December 24, 2007

Written in Stone or Flesh?

John 5:39-40 (NASB) "You search the Scripture because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life."

The 1963 BF&M stated that "The criteria by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ" With Adrian Rogers as the chairman of the committee to study the BF&M and bring suggested changes to the 2000 convention the wording changed to: "All scripture is a testimony to Christ who is himself the focus of divine revelation."

Jesus is no longer viewed as God’s supreme revelation, he has been demoted to being merely the “focus” of God’s revelation. Jesus has also been demoted from being the criteria by which the Bible is to be interpreted.

According to Jesus Scripture was held in a very exalted position, it was divine in origin but was never meant to be an end in itself. The purpose of scripture is to lead and point people to Christ.

Now there are people who have a low view of Scripture and do not regard it as the true Word of God. However there are those who hold too 'high' a view of Scripture and worship it rather than Christ. "Bible-worshippers" look to the right interpretation as if they have the Christ the Word says they have. Yet as Christ said, they 'think' they have eternal life. Their hearts remain stony and lifeless. Christ as the ends of Scripture gives life to the dead and causes men to live.

The high view of Scripture held by the Conservative resurgence has influenced the followers of Dr Rogers as reflected by the posters of both pro and anti (Gaines) Bellevue. Rather than reflecting a 'lively heart' they reflect arrogant stony hearts. They have a head knowledge of the Word supposing that they have eternal life.

1 comment:

WatchingHISstory said...

I posted this to Christa Brown's blog: Stop Baptist Predators

2000 BF&M
XV. Christians and the Social Order

6A. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness and vice, and all forms of scriptural immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and pornography.

The irony of this is that while Dr Rogers was attending to national SBC matters, his associate, Paul Williams, was sodomizing his own young son. Adrian Rogers was chairing the SBC committee to insure that the Church avoids such things.

The Church needs more than committees and mission statements. She needs the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Charles Page