An ostrich famously buries its head in sand. A turtle withdraws into its shell. We use these a metaphors – pictures – of deliberate avoidance.
When reality impinges? How do I respond?
Since Jerry Falwell, Newt Gingrich and the emergence of televangelism, Evangelical fundamentalism has tightened it’s doctrine around Sola Scriptura. Which, as a premise for spirituality has only the barest biblical support. Even so, the tradition is rooted in the Protestant reformation and theological dissertations since then.
The problem is selective literalism.
The problem with selective literalism is that it avoids the reality of the entire context. When selectivist doctrine metastasizes to the point of horrific polarization, condemnation and exclusion exists. Christ came not to condemn, but to save. The compassion and attractive beauty of the Gospel is subverted by ugly judgmentalism that decides who’s in and who’s out.
Christ was famous for hanging out with tax collectors, wine bibbers and prostitutes.
To say that all matters of principle are decided by narrow interpretation of scriptural prescription is to selectively ignore the principle of multiple witnesses. Multiplicity of witnesses appears often, is was given to Moses, was cited by the Old Testament prophets and Jesus himself in the New Testament. Sola Scriptura is mentioned only by Paul.
To say that all matters of principle are decided by scriptural prescription is to selectively ignore the principle of multiple witnesses.
This post represents the first of eight theses that point to serious faults in the mortar of the Evangelical Church. As an Orphangelical and member of the Evangelical community the author intends to clarify questions on how believers can think, speak and vote. Nailing Eight Modern Theses to the closed door of Evangelicalism outlines why we are called to live differently.
Dear reader, if you’ve read thus far, perhaps you’ll entertain a very simple question.
In the Bible, when God talks about himself – which witnesses does He cite in His defense?
Which witnesses does God call in His defense?
If the question presents a problem for your theology? Are you actually applying Sola Scriptura?
I’ll address the answer to that question and others in future posts. But here’s a clue He has at *LEAST* four kinds of *INDEPENDENT* Witnesses.
Yes, He does.
Narrow Way Cafe 