Richard Lovelace in his unpublished essay “Limited Inerrancy” cited Francis Schaeffer in his book “Form and Freedom in the Church” saying:

There is no use of evangelicalism seeming to get larger and larger, if at the same time appreciable parts are getting soft at that which is the central core, namely the Scriptures. We must say most lovingly but clearly: evangelicalism is not consistently evangelical unless there is a line drawn between those who take a full view of Scripture and those who do not.ⁱ

Though it is an arguable point that Scriptures is the central core of evangelicalism, or true Biblical Christianity where the assumption may be made that the Gospel or the person of Christ is the husk. Either way, Francis Schaeffer raises a very solemn point for us more than a quarter-century later.

The Question that Must Be Asked

The question that must be asked is what virtue is there in a successful ministry while the Word of God is fundamentally disregarded? In a more personal level, what virtue is there to be supposedly increasingly in love with Christ while Scripture is being  increasingly denied of it’s authority? Of course it is well agreed upon that Scripture is held high along with our love of Christ, but is it truly so?

In the Sunday meeting is Scripture held high primarily above all else to reveal the greatness of God, or is it merely used as an introduction to a practical thought? Is the Truth of Scripture depended upon just for it’s moral teachings or do we subject ourselves as Christians to it not for the morality it provides but as a form of worship to God?

Did God Actually Say?

From the past century, to the 1800′s, the 17 and 1600′s, even up to millennias back to the garden of Eden, there is, among others, one consistent attack done towards God and the faith we hold dear as Christians—the attack against His Word.

It all began in the garden, a place of peace and perfect harmony, and the serpent came to the woman and inquired of her, “Did God actually say…” (Genesis 3:1) From thence came the fall of our first parents, the effects of which is clearly testified today—the effects of sin.

Indeed since the fall the natural mind is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. (Romans 8:7) So it is to no wonder that men and women even today would continue in rebellion against God and His Word. Just as the fool sets into his heart that there is no God (Psalm 53:1), he is just as much a fool who puts into his heart that God has not revealed Himself in Truth and clarity.

Again Schaeffer is cited:

Holding to a strong view of Scripture or not holding to it is the watershed of the evangelical world.ⁱⁱ

In evangelicalism today we can clearly see the consequences of a generation that failed to a various of extents to hold to a strong view of the text of Scripture. In different denominations, religious affiliations, and even in the minds of the Christian layperson. In the same tradition of the first twisting of the Word of God by the serpent in the garden of Eden, we can hear it all around in words such as:

Did God not say that He wants you to live your best life now?

Did God not say that doctrine and proper Biblical preaching doesn’t matter as long as people’s lives are morally changed?

Did God not say that all that is needed in evangelism is to have people come to Christ, emotional agreement is enough?

Did God not say that a Christian’s life and mission is to be moral and help other people be just as moral, since the Bible is a book of morals?

Did God not say that He will prosper you, that Christ died so you could be wealthy and enjoy life, so you could help others enjoy their lives too?

Did God not say that God loves everyone? Homosexuality is not really a sin to be condemned as long as they love like Jesus right?

I can go on and on but I am already disgusted with such thoughts that are prevalent and widely accepted in what passes as evangelicalism today. Joy, morality, prosperity, unity and decisions for Christ is sought for with all passion and sincerity by Christian people all over the world, but at what cost?

At What Cost?

At what cost do we gain ministerial success and congregational acclamation, and increase in members and faithful volunteers for the mission if at the same time we treat the Word of God in such a way? See dear readers, if we live, think and act in such a way that the Word of God is not supreme in our lives we are living and advocating nothing less than idolatry.

If we do not preach a Christ that the scripture Truly expresses, but is one that we have come to learn through our traditions and emotions, then we preach a mere idol that does not save. If we do not preach God as He has revealed Himself fully and succinctly in Scripture, the full course of His attributes and person, then we preach an idol that is worthy of no worship.

And yet there are many ministers out there who preach such a “god” and “christ”. The sad thing is they think that they are not at fault and that they are right. They themselves are in a delusion, and the tragic thing is that they indoctrinate their congregants to that same delusion.

Teach a generation that God primarily wants Christians to be successful and victorious people (experiencing no suffering, no embracing of the Cross and counting all things as loss for the sake of knowing Christ), what happens to the next generation? What happens to the next after that? It is a striking reality that if truth is so disregarded today, it will take generations to recover once again.

The Final Authority in Christian Life and Doctrine: Me

John MacArthur said in his book “The Truth War”:

Amazingly, Christians in our generation need to be reminded of these things. Truth is never determined by looking at God’s Word and asking, “What does it mean to me?” Whenever I hear someone talk like that, I’m inclined to ask, “What did the Bible mean before you existed? What does God mean by what He says?” Those are the proper questions to be asking.

Truth and meaning are not determined by our intuition, experience, or desire. The true meaning of Scripture—or anything else, for that matter—has already been determined and fixed by the mind of God. The task of an interpreter is to discern that meaning. And proper interpretation must precede application.ⁱⁱⁱ

It falls nothing short to arrogance and abominable sin to say in effect: “What’s important is to find out what the Bible means for you! What God actually meant is not so important if you cannot first apply it right? Personalize Scripture, that’s what God wants.”

It’s self worship, that’s all it is, a most pristine state of idolatry. We cease to ask the question “What God has done in Christ for His own name’s sake?” and begin to ask “What has God prepared for me for my own good and pleasure?”, “What does the Bible have in store for my self-esteem today?”, “What can I find in Scripture to help people choose Christ and feel the way I do?”

In the words of Steve Lawson, it’s a worship of the unholy trinity, “me, myself, and I.”

A Call to Arms

Friends, let us treat this issue with all seriousness. But first of all let us look at ourselves as individual Christians. I know it is a hard thing to hold Scripture as our standard. We may fall short each and every day of the standard of God’s Word, but, is it not a worthy endeavor? If the Word of God is true, should we not like our father’s before us give all of self to defend it? Bleed and die for it?

May it never be that we trample underfoot the Truth of God’s Word for the sake of emotion, opinion, reputation, avoidance of conflict, respect of men, tolerance or even unity!

For the sake of the glory of God and the gospel of Christ, gird up your loins, take up your arms, contend for the faith (1 Peter 3:15)!

Footnotes

1. Francis Schaeffer, “Form and Freedom in the Church” in Let the Earth Hear His Voice, ed. J.D. Douglas (Minneapolis: World Wide, 1975), pp. 364-65, cited by Richard Lovelace in his unpublished essay, “Limited Inerrancy: Some Historical Perspectives.” [↩]
2. Francis Schaeffer, No Final Conflict (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1975), p.13. [↩]
3. John MacArthur, The Truth War (Nashville, Tennessee: Nelson, 2007), xx-xxi. [↩]