A Challenge Against Scripture

 “Randy,
How would you respond to this argument that the Bible is not always correct and should not be the final word? Please refer to the BioLogos link below.
https://discourse.biologos.org/t/an-example-from-scriptures-on-why-it-s-not-always-the-final-authority-on-all-matters/43232″

 If you don’t want to link through and read the comments, the basic idea is that the system of justice God set up in Deuteronomy 22 was unscientific and unjust, therefore the Bible is faulty.

How Do We Know?

 Accusations against the character of the Old Testament is a common argument for those who reject the Authority of Scripture or relegate it to a “small category of acceptable items. Whether it is this passage or another, people interpret it one way and then judge inspiration and inerrancy of all scripture from their own interpretation of that text. 

The doctrine of the Inspiration does not give us an automatic method to interpret the Scripture. Just because it is Inspired does not mean we are going to understand it.

Ultimately, the doctrine of inspiration asks the question: who is the final authority over life and thought? If scripture is not the final authority, then who is?

Am I? I don’t think so.

Are the great and unerring scientists the ultimate authority? I don’t think so.

What most of the Inspiration deniers are saying is that we can trust scripture about “spiritual truth” but not scientific and historical truth.

Heavenly vs Earthly Things

Jesus’ answer to judging God based on our limited understanding is “how can you believe in heavenly if you don’t believe in the earthly?”

Jesus argues from the lesser to the greater. Theologians who want to deny scripture’s authority want to deny the lesser and claim the greater. This doesn’t work; they eventually deny the greater as well and end up with no authority but themselves.

I did not understand the Divine authority of the Scripture when I became serious about following Jesus but I knew it had the power to change people’s lives.

Over time I grew to appreciate scripture’s authority in other areas.

At some point, like Nebuchadnezzar, an individual has to decide who is in charge of life. You can tell from the original article and its responses that people don’t even have the same idea what they are discussing. The comments are all over the place from  ancient law, manuscript evidence and evolution.

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe we are the ones being tested and not God’s Word?

 

What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man [be found] a liar, as it is written, “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.”

Romans 3:3-4