Living the Word

LIVING THE WORD

The path to truth must be grounded on revelation, divinely inspired, and in written form. I do not fully subscribe to the inerrancy theory which has turned into little more than a self righteous litmus test. Without the original manuscripts, and with all kinds of different interpretations derived from common texts, the point to me is moot. And given the wide variety of interpretations as well as the great gulf between obvious Biblical revelation and obvious Biblical obedience I once again use the word moot. Biblical exegesis without sacred and heartfelt obedience is really nothing more than religious science.

If our standard is the Word of God alone then James is a blog post and not inspired. Luther himself suggested such a thing. But it has become common in some major corners of evangelicalism to treat Holy Writ as a doctrinal talisman. And the doctrinal arguments are consumed with the Trinity and the virgin birth and justification by faith, all worthy issues, however rarely do we argue or are even concerned with love, mercy, grace, humility, and most glaring an observable modest lifestyle. There are other neglected issues as well.

And given the preponderance of Scriptural teachings about money and greed, and given the scant  New Testament teachings about homosexual behavior or abortion or socialism or gun rights, how is it we can cull out the tributaries and make them great and mighty rivers? And where is the gospel in all these moral crusades which demand certain moral behaviors from believer and unbeliever alike?

My opinion is that since the Industrial Revolution ignorant and unlearned men are now able to read and write and consume great quantities of information and knowledge. And with the accessibility of the Bible to almost every household, and the expansive nature of Bible schools and seminaries, we have made systematic theology and our own version of Bible doctrines the life blood of the church. Peruse the Christian catalogue of the Bible colleges and universities and mark how many courses are described as Humility 101, Prayer 101, Modest Living 101, Love 101, as compared with the usual doctrinal suspects.

The Christian faith has become a set of tenants, a set of morals, and a faith that is light years more observable in written form than in personal living realities. How does one “live” the Trinity or the virgin birth or the doctrine of inerrancy? Those truths can be “proven” by pen and paper. But the more sacrificial and self denying truths that demand an open revelation with legs are dealt with in a more generic and negligible way. One can get the right answer to the Trinity on a test while being an active adulterer and while enjoying the fruits of hedonism.

In short, we have taken the Holy and Sacred Word of God and manipulated it into a doctrinal treasure hunt, which when we have found it, we now await others to do likewise. And in so doing we have removed the life giving, life demanding force that should take unremarkable lives within any culture and transform them into curious and powerful vessels of redemption that wreak of God’s love and the divine humility revealed in the incarnation and death of Christ. We have hung so many self serving ornaments on the gospel that the gospel can no longer be seen. It can only be read.

To present my overarching summary, I believe the church has rendered the Word of God as a compilation of doctrines all of which have become idols. After you lay the foundation for the gospel and the truths of redemption, the others are refining truths designed to teach and empower believers to walk the path to Christlikeness. And these truths are all moral truths in the strictest defining terms. Being clothed with humility is as moral a truth as sexual purity, although in the present ecclesiastical caste system humility is an elective and not considered part of any set of moral tenants. And love is presented in the New Testament as a moral absolute without which we cannot even claim to follow Him.

But there is a time for rebuke and reprove within the church. And there is an exhortation to defend the faith and preach the Word in and out of season. But where, for instance, do love and humility fit within that framework? Why are we not consumed with finding out how to live the right mixture and how to speak the truth in love? Do we even know what that means? How many preachers spiritually wrestle over such things? How many preachers seem to feel like they already know such things? How many sermons challenge the sheep to pray earnestly and seek the mind of Christ over the living expressions of boldness being tethered to the living expressions of humility?

We should all be sure about the Word of God but have a healthy and humble uncertainty about our personal reflection of that Word. Ours is a journey, a seeking, a pursuit, an obsession, and a passion concerning living for Christ, in Christ, and living Christ Himself. Repentance must be both our friend and taskmaster. The life that follows Jesus is filled with joy and contentment and assurance and comfort and excitement. But it is also filled with spiritual labor in prayer and in the Word and being the brightest light we can be for Him. The cost is everything, but the reward is far above everything, and quite astonishingly, the rest for our souls can be found in the labor.