Authority Practically Viewed Bible authority is a subject
Authority, Practically Viewed Bible authority is a subject today about which there appears to be very little knowledge in general and not much interest. The devil has succeeded it appears in convincing the masses that to be aware and sensitive to the teaching of the Bible and possessing a book, chapter, and verse for all religiously believed and practiced is legalism and to be negatively viewed. Jesus’ Lordship, however, demands and entails certain matters that require man’s acquiescence and obedience, all the teaching regarding salvation by grace and faith only to the contrary, notwithstanding: Luke 6: 46; Matthew 28: 18, 7: 21 -29; Hebrews 5: 8, 9; 2 John 9 -11, Col. 3: 17.
Authority, Practically Viewed There a number of movements that have greatly affected large masses of people and shaped circumstances that would dictate the future, either for the better or worse. A Dark Age in our history was when Catholicism reigned. Catholicism personified the great falling away prophesied in scripture (2 Thes. 2: 1 -12; I Tim. 4: 1 -3). During a period of about one thousand years, the Catholic Church enjoyed unchallenged domination (Ad 5901517)….
Authority, Practically Viewed …However the Renaissance encouraged people to think for themselves (AD 1350 -1650). The Renaissance served as impetus, in part, for the great European Reformation Movement (Ad 1517 -1648). As a result of people thinking, they began to realize all the atrocities and scripture perversions of Catholicism. Hence, men such as Martin Luther (Germany), John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli (Switzerland) led the way toward the attempted reform of the Catholic Church.
Authority, Practically Viewed One with whom I debated the "new hermeneutic" on a large Internet list consisting of many preachers said the following: "…The CENI hermeneutic (command, example, necessary inference, dm), contrary to the belief of some, did not fall directly from the throne room of God into the hands of men. It is no more ‘inspired of God’ than any other hermeneutic devised by men to aid in the interpretation of a written document. Personally, I think it is greatly flawed, but that is another thread. There are several who have suggested legitimate, and I believe far more valid, approaches to biblical hermeneutics….
Authority, Practically Viewed …Anyway, some have asked on this list for some alternative to the CENI approach to biblical interpretation. I will be happy to share MY approach, one which I believe is just as legitimate as any in use right now, and one which poses far fewer problems, in my opinion, than does the CENI approach. And this is not just ‘my invention’ either; it has been in use in Christendom for quite some time. It is to approach each ‘issue’ or question or topic or practice or belief by asking how it relates to Scripture; and specifically, which of the following best describes it: (1) Is it Scriptural? , (2) Is it NON-Scriptural? , or (3) Is it ANTIScriptural? (and then a sub-question, if it passes the previous tests: Is it Beneficial? ). "
Authority, Practically Viewed “Martin Luther declared his intolerance for the Roman Church’s corruption on Halloween in 1517, by nailing his 95 Theses of Contention to the Wittenberg Church door. Luther, who would be exiled in the months following the Diet of Worms Council in 1521 that was designed to martyr him, would translate the New Testament into German for the first time….
Authority, Practically Viewed “…Martin Luther was a theologian and Augustinian monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions. Luther’s call to the Church to return to the teachings of the Bible resulted in the formation of new traditions within Christianity and the Counter-Reformation in the Roman Catholic Church, culminating at the Council of Trent. ”
Authority, Practically Viewed “Any and all religious activities or beliefs are permissible and to be viewed as authorized unless they are specifically forbidden in the Bible” (slight paraphrase, dm).
Authority, Practically Viewed “Ulrich Zwingli's insistence that the Bible, not the church, was the source of Christian truth made him a major force in the Protestant Reformation that swept Europe in the 16 th century. Born to a village bailiff, Zwingli studied in Basel, Bern and Vienna before becoming a Roman Catholic priest…. In 1522, he proclaimed the Bible, not Catholic hierarchy and tradition, to be the sole source of Christian authority, and he persuaded civic leaders and the churches of Zurich that things not prescribed in the Bible had no place in the church's life. In 1524, pictures, statues and relics were removed from the city's churches -- reforms more radical than those of his German contemporary, Martin Luther” (Who 2? , Website).
Authority, Practically Viewed “Christians may not believe or practice any religious act unless the scriptures literally and positively teach such” (slight paraphrase, dm).
Authority, Practically Viewed Consider a list from Luther’s view: 1. Sprinkling/pouring. 2. Church funded missionary orders. 3. Infant “baptism. ” 4. Gambling. 5. Mechanical music in worship. 6. Modern dance. Allowed unless specifically forbidden.
Authority, Practically Viewed Consider a list from Zwingli's View: 1. Building owned by church. 2. Preach on radio or use Power. Point. 3. A treasury for general church expense. 4. Bible class arrangement. Must be 5. Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day. specifically required. 6. A song leader in the assembly.
Authority, Practically Viewed Both Luther and Zwingli used flawed logic. Both Luther and Zwingli were simplistic and exclusive, regarding functional nuances of Bible authority as seen in the scriptures.
Authority, Practically Viewed Approved Examples “ 9: Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you…. 17: Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Phili. 4; 3).
Authority, Practically Viewed Approved Examples 1. The Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26: 26 -29; Acts 20: 7). 2. The local church provided the collective means for preaching the gospel (I Tim. 3: 15, Phili. 4: 15, 16). We would not know what elements and frequency for the supper or collective means for preaching without approved examples.
Authority, Practically Viewed Necessary inference 1. Jesus used necessary inference (Matt. 22: 32). A. We may infer that Jesus entered the water (Matt. 3: 16). B. We may necessarily infer that infants are excluded from the command to be baptized (cp. Mark 16: 16, cannot believe, etc. ). C. We may infer weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2: 42, 20: 7).
Authority, Practically Viewed Expedients 1. The command to assemble authorizes a place, utilities, pews, etc. (Acts 2: 42, I Cor. 14: 23, cp. Gen. 6, see verse 14. ) 2. The command to baptize authorizes a baptistry, proper attire, etc. (Mark 16: 16. ) 3. The command to sing authorizes song books, song leader, etc. (Eph. 5: 19. )
Authority, Practically Viewed Command, approved example, and necessary inference observed in teaching and providing authority: 1. Command: Acts 15: 19, 20. 2. Approved example: Acts 15: 7 -9. 3. Necessary inference: Acts 15: 12, 8.
Authority, Practically Viewed Must be expressly forbidden Luther and Zwingli failed to see how examples, necessary inference, and the matter of expedients play a major role in establishing Bible Must be authority. expressly required
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