- Dec 18, 2017
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Friends one issue that underpins much of the polarisation among believers on this forum is how we view and handle scripture.
We usually agree that the scripture is preserved by God to be a reliable and accurate for every generation.
Most of us trust that the church fathers down through the ages made the right judgements regarding what was included in the Scripture.
We usually agree that the scripture is an absolute authority regarding matters of truth and practice.
But...
There is much less clarity about the relationship between the Scripture and the "Word of God"
Some see that the Word of God went forth before time to establish all that is, and continues to hold together the very fabric of creation. This Word of God is also active within the believers as sheep hearing the voice of the Shepherd.
Others insist that the Scripture has replaced the Word of God. These folk do not give any credence to someone claiming that they "hear God's Voice" regardless of whether the claims align with the teachings of scripture.
Others insist that anything not particularly mentioned in Scripture is not from God.
Scripture records the early church hearing God's word personally so when this was meant to have ceased is not quite clear.
These early believers hosted the greatest revival ever seen yet they did not have the Scripture as we know it.
Where does all this leave us?
Can we legitimately expect to be sheep who hear His voice personally saying "this is the way - walk Ye in it" or must we be "Readers of His Word" and that is it.
Some traditions even insist that only the clergy can tell us what what the scripture is saying.
Where is Jesus in all of this - is it heresy to claim that He is a friend that speaks to us direct.
We usually agree that the scripture is preserved by God to be a reliable and accurate for every generation.
Most of us trust that the church fathers down through the ages made the right judgements regarding what was included in the Scripture.
We usually agree that the scripture is an absolute authority regarding matters of truth and practice.
But...
There is much less clarity about the relationship between the Scripture and the "Word of God"
Some see that the Word of God went forth before time to establish all that is, and continues to hold together the very fabric of creation. This Word of God is also active within the believers as sheep hearing the voice of the Shepherd.
Others insist that the Scripture has replaced the Word of God. These folk do not give any credence to someone claiming that they "hear God's Voice" regardless of whether the claims align with the teachings of scripture.
Others insist that anything not particularly mentioned in Scripture is not from God.
Scripture records the early church hearing God's word personally so when this was meant to have ceased is not quite clear.
These early believers hosted the greatest revival ever seen yet they did not have the Scripture as we know it.
Where does all this leave us?
Can we legitimately expect to be sheep who hear His voice personally saying "this is the way - walk Ye in it" or must we be "Readers of His Word" and that is it.
Some traditions even insist that only the clergy can tell us what what the scripture is saying.
Where is Jesus in all of this - is it heresy to claim that He is a friend that speaks to us direct.