(NOTE FROM THE BLOG-MEISTER: I spent nearly three hours working on this post, and I’m still not completely satisfied with it–because it deals with some hot-button issues, and I’m concerned that some of my remarks could be misinterpreted. If you find Biblical error here, please know that I’m in the process of working some things out theologically even as I write this. If you disagree, feel free to comment and tell me what you think. If it makes you think–then I’ve done my job.)
Hot Question 1: Is the Bible the sum total of the revelation of God?
Hot Question 2: Is the Bible inerrant?

These are questions that I put on the table in our home group meeting a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised at the consensus of those gathered; I’ll share about that in a moment.

There were a lot of Biblical catch-phrases that I picked up as a kid in the Word-Faith movement–things like “God and His Word are One” and Jesus being the “Word made flesh.” Maybe it wasn’t intended this way, but it came across to me as though the Scriptures were being presented as this mystical incarnation of God Himself, and somehow when we held that book in our hands, we were holding the complete revelation of Who He is.

Now, let me be clear up front that I highly value the Scripture (higher now, I think, than I ever have), and that I do uphold those Scriptures that identify God with His Word. But in recent days, a couple of questions have gnawed at me:
  • How can finite words, written into finite documents, compiled into a finite book, possibly contain the entire revelation of an infinite God? Wouldn’t that make God finite, and therefore, not really God?
  • If the Bible is the sum total of the revelation of God, why would we even bother seeking to experience His presence through worship experiences? Why not just immerse ourselves in the book and be done with it?
I submit that what is contained in Scripture is sound and totally trustworthy, that it accurately describes God’s will for us, and that those 66 books we identify as the “canon of Scripture”–the Bible–can’t be added to, nor subtracted from. But I think, in fact, most Christ-followers do recognize that there is more to God than we know and understand. The Word of God, the Bible, is absolutely consistent with His character and Person; but God is a Person, a Spirit; He must be more than words can describe. He is to be experienced, and He is to be followed.

When I posed these “hot questions” to the house church, this was the consensus of what they said:
  • To Hot Question 1: The Bible is not all there is to know of God; however, it is inspired by God to equip finite mankind with what we need to know of Him in this life. Also, while there may be more to God than we can know by Scripture, we take safety in knowing He will not say or do anything in violation of the Scriptures, which He inspired.
  • To Hot Question 2: While there are known translational and interpretational errors due to language and culture differences, we believe that God had a purpose in everything that has made its way into the canon of Scripture, and in that regard, we trust it fully.
That’s a summary of their answers. To which I add a hearty “Amen.”

Here’s what I’m saying…

When we take the Bible as the “sum total” of God, it can lead to dogmatic interpretations, legalism, and religiosity. And honestly, I think it de-values the mystery of God when we do that. But on the other extreme, when we de-value the Bible by telling ourselves we don’t have to take it seriously, that portions of it aren’t relevant to us, or that our experiences or other writings are just as relevant….it leads to error and heresy. Both extremes occur, I think, because we’ve not understood what the Bible is for.

I submit that the Bible was given, not as a complete description of God, nor as something we can take or leave; I submit that the Bible was given to be our plumb line.

A plumb line is not the sum total of a building; it measures the center of gravity to determine verticality (literally, to determine which way is “up” and “down”). By its point of reference the building is built correctly; every angle and line of the building is literally based on the plumb line. In the same way, we are to use the Bible as the reference point for every doctrinal idea we have about God, for every method we employ, and for every spiritual experience we have. No matter how much sense it makes, or how convincing it seems…if it doesn’t line up with the plumb line, it must be rejected as lopsided. The Bible is our Plumb Line. The Bible–and nothing else. Without it, we are doomed to build something that is unbalanced.

Here’s why I’m saying it….

There’s a lot of re-thinking and re-evaluating of institutional Christianity going on right now–and rightly so. I’m immersed in that process myself. Yesterday I wrote about being mindful of what needs to be rejected and what simply needs to be re-defined. In this process of de-constructing and re-thinking, I want to add this to the mix:

We need to always remember our Plumb Line.

When I say this, I fully recognize that there are many ways that people interpret Scripture, and I’m not saying that the “plumb line” is my take on Scripture. I am simply saying that the value of Scripture itself must never be compromised. In all that we are processing through, there has to be a plumb line, a reference point, that does not move. Otherwise, we run the risk of building a way of thinking that is just as unbalanced as the structures we’ve left behind.
I also said yesterday that there is a great deal of transition going on, and times of transition are messy. I think we need to allow for that, and give ourselves (and each other) plenty of grace as we find our bearings. So I don’t say these things as an indictment against anyone who is truly searching, but as a reminder to us all (myself included) where our “bearings” need to be. Since leaving behind my institutional mindsets, I’m truly excited by the possibilities I never knew existed. But I’m also overwhelmed by the magnitude of change; and in the process I need to make sure I keep my point of reference in view. Whatever this reshaping may look like…may we never lose sight of our plumb line.

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Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo. I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.