Traditionally, there has been a distinction between "Christianity" and "biblical Christianity." For as long as there has been "Christianity," there has been those who did it according to God's Word and those who "did it my way." Even the New Testament writers would refer back to Scripture to make their points when correcting error in the church. The distinction, then, is whether or not you follow the Christianity of the Bible or your own version.
Of course, it's not always easy to see that distinction. Lots of false teachers teach from the Bible. Lots of "Christians" reference God's Word and even claim to hold to it. So how does that distinction work? For "biblical Christianity" to be biblical doesn't require that it references the Bible. It requires that it takes the Bible as intended. Biblical Christianity has a high view of Scripture. The other kind has a high view of their own interpretation so as to find what they want in the Bible if they want to reference Scripture. This idea cuts two ways. On one hand, if Jesus says, for instance, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matt 7:13-14), a biblical Christian would take that to mean that the way is narrow and those who find it are few. A Christian (not biblically intent) would either ignore the text or explain why it does not mean that. On the other hand, a self-professed Christian might gleefully explain to you that "Trinity" is not in the Bible and you're wrong for holding to it while a biblical Christian would have to admit that the whole doctrine is held throughout Scripture even if the word itself doesn't appear. Biblical Christians, then, shape their doctrines from Scripture even if that rubs them the wrong way and self-professed Christians will ignore or bend Scripture to their own views.
So what? Does it really matter? Jesus prayed regarding His disciples, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:16-17). Paul declared, "We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's Word" (2 Cor 4:2) and urged us to hold fast "to the word of life" (Php 2:16). Scripture is breathed out by God (2 Tim 3:16) and equips us "for every good work" (2 Tim 3:17). If we don't maintain that high view of Scripture, taking it as sufficient and as it is written rather than twisting it or ignoring it to our own wills, it's hard to imagine that we can be considered "Christians" at all if "Christian" is "a follower of Christ" and Christ declared God's Word "truth."
4 comments:
If the Bible can be amended or reinterpreted to meet today's cultural norms, it is no longer the Word of God and is just as invalid as any other religious writing.
Too many dictate to Scripture what it must mean based on their own preferences/ideas and then say, "We follow Scripture." Too many dictate to Jesus who He was by embracing some parts (like the "loving" Jesus) while ignoring or even denying others (like the guy with the whip in the Temple or the guy pronouncing judgment on Pharisees or the guy who spoke more of hell than heaven). You're right; a Bible subjected to cultural norms or personal preferences is not God's Word.
This was so well stated, Stan. The only trustworthy knowledge we have of Jesus Christ and Christianity stems from the Bible, so using it to shape our faith is obviously critical. Adhering to the doctrines as presented and not twisting or altering the clear teaching creates that Biblical Christianity that will mark the true members of the kingdom of God. When people interpret the Bible according to their personal preferences, they risk creating a god of their own making (“idolatry”) and a form of manmade religion, I believe. I am grateful that we can find God’s truth in written form, so we are not dependent upon oral traditions or folk tales like some other belief systems (Native Americans, for example). We can go back to the source to maintain a solid foundation and avoid playing the game of “Telephone” in order to know what to believe. When I flip around the TV and happen upon someone like Joel Osteen promoting his brand of “Christianity,” I can positively say, “not even close!” because I know the truth. (The reason I have read here daily for 10+ years—rather than follow people like him--is that I find the articles here in line with the Bible’s teaching and therefore with my faith, which I hope is solidly Biblical Christianity.)
By the way, I looked back at your linked post about the Trinity from 2007 (which was long before I found this blog). That was quite the “homework assignment for [your] readers”! (Too bad that the “Anonymous” who commented there 12 years later would have failed your quiz, if you had offered one! He/she certainly had plenty of time to study for it in those 12 years! ;)
There's also the problem of taking modern idioms and concepts and reading them back into Scripture. I just heard a woman say that God is pro-choice because He allows free will and doesn't stop people from expressing their choices, completely ignoring that there were good and bad choices expressed in Scripture, and that there are bad outcomes for those that make the wrong choices.
Post a Comment