A couple of years ago a friend of mine admonished me that I, as a fundamentalist, was a part of a branch of the church that placed the Scriptures on such a high plane that it was nearly a part of the trinity. His comment has stuck with me, if not for the absurdity of the claim then for the force of the thought. As a part of the fundamentalist camp have we either knowingly or unknowingly placed the Word of God on the same footings as the members of the trinity?
How might one address this charge?
The Scriptures testify of itself in Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; and 2 Peter 1:20-21
Heb 4:1212 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.NASU
2 Tim 3:15-17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.NASU
2 Peter 1:20-2120 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.NASU
From these three passages we note that the Scriptures are living, active, convicting, teaching, discerning, inspired, profitable, and given by God.
In the changing spiritual world in which we live, we find that many within the church looking for the newest fad that comes along that might give them the shortcuts to spiritual maturity. This is not a new thing, but today we are finding that more and more christians in general and pastors specifically are poorly equipped to refute the false doctrine portrayed as shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Why is that? I believe that we are finding that the church today has fallen prey to the age in which we live. We have a generation of christians that are biblically illiterate. Why? Churches, denominations and pastor / teachers have short circuited the means for spiritual growth by being more in tune with the latest theological trends and less in tune with the God of Scripture. They have substituted christian authors, church growth methods, seminars on any ranging of things for the systematic study of the Word of God. In practicality most would never acknowledge that they have done so, but in their efforts to be relevant to the culture in which we live they have left the very thing that is the most relevant – they have neglected the Word of God for the word of the latest christian bestseller.
It as if we as a christian community are willing to consider the words of the latest author instead of being fluent of the Living Word. Peter addresses the confidence we can have in the Word of God in 2 Peter 1:19
2 Peter 1:19-21
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: KJV
As bible believing Christians we have a ‘sure word of prophecy.’ This would indicate that we have ONE constant – that being the very Word of God. Authors may come and authors may go. Seminars come and seminars go, but the Word of God stands firm.
As a bible believing Christian I believe that we need to spend more time reading Paul, Peter, James and John and less time reading Rick, Chuck, Charles and Joel. If you want to find your purpose in life you aren’t going to find it through a bestseller you will find it through THE bestseller of all time – the Bible.
Isn’t it time that we as bible believing Christians become more familiar with the Word of God?
NASU – New American Standard Updated
KJV – King James Version
Principled Biblicist 