Transcript:
Intro – Here is Bill Shade with today’s “Moment from God’s Word”.
Message
Robert Webber’s writings have had a marked influence on many, especially millennials, and not long before his death he wrote,
“A new feature of evangelicals in the postmodern world is the growing awareness that the Bible, belongs to the church. The church preceded Scripture in time.”
Then Webber castigates the Reformers by saying, “The Reformers separated Scripture from tradition, and set it over against popes and councils, and made it stand on its own.” “The postmodern challenge to authority is best met, (says Webber) not by returning to sola Scriptura, and not by the modern evangelical defense of the Bible, but by returning to the origins of authority in the Christian faith. The church possesses, interprets, guards, and hands down the truth.”
Most of us can recognize in all this the old Roman Catholic claim that the Church is the final authority rather than Scripture, because the Church established the canon and declared what writings where Scripture and which were not.
I am reminded how a friend of mine once met that argument. Standing on the steps of a Cathedral he asked the Priest if he knew what kind of car that was parked at the curb. Of course, said the Priest, it’s a Chrysler. You are correct, said my friend, but your naming it didn’t make it a Chrysler, It was that long before you named it and I knew it was a Chrysler before you told me. The early Church knew and recognized the Inspired Scriptures long before any council or church body ratified them.
No – not the Church but the Scripture itself Must be our final authority.
Closing – This is Kile Smith. You have been listening to Bible Teacher and author, Dr. Bill Shade, Director of Advanced Studies for Source of Light Ministries International. Our college-recognized, three-year, Bible Institute curriculum is now available online. We invite you to visit us on the Web at advancedbiblicalstudies.net – that’s advancedbiblicalstudies.net and begin a systematic study of God’s Word today.