By Chris Rosebrough
Modern and Post-Modern Liberals (Emergents) and their higher-critic and deconstructionist co-belligerents have an almost obsessive preoccupation with undermining, impugning, and maligning God’s Word. They incessantly attack the inerrancy, historicity and sufficiency of scripture and their attacks are getting bolder by the day. These people appear driven to reduce the Bible into a mere human product that is nothing more than man-made mythological narratives. Stories of pristine gardens, Adam and Eve, forbidden fruit, a world-wide flood, the ark, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra, and a prophet being swallowed by a big fish are too silly and childish to be believed as actual historical events by this growing Liberal resurgence.
Before you fall for these so-called progressives and their post-modern re-imaginations of the scriptures you should consider Jesus’ opinion and views of the Bible. As you will see, Jesus had much to say about the scriptures and anyone who calls themselves a Christ-follower would do well to consider Jesus’ views of God’s Word before they attack or impugn it.
Jesus’ Credentials
Before we look at Jesus’ opinion of the scriptures it would be prudent for us to first be reminded of Jesus’ credentials and His authority regarding the scriptures.
When we examine the eyewitness testimony concerning Jesus that is recorded for us in the contents of the four biographies (Gospels) of the New Testament we learn that Jesus Christ claimed to be none other than the One True God in human flesh. Any nut or lunatic can claim to be God but proving such a claim is a whole other issue. Fact is, Jesus proved His claims to deity by raising Himself from the dead three days after He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.[1] The men who authored the New Testament documents were also eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, teachings, miracles and His bodily resurrection from the dead.
Since Jesus proved His claim to being the One True God in human flesh by raising Himself from the dead, there is no greater authority, living or dead on the subject of the Bible than Him. There is no modern scholar or Biblical critic, regardless of the number of degrees that he or she may hold who can speak with greater authority on the subject of the Word of God than Jesus Christ. Therefore, if you call yourself a Christian or a Christ-Follower then you would do well to pay close attention to what Jesus believed and taught regarding both the Old and New Testament Scriptures and bring your thinking and convictions in line with His.
Jesus’ View of the Old Testament
What exactly did Jesus believe and teach regarding the Old Testament stories? Did Jesus consider them to be mere man-made mythological narratives or did He believe them to be much much more? We’ll answer these questions by first reviewing Jesus’ thoughts regarding the stories concerning Adam and Eve.
In Matthew 19:3-6, the eyewitness biographer records this exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees:
Matt. 19:3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He [Jesus] answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
The topic that the Pharisees were testing Jesus on was marriage and divorce. The question was rather stupid and poorly thought out. But, Jesus’ answer tells us a lot about His view of the book of Genesis. First Jesus points the Pharisees to Genesis as if it alone provides the authoritative answer to their trick question. Then Jesus quotes Genesis 1:27 as if it literally meant what it said, “God created him; male and female he created them”. Then Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 as if it literally meant what it said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh...”
There was no equivocation on Jesus’ part and no hint that He secretly believed that the opening story of Genesis was a man-made poetic myth or that it was less than historically true. In fact, Jesus’ final statement on the matter makes it perfectly clear that Jesus literally believes that God is the one who brings a man and woman together and makes them one flesh. All of this is predicated on Jesus’ personal knowledge that Adam and Eve were literally and historically the first two humans that Jesus created.
Challenge Questions: If you call yourself a Christian or a Christ-Follower yet don’t believe that the story of Adam and Eve is historically true or accurate, what authority are you basing this belief on? Is it right for you to call yourself a Christian or a Christ-Follower when your view of the scriptures are at odds with Jesus’ views?
Adam and Eve are not the only people that Jesus believed were historical and whose stories were accurately documented in the Book of Genesis. In Matthew 23:34-35 Jesus affirms the historicity of Abel and his murder at the hand of his brother Cain.
Matt. 23:34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.If the story of Cain and Abel were mere man-made myth then Jesus’ claim that he would hold the Pharisees accountable for the blood of the righteous from Cain to Zechariah would be simply meaningless. After all, how do you hold someone accountable for mythological blood that was never actually shed because the person who supposedly bled it never historically existed?
Challenge Point: Having a lesser view of scripture and denying that Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel existed and that their stories are accurately recorded in Genesis turns Jesus into a moronic buffoon. After all, according to the eyewitnesses, Jesus actually believed the Genesis accounts of these people to be historically accurate and true. If they are not true then Jesus is not God in human flesh. Instead, Jesus was nothing more than a tragically stupid and deceived religious nut job. The same can be said about Jesus’ view of Noah and the worldwide flood, Sodom and Gomorra, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Jonah and the big fish.
What Did Jesus Believe About Noah and the Flood?
Matt. 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
This passage makes it unmistakably clear that Jesus believed that Noah was an actual historical person who built an ark according to Jesus’ instructions and that the world was destroyed by the flood just as it is recorded for us in Genesis. Jesus even likens His imminent second coming to the worldwide flood that deluged the world in the time of Noah. The implications of this logic are impossible to miss. If the flood story is just a myth instead of an actual historical event as Jesus clearly believed it to be then Jesus is a liar instead of God in human flesh and you might as well believe in the Easter Bunny because Jesus isn’t really coming back to judge the living and the dead.
What Did Jesus Believe About Sodom & Gomorra?
Matt 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom (Genesis 19), it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
In this passage Jesus confirms the historicity of the Genesis story regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra and tells the people of Capernaum that the day of judgement will be more tolerable for Sodom than it will be for them. These are empty words that Jesus spoke if Sodom and Gomorra never existed and were not destroyed by God because of their wickedness.
What Did Jesus Believe About Abraham, Issac and Jacob?
Matt. 22:29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
In this passage Jesus not only affirms the historicity of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, He even claims that they are still living. To deny the historicity of any these men is to make Jesus out to be a liar!
What Did Jesus Believe About Jonah and the Great Fish?
Certainly Jesus was smart enough and progressive enough to know that the absurd story of Jonah and the great fish was nothing more than a mythological fish story and cautionary tale. NOT ON YOUR LIFE! According to the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life, Jesus actually believed the story of Jonah and the great fish was a literal, historical event.
Matt. 12:39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Not only did Jesus believe that Jonah was literally three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, He ties His own resurrection from the dead to this event. Furthermore, Jesus said that the men of Ninevah, who repented at the preaching of Jonah will rise up to condemn the people of Jesus’ generation because they didn’t repent despite the fact that someone greater than Jonah was calling them to repentance. Again these would be rather silly and empty words if the Jonah story was a mere man-made mythological narrative.
What can we conclude then about Jesus’ view of the Old Testament scriptures? Plain and simple, Jesus believed the Old Testament to be the inspired, inerrant, historically accurate, literal Word of God. But what about the New Testament scriptures? Thankfully, Jesus had something to say about them as well.
Jesus’ Stamp of Approval for the New Testament
The Apostle John, in his eyewitness biography records Jesus as promising His disciples that the Holy Spirit will bring to mind (miraculous total recall) all the things that Jesus said and taught them.
John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Jesus literally promised the disciples that they would receive miraculous memory recall in their teaching ministries. This miraculous memory recall applied not only to the words that they spoke about Jesus but also the words that they wrote about Jesus.
In fact, in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer which is recorded for us by the eyewitness John, Jesus prays not only for His disciples but for all who will believe in Jesus through their word.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
John 17:20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Notice that these passages make it clear that Jesus put His miraculous stamp of divine approval on the words of the Apostles. Therefore, Jesus believes that the New Testament (this is the only place where we find the words of the Apostles today) is the inspired and miraculously inerrant and authoritative Word of God every bit as much as the Old Testament is. This is why the primary criterion for a document to be included in the New Testament was whether or not it was Apostolic. If you’re unsure about this then read the writings of the early church fathers. They quote the New Testament documents extensively and authoritatively. In fact, if we had no extant copies of the New Testament we could still reproduce it with the exception of 11 verses from the writings of the early church fathers that pre-date 212 AD. (This is long before the Council of Nicaea and is only a little over a century from the completion of the New Testament)
Jesus Christ is the greatest expert on the Word of God and the scriptures who ever lived. Jesus is none other than the One True God in human flesh and proved this by raising Himself from the dead only three days after he was crucified for our sins under Pontius Pilate. Jesus had the highest view of scripture that anyone could have and because of His credentials as God, He has the unique position of being able to speak on this subject with an authority that no one else could ever hope to possess. If you call yourself a Christian or a Christ-Follower it is spiritually dangerous and perilous for you to hold a lesser view of scripture than Jesus Christ. Furthermore, Jesus himself warns us that holding a lesser view of scripture is out of character for anyone who claims to be a Christian. Jesus said:
John 14:23 “If anyone loves me, he will keep [guard] my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep [guard] my words.
In other words, if you claim to love Jesus and be a follower of Jesus and you do not keep or guard his word then you are deceiving yourself because only those who hate Jesus do not keep and guard His word. Furthermore, Jesus says that it is the children of the devil who do not hear and believe His word.
John 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
What will your opinion be? Who will you believe, trust and follow? Will you follow the so-called progressives and the Post-Modern Liberals (Emergents) or will you trust and believe Jesus and refuse to allow yourself to have an opinion of the scriptures that is lesser than His?
To end this article, I will let Jesus have the last word.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” - Matt 24:35
---
1 If you do not believe that Jesus Christ is the One True God in human flesh and
that he rose bodily from the grave three days after he was crucified for your
sins then you are not a Christian even if you attend a church that prays to
Jesus, feeds the poor and recycles vigorously in order to save the planet.
Thanks for this, Chris.
I have been studying Job and Jonah recently, and in the past I have been challenged that these accounts are not an historical event but simply a parable. I'm not exactly sure when people started believing books in the Old Testament were just parables, but I appreciate your reminder that Jesus himself (as well as the apostles) spoke of the Old Testament accounts as being literal, historical events.
Another passage from the Old Testament helps us with the historical figure, Jonah:
"[Jeroboam] restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher."
~ 2 Kings 14:25
Posted by: Ethan | January 07, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Excellent post Chris and thank you so much for sharing it. It is a black and white issue that very much needs to be addressed. It is foundational understanding.
Posted by: Chris | January 07, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Just recently Job came up in our Bible Study with a thought it only being a parable of sorts. I found it very interesting more than a few folks are noticing this new theory on Old Testament books. I commend you on your efforts. Your podcast keeps me informed, intrigued, and entertained all at the same time.
Posted by: Eric Ekong | January 07, 2009 at 02:41 PM
Chris:
Thanks for putting this post together. It is an important topic. Amen also to your closing quotation, Matthew 24:35.
Posted by: Nathan W. Bingham | January 08, 2009 at 03:59 AM
Really good post Chris. One I wish I would have written but I am glad you did. Great defense of the faith brother.
Sometimes its really hard to see why the Emergent crowd doesnt get this.
But I guess with absolute truth comes accountability to a Holy God.
Peace
Tim Wirth
Posted by: Tim Wirth | January 08, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Chris,
Man! I wish I had ran across this article a day earlier. I think this would have been an excellent article to help someone confused about salvation. I've been in dialog with someone on my blog for the past few days that has the idea of universal reconciliation formulated in their mind. My guess is that they selectively picked and or locked in on the word "all" from Romans 5:15-19 and 1st Corinthians 5:28 as proof text for universal reconciliation.
Anyway the article is still much appreciated as is your work with Fighting For the Faith.
Grace and peace be with you
Posted by: Christopher | January 11, 2009 at 02:02 PM
A great article, Chris, many thanks.
A couple of posters are not sure where this viewing scripture as myth and legend comes from - it is the result of Higher Criticism, where theologians decided to analyse the Bible as though it were just the ordinary writings of ordinary men. It began to surface in the 1600s to 1700s and is the result of the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment, which gave us Modernism. The majority of the theologians had a dislike of the Bible, particularly the King James version, and their avowed intention was to undermine it.
All we are seeing with the Emergents is the postmodern follow-on to modernism as it pretty much opposes same things i.e. foundational doctrine and the authority of scripture.
Chris, and those of like mind - keep the faith and keep on speaking the truth.
Once again, thank you.
Posted by: Dave Ellis | January 11, 2009 at 03:34 PM
Dear Chris,
Thank you for an exceptionally well-argued, well-reasoned article. I have had vigorous discussions with liberal scholars and liberal laypeople and liberal clergy who steadfastly maintain to the hermeneutics of historical-criticism (and its numerous variants and offshoots) and they are highly dismissive of inerrancy (particularly CSBI 1979) and their shorthand dismissal of inerrantists are "fundamentalists" and "literalists".
My response is that they are liberals.
I'm also not too keen on Karl Barth's neo-orthodoxy and his response to liberal protestantism. Are you going to write about that too?
Posted by: Truth Unites... and Divides | January 12, 2009 at 06:45 PM
Exactly so.
I find that I have been converted from a squishy, try-to-please-everyone belief in thiestic evolution, to orthodox belief in a literal creation by exactly this argument.
To be a Christian or "Christ-follower" is to put the clear word of Our Savior before and above every other authority. The arguments for an old Earth or evolution may appear persuasive, but I cannot follow them to the point of disbelieving the One whom I follow.
Of course, upon closer examination, that in the natural sciences that appears persuasive (such as the fossil record) is much more ambiguous than the self-appointed scientific and academic priesthood would have us believe.
To say in public that I believe in a literal, Biblical view of creation will get me branded as an idiot and extremist, even by many who proudly claim to be conservative Christians. I think Jesus warned us about this!
Posted by: Matt Jamison | January 15, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Question: I asked someone who don't believe in a literal Adam and Eve or Noah, "what do you make of the New Testament genealogies of Jesus? Or Jesus' references to Adam and Eve, the flood, and Jonah"? and they responded as such:
"First - I would liken it to me telling you "Just as Robin Hood stole from the rich, and gave to the poor, so too should you steal from the rich". I'd be giving you a moral imperative, and using an example that you are familiar with. You understood exactly what I'm talking about - but that doesn't mean I am making an assertion as to the historical literalness of Robin Hood.
Second - the Jews of the day did believe in a literal Adam and Eve, because they would have had no reason not to..just like they believed the earth was the center of the universe and everything rotated around it. Would you expect Jesus to stop his moral teachings to try and explain allopatric speciation, natural selection, genetic drift, etc..? Of course not. He could have spent his entire ministry trying to teach the Jews about DNA without any success. That was not why he was there."
How do I respond to this?
Posted by: dustin germain | January 17, 2009 at 07:11 AM
Dustin,
What I would say: Yes, the Jews of that day believed in a literal Adam and Eve. And Jesus frequently corrected their beliefs on a variety of extraordinarily controversial issues.* This is to say that He did not engage in "politically correct" ambiguity; i.e., He was never even complicit in a lie. Are we to believe then that He suddenly reversed course and cited fictional characters (particularly in the ways that He did) without the slightest caveat? (Recall the clearly delineated parables.) No. It is obvious from Jesus' record that He believed they were literal persons. No other explanation is possible.
*Of particular interest is John 5:31-47. Jesus corrects the Jews' views of Scripture (the OT). He claims that the Scriptures testify of Him. He ought to have corrected their view of Adam, etc. as well--if in fact they were wrong.
Posted by: Tim the Cyanide-Gargling Faith Gladiator | January 19, 2009 at 05:26 PM
The Word of God is never futile.
Posted by: Tim the Cyanide-Gargling Faith Gladiator | January 20, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Peter (Judah),
Just curious, but what does the Bible say about dealing with a brother who sins against you? It appears you've been wronged in some way by Chris, but have you tried telling him his fault between you and him alone? If that didn't work, have you brought one or two others along with you as witnesses?
I might be wrong, but I'm guessing that a world-wide accessible blog is probably not the best place to air out these sort of differences. How Chris deals with ad hominem attacks on his blog is his own business, but I for one would rather you deal with these issues offline and in a direct manner.
Your last lines could be directed just as easily at yourself (not to mention probably anyone that posts anywhere, anytime--that whole "poor, miserable sinner" thing). You are not pious. Your words are tarnished with hypocrisy. What you have presented here is not a caring brother trying to help an erring one--you have presented a person with an axe to grind.
The good news is, God CAN have pity on you (and yes, even on Chris) in spite of your sin, and I pray that He strengthen and encourage both you and Chris to reconcile and sort out whatever issues have come between you.
Posted by: Heidi Sue | January 23, 2009 at 09:03 AM
Good stuff, Chris. Well written and defended. This modern and post-modern line of thinking is running rampant in churches today. I know this first hand. It is so bad that they could read your post and question whether or not Jesus really said those things and meant what he said literally. It is quite sad. It is poison.
Posted by: Jeff Caithamer | January 28, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Good stuff Chris. Well written and defended. Modern and post-modern thinking is running rampant in the churches right now; I know this first hand. Some are so taken with this line of thinking that they would actually question whether or not Jesus actually said those things and meant what he said in a literal sense. It is quite sad. It is poison.
Posted by: Jeff Caithamer | January 28, 2009 at 12:39 AM
I apologize for the multiple posts. Please delete at will.
Posted by: Jeff Caithamer | January 28, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Chris, great article! It is so good I had to copy and paste it into my blog on MySpace along with other great defenders of the faith like John MacArthur.....Sorry, I had to do it, it is THAT GOOD, and I'm going to use it myself in defense of the gospel.....
Posted by: Mark | February 07, 2009 at 08:29 PM
I constantly am reminded of this verse:
Psa 138:2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
So many even in "solid" churches, mouth the words of Satan, "Hath God said?" and call it being academic or scholarly, or tolerant, or optional viewpoints, when in fact they have just commenced War On The Word!
With a low view of Scripture people get a high view of Man, a low view of God, and will not be sanctified. Jesus said in Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
It is no wonder then, that Scripture says:
Pro 13:13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
One's view of Scripture reveals one's view of God. Period.
The question then becomes: how do you hold Scripture folks? It gets uncomfortable when it hits close to home like young mothers working outside of the home, men being leaders of home and church, wives submitting to husbands, being separate from the world, and how we even evangelize (do you do things His way or the world's way?), etc.
Scripture is living and active; its double edged. It hurts and heals, and truly is a blessing.
Posted by: Denise | August 02, 2009 at 07:20 PM
I had one more thought re: Adam and Eve.
I believe that if a person does not hold to a literal 6 day Creation, then they will question the historocity of Adam and Eve, The Fall, the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His resurrection.
In other words one of the first things we believe after being saved is that God is Creator and created in six days as HE SAID IN HIS WORD:
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
So I think that the doubt of Adam and Eve BEGINS with the doubt of the 6 Day Creation, then tumbles downhill from there...to their peril!
Posted by: Denise | August 02, 2009 at 07:23 PM
I don't recall Jesus saying that the one who does not believe in a literal Bible would be condemned. I do recall Paul saying that the story of Abraham's sons was an allegory (Gal 4). And when did salvation through faith in Christ become synonymous with salvation through belief in a literal Genesis? Does faith equal theology? Is it my theology that saves me, or the one in whom I believe?
Aren't the doers of God's will saved, rather than those who merely call Christ "Lord"? Those who say, "You don't believe in the inerrant Scriptures--you must not be a Christian," might as well be saying, "Stop casting out demons in Christ's name because you're not one of us."
My discipleship isn't determined by the doctrines I adhere to. It's determined by the one with whom I am crucified, who lives in me, who loves me, who gave himself for me, and who works all things through me. My job as a follower of Christ is not to separate the wheat from the tares, but to preach the Gospel at all times and, when necessary, to use words. And the truth of that Gospel doesn't depend on my personal opinion regarding the inerrancy of Scripture, but transcends it. The truth of the Gospel depends on a God who is faithful even when I am not, and who works all things together for good for those who love God and are called according to God's purpose. I think we can all agree on that.
So let your faith be your own conviction before God (Rom 14), since presumably the Kingdom of God is not about 6-day creations, literal scriptures, and heterosexual clergy, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And thank God that the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies despite our ignorant and persistent efforts to confine it.
Posted by: Travis | August 06, 2009 at 07:24 PM
Travis, I was there with you until your last sentence. I do believe the scriptures to be inerrant, but I don't think that believing in an old earth model means that the bible is wrong. The scriptures need to be read in light of what they mean to say. Genesis can only be taken literally so far since chapters 1 and 2 say different things about creation. Since I don't believe this is a mistake, it must mean that they are different genres with different purposes. One thing is for certain, Genesis 1-2 aren't intended to be used as science textbooks. That isn't to mean that God didn't create in 6 days. But we have to understand that the bible isn't a book about science meant to use as a textbook in physics or natural science classes. The purpose of these chapters is to attest to God's glory and power in creation (chapter 1) and the status he gave man and humanity within his creation (chapter 2). A literal 6 day creation, or an old earth model that leads to Adam and Eve in the garden as the first humans aren't what determines God's glory or his plan for redemption.
Where I break with you, Travis, is the last thing you said. "So let your faith be your own conviction before God, since presumably the kingdom of God is not about 6-day creations, literal scriptures, and heterosexual clergy, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
The issue of sexuality with clergy (or with anyone for that matter) is an issue of righteousness. So if you mean to suggest that we shouldn't concern ourselves with the sexuality of our clergy, but instead should focus on righteousness, then you are denying that issues of sexuality are indeed about righteousness. And Paul seems to treat sexual sin as the worst of sin within the church, as it is the only sin that he says those involved in it must be put from the church until they repent. If Paul wouldn't tolerate sexual sin from the lay members of the church, what do you think are the chances that he will accept it from the clergy?
The issue of literal scriptures needs to be put in context as well. There doesn't have to be a literal 6 day creation in order to believe the scriptures are inerrant. Another example would be the book of Revelation. It is clear that Revelation is full of symbolic imagery. Some people believe there will really be a great dragon at the end. Others believe it is symbolic for something else that will take place. In that regard we are trying to understand genres and intentions of the authors. 6 day creations (or great dragons) and whether or not homosexuality is a sin aren't in the same category. To disbelieve that homosexuality is a sin is to suggest that the scriptures don't have the authority to speak to what is and isn't sin. This isn't about interpretation (like the 6 day creation issue is), but about scripture's authority altogether.
Posted by: Michael J. Bridge | August 09, 2009 at 01:44 AM