In the Sola Scriptura debate, since the Bible is interpreted so many different ways, we might reason that leaving everyone to themselves inevitably leads to chaos — a thousand different denominations and sects spring up, all claiming to have the truth. (1Pe 2:1-2) Is this a good thing? One might argue a final authority is needful to settle doctrinal concerns and provide a common standard.
God provides teachers to try and help us understand Scripture (Ep 4:11) but He never indicates anyone has the right to claim divine authority in a theological dispute.
The church, the local, spiritual brotherhood, is the pillar and ground of the truth. (1Ti 3:15) In other words, a single person, or even a small group, is not what God has ordained to uphold the truth: it is the brothers, working together in community, who are to pursue a common understanding of Scripture together through prayer, study and challenging one another. (1Co 1:11) When we do this in humility, seeking truth together, God will admonish, teach, lead and guide us into all truth. (Jn 16:13)
When there are disagreements, as there should be in most any complex context, it’s tempting to wish for immediate closure to set everyone straight. Instead, the protocol is to take the time to pursue unity through humble consensus. (Ac 15:25) God is evidently pleased to sanctify believers through this collaborative process; imposing authority in the absence of consensus circumvents this healthy dynamic and cuts it short.
If it turns out that a body of believers must make a time-sensitive decision (i.e. a temporal one) and can’t come to consensus, such that they need to appoint someone to resolve the issue, the biblical protocol is that they identify the least esteemed (least qualified / respected, i.e. the most despised) men in the brotherhood and let them make the call. (1Co 6:4) If this is counter-intuitive it’s because we don’t see what God does: God doesn’t want anyone dominating the brotherhood; consensus is His ideal.
God designed His Word the way He did for a reason; He could have written it much more clearly and concisely so things wouldn’t be so messy, but He didn’t. God is evidently more interested in maturing and edifying believers through this difficult, time-intensive, humbling process than having us all blindly subscribe to a common theological statement. Engaging in such discussions to learn and grow helps us understand each other, and ourselves, much more clearly. This reveals what we value and how we think and reason so we can more easily identify those among us who are approved of God, and those who need more time to grow. (1Co 11:19) Bypassing this for a superficial unity is unwise at best.
Tim,
I know you have the Grace to be in a position to practice what you shared. Rejoice for you.
I’m simply praying that the LORD “line up” the ecclesia in the USA with HIS Vision et al for the ecclesia. Starting with one’s own self and not judging others in a matter of heart, actions yes, heart, no — unless you just have that calling, and some do – I def don’t.
Jesus, cuts to the quick with His “simple” statement:
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
If, mr. stephen, thats me, has a Will do Do His Will, and actually Does His Will — the more I do so, the more I know if the doctrine is of God, or if one if just seeking his “own” glory.
About 50 years ago I was picked up hitch hiking within the city I lived, and shared how I was trying to understand this specific doctrine as contrasted to that specific doctrine. They essentially “prophesied” to me that I needed to walk in Love and major on that, and that as I did so, Wisdom would come. I started taking my land lady who mostly needed a wheel chair to get around — I’d walk her around a block or two — it meant something to her. Mrs Ann Baker, in her 80’s at the time if memory serves — she loved young people at the Christian coffee house I took her to… A typical tough Texas woman, a widow for many years, grew up in an era when woman sometimes chewed tobacco 🙂 — and she did — had the spittoon and everything. I look forward to seeing her again.
Jesus LOVES us SO much —that He ever lives to Make intercession for us. I’ve started to give thanks for the intercession He is Making for me.
Short conclusion to this missive is that part of your parsing through doctrine, studies etc. — that it include intercession for one another. It is some what mind boggling to consider that the Lord Jesus is interceding for Tim — as much as He needs to. What did He tell Peter? but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
stephen
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for the encouragement to intercede.
It is a good reminder that we all need it, and that our Lord commands us to intercede for everyone.
I have an acquaintance/friend in my neighborhood, retired marine veteran with PTSD, usually high, scaring many with his TDS vitriol — flying the US flag upside down and changing the pool bathroom combo to 8647.
We don’t speak much since the election, likely never will again much until another stolen election.
Contentious words will likely not help; only intercession.