Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Monday - Why Examine Doctrine?

H'mm, mixed feelings about this: Adrian's Blog: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Monday - Why Examine Doctrine?

I am quite happy with the importance of studying scripture and forming doctrine. I am much less happy with the idea that nothing is more important about the Bible than that we grasp that it is teaching certain truths (at least that is how I understand the paragraph "What are We Going to Do?").

The Bible is far more than a rule book, I guess that is one reason why I do not go for the arguments of the T4G group and do not go for inerrancy. They all seem focused on rules.

To me the Bible reveals far more than rules to be taught. For example there are the great focal images identified by Richard Hays in "The Moral Vision of the New Testament" of Community, Cross and New Creation. There is also the whole story of God's love for his creation, if we only read scripture to find rules then how to we find the God who loves each of us enough to send his son to die for us.

One of the things that I have derived huge benefits from during my training is the need to read the Bible in different ways. It is absolutely vital to study scripture in depth, but it is also important to engage it with our imaginations (as Ignatian spirituality does for example), our hearts and every part of our being. We should be using it as a song book, a prayer book, a story book rather than just a rule book.

Those who stand in the reform tradition often like to talk about the Word of God being alive and then (in my opinion at least) do their level best to turn it into a deathly set of rules.

Comments

[Pam]

If I'm not mistaken, and I feel about 90% sure, Lloyd-Jones said that a person is not a Christian unless they believe in a 6-day (24 hours to the day) creation. Not exactly a moderate by today's standards, although I think he was also a man of his time.

I just keep finding your incredulity amusing - but also very helpful.

[Brett]

The Bible does have certain absolute truths that it teaches. If I interpret scripture one way, and you interpret it another, and another person interprets it yet another, and they are all mutually exclusive, then some of us, if not all of us are wrong. The scripture should not become a wax nose. There is one meaning, but a treasure chest of applications found in scripture.
This in no way makes the Bible a "rule book". Consistently throughout scripture, we are reminded that we can never keep rules. We can never live up to God's standard. Our salvation is not becuase we keep a certain set of rules. Our salvation is granted to us by the Grace of God.

[DaveW]

Pam,

Maybe, but on the other hand I have no problem that only one of my faith heros was (and in his case is) perfect.

PS (just in case anyone guesses wrong. I don't mean Calvin but Jesus).

[DaveW]

Brett,

I do not agree. Throughout history there have been a variety of interpretations of Scripture. Consider for example pacifism. The early Church interpreted the teachings of Christ in a pacifist way. Augustine came up with an interpretation that could allow a Christian to serve in the Roman Army. Now National Leaders can be Christians and yet start wars without meeting the criteria of a Just War.

As you read Paul's letters you can see how his own understanding of the coming of the Kingdom changed and how he re-interpreted things on the way.

It seems to me that when we claim that we understand absolute truth we either deceive ourselves or lift ourselves up towards equality with God. We cannot understand fully now, therefore how can we possibly claim to know absolute truth.

If absolute truth is so straightforward then I guess you have no problem with the Pope and other Church Leaders making infallible statements.

On the other hand maybe we are not so far apart depending on what you mean by "There is one meaning, but a treasure chest of applications found in scripture." To me that seems to be saying that we cannot know the "one true meaning" but can find find interpretations that are helpful and meaningful to us.

Where there is a problem is when we have different interpretations and one side declares that they have the absolute truth and the other is absolutely wrong. That denies the interpretation that is inevitable as a reader in a particular context. It also denies the working of the Holy Spirit in faithful readers of Scripture.