Solo Scriptura.....yes, I know it's typically "sola"
I heard a man on the radio this morning talking about a problem within American Evangelicalism, and I think it bears repeating.
The problem he was talking about, he termed "solo scriptura", which obviously is a word play on "sola scriptura" (scripture alone), by making the point that many believe all they need is their Bible and their brain in order to formulate doctrine, etc.
While, I am a person who wholeheartedly affirms the teaching of the priesthood of all believers, I will also affirm the notion that no one is an island unto himself.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that I cannot possibly expect myself to be engaged, alone, with just my Bible and when I am done studying my butt off, I suddenly have complete mastery and understanding of everything the Bible teaches. Some of you may be snickering because you see how ridiculous it is to think that, but there are many who practice this in a less forceful manner. We think that we do not need to read what others say about passages in order to interpret them, we think that we do not need to have an understanding of ANY tradition at all. We tear down others because we believe that our ideas are our own, and because we derrived them from our personal interpretation, then it does not matter what others say.
This is something that can cause isolation for a couple of reasons.
1: If you do this and derrive a contra-Biblical understanding of any teaching, it can lead you down the road of teaching and believing error to an extent where no one else is worthy of your fellowship.
2: It can cause an isolation from others whom we see go down a contra-Biblcal path. By that I mean, we think that because we "have no say" on what others may believe, we allow them to continue in their ideas and beliefs without showing them, in a loving fashion, their error.
We must always be open to the idea that there are some areas where we can be wrong in our thinking.
We must not dismiss those who have gone on before us, and we must not dismiss those who give their lives over to the study of Scripture.
That does not mean that we will come to a complete 100% correct view in all areas, but it can build unity, even with those whom we may have a disagreement because we have a willing, teachable spirit.
Here is an interesting article from Christian History Magazine on the shape of "sola" scriptura.
The problem he was talking about, he termed "solo scriptura", which obviously is a word play on "sola scriptura" (scripture alone), by making the point that many believe all they need is their Bible and their brain in order to formulate doctrine, etc.
While, I am a person who wholeheartedly affirms the teaching of the priesthood of all believers, I will also affirm the notion that no one is an island unto himself.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that I cannot possibly expect myself to be engaged, alone, with just my Bible and when I am done studying my butt off, I suddenly have complete mastery and understanding of everything the Bible teaches. Some of you may be snickering because you see how ridiculous it is to think that, but there are many who practice this in a less forceful manner. We think that we do not need to read what others say about passages in order to interpret them, we think that we do not need to have an understanding of ANY tradition at all. We tear down others because we believe that our ideas are our own, and because we derrived them from our personal interpretation, then it does not matter what others say.
This is something that can cause isolation for a couple of reasons.
1: If you do this and derrive a contra-Biblical understanding of any teaching, it can lead you down the road of teaching and believing error to an extent where no one else is worthy of your fellowship.
2: It can cause an isolation from others whom we see go down a contra-Biblcal path. By that I mean, we think that because we "have no say" on what others may believe, we allow them to continue in their ideas and beliefs without showing them, in a loving fashion, their error.
We must always be open to the idea that there are some areas where we can be wrong in our thinking.
We must not dismiss those who have gone on before us, and we must not dismiss those who give their lives over to the study of Scripture.
That does not mean that we will come to a complete 100% correct view in all areas, but it can build unity, even with those whom we may have a disagreement because we have a willing, teachable spirit.
Here is an interesting article from Christian History Magazine on the shape of "sola" scriptura.
posted by Bobby's blog at 1:36 PM
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