The Authority of Scripture

"THE AUTHORITY OF
SCRIPTURE"

I read recently that Melvin Lair, before he was Secretary of Defense, made a statement at a convention where he spoke. He said, "In this world it is becoming more and more unpopular to be a Christian. Soon, it may become dangerous." This statement was made several years ago and I believe that we see this becoming very evident in our day.

So-called "scholars" are debunking the idea that God's Word is really God's Word. They seem to like to pick it apart and utilize what makes them feel good and then cast the rest aside. The Jesus Seminar a few years back is a good example of that. A few "scholars" decided which words of Jesus in the Bible were really His words and which were made to look like His words by the Gospel writers. I guess they must be pretty old folks who sat on that Seminar. That's the only way I can figure they would know something like that. I say that only in jest. I'm sure they must have had some great "scholarly" way to figure it all out.

The authority of scripture has been drawn to task in recent days. I received an Email from a person who had read an article I wrote in the editorial column of a national publication. Part of their rebuttal was that following the Bible would border on idolatry. They went on to say that they don't follow the Bible, they follow the words of Jesus. I gathered from this that only the words of Jesus are authoritative scripture. The rest, apparently, you take or leave at your discretion. Wow! What a Bible! Sort of like going to your local Souper Salad, picking out what you like and just leaving the rest behind. Can't beat a deal like that.

All kidding aside, this is exactly what so many people are doing today with the Bible. They look at God in the Old Testament and say, "We don't want anything to do with a God like that. It must have been a different God, because the God of the New Testament is nothing but love, love, love." So, they edit the Old Testament and by the time they get done with it all you have left is "In the beginning..". That's pretty much it.

Some folks just don't like the idea that God does some of the things He does during OT times so they try to erase it and just keep what pleases them. They forget that God is sovereign and He has every right to do what He wants to do. And, most of the time, He is the only one who really knows what the good reason is for doing what He did. And, you can be guaranteed that He does have a good reason. Otherwise He would not be doing it.

God is a God of love. I have no quarrel with that at all. However, God is a God of vengeance as well--and for good purposes. People look at Jesus and say we should just follow His message of love. We do that, but we should also see that the ways of this world make Him very unhappy and angry. How about those money-changers? I'd have hated to be in that area when they caught Jesus' eye. Talk about your thunder and lightning! Oh--you also might want to take a look at the book of Revelations too. Gives you a different view of Jesus--you'll see the Jesus of righteous indignation being revealed. It all boils down to the fact that you may think you're getting by with things now, but there comes a day of retribution.

One final note about the reply to my editorial that I mentioned above. The responder told me that sinners were being ordained everyday in every denomination. I know where he is coming from with that and I agree. However, because he does not accept anything authoritative about the Bible except Jesus' Words, he is missing a very important fact. There is a difference between practicing sin as a natural way of life and of sinning. I am a sinner---saved by Grace (Praise God!). The difference is that I have the power of the Holy Spirit to convict me of sin when I do allow it into my life and I confess that sin at once. The people he was referring to don't even accept the fact that they are sinners. They go on living their sin day in and day out just like it wasn't even there. They call it normal, but God calls it sin.

My friends, we just can't keep on living like that. We either accept the fact that Jesus died for our sins and, because of that, we repent of our sins--or, you don't.

I'll end this with a note to you folks who fit into the category of those I've been speaking about above. God will not be mocked, you can rest assured. He loves all of us but that does not mean that He will overlook the things we do that displease Him. You can't expect to tear His Word apart and make it almost unrecognizable--You can't mock the authority of His Word by twisting it to say what you want it to say and ignoring things you just don't agree with--You can't continually re-crucify His Son by denying that He is the only way to the Father--You can't live in defiance and disobedience and expect to get by with it. There is coming a day of accounting.

May God continue to bless you richly!

Pastor Joe