The issue of the relationship between faith and biblical studies has been debated for a while. Recently Jim West pointed us to an article related to this issue. While I would not agree with all that is said in the article, let us notice the following:
Offer religious readings of the sacred texts to religious students. Recognize and celebrate their (our?) faith, and explore the texts within that framework, with spiritual goals in view. Such a study would not focus almost exclusively on the last century or two of scholarship. Rather it would give students a sense of how our spiritual ancestors wrestled with the texts. Thus revealing that our predecessors read the Bible using a range of non-literal hermeneutics, and how they read parts in the light of the whole. Particularly it would show that Christian readers in the past understood everything in Scripture in the light of the story of Jesus.
I must agree.
I also must say that I would hate to be the man who is praised in this manner:
..I began having some basic doubts about Christianity and the existence of god..
..Fortunately, through the internet I have found bloggers and their readers that have shown me that I am not the only one with a new and ever-changing paradigm of belief. That’s how I came across your blog…
To be a professional in biblical studies is a great responsibility. To use that position for anything other than the building up of faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God is to deny the message of the Scriptures in every way. Why? Because the Scriptures cannot be ripped apart piece by piece, pitting one section against another, and denying that it is a united whole. It simply cannot be done. That is to ignore the approach of too many previous greats such as the Ante-Nicene Fathers. It is to ignore the testimony of Scripture to itself. It is to ignore the words of Jesus who said that the Scripture of the Old Testament spoke of Him.
When one does the above things, any external document can be made to seemingly contradict long and deeply held doctrines of the Christian church such as the deity of Jesus Christ and monotheism. I cannot help but wonder why there is such a fascination with ancient literature, such high regard given to it, and such little regard given to Scripture. I know, I know, the argument is that Scripture should be taken in its own historical context. I agree with that. The only problem is that Scripture should be given at least the same respect as these other documents, yet it is obvious that it is not, but it is subjected to the “authority” of those other texts. The playing ground does not seem to be level at all, does it?
I’m sure that I’ll get into hot water over this. I can only say that I am thankful to be one of those horrible Fundamentalists. I also am glad to have the opportunity to learn from great Fundamentalists such as Gresham Machen (1 & 2), who, though he did not like the term, certainly embraced the beliefs. No, I don’t have an advanced degree in anything but hard knocks in life. That makes me much less in the eyes of many. As a middle-aged person who has studied the Bible academically, devotionally, theologically, and with a desire to honor the God who gave it to us, I must say that I pray I’ll never be guilty of confirming anyone in unbelief.
Biblical studies should lead people to the kingdom of God. That seemed to be Jesus’ idea.
Luke 11:52 (NLT)
52 “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”
