my two co-workers. posted by Preachin Jesus | 12:30 PM | |
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