(2 Timothy 3:15-17)
(Ben Sloan with Statue of John Knox in St. Gile's Cathedral in Edinburgh- part of the Presbyterian church of Scotland)
Thoughts: The statue of John Knox above is pointing to the Bible. That is what Knox did- and it changed the world. In many ways the Scottish Enlightenment owes its emphasis on education to Knox who, within a generation, accounts for doubling the literacy rate in Scotland to 97% so that the people could read scripture.
The dispute with the Catholics was that they believed that their expert- the Pope- had the ability to discern God's will apart from scripture. Knox, Calvin, Luther and the like said that the scriptures were sufficient to give us all we need to know to find God's will. The "thoroughly equipped" of 3:17 points to this. Karl Barth said that this is not just a matter of dogma- but a matter of practice- lived out by looking to the scripture to find God's will- and obeying the scripture when we would rather not. The scriptures are the witness to Jesus Christ- the embodied Word of God. If we do not listen to them- and wrestle with them- struggling to submit our desires to the simple meaning of scripture- then we deceive ourselves. In fact, one might say, if we do not believe that the scriptures are sufficient for finding God's will, then we can choose what we do not want to do in them with the illusion that we do not have to heed or listen to them. The scriptures are not authoritative if they only have an advisory capacity. As someone said, "The Ten Commandments are not Ten suggestions." But they are only suggestions if we may get others to tell us that such things as lying or adultery or taking a day of rest are not helpful or necessary for obtaining the blessing of God.
The dispute with the Catholics was that they believed that their expert- the Pope- had the ability to discern God's will apart from scripture. Knox, Calvin, Luther and the like said that the scriptures were sufficient to give us all we need to know to find God's will. The "thoroughly equipped" of 3:17 points to this. Karl Barth said that this is not just a matter of dogma- but a matter of practice- lived out by looking to the scripture to find God's will- and obeying the scripture when we would rather not. The scriptures are the witness to Jesus Christ- the embodied Word of God. If we do not listen to them- and wrestle with them- struggling to submit our desires to the simple meaning of scripture- then we deceive ourselves. In fact, one might say, if we do not believe that the scriptures are sufficient for finding God's will, then we can choose what we do not want to do in them with the illusion that we do not have to heed or listen to them. The scriptures are not authoritative if they only have an advisory capacity. As someone said, "The Ten Commandments are not Ten suggestions." But they are only suggestions if we may get others to tell us that such things as lying or adultery or taking a day of rest are not helpful or necessary for obtaining the blessing of God.
Prayer: Help me to rest and count on the sufficiency of the Bible for understanding your will for me, O Lord.
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