6/15/13- Finding the Church Through the Word

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:31,32,47)

Thoughts: In some churches, they say, "This is Word of the Lord" and the response of the people is "Thanks be to God."  But some ministers have been taught to say, "This contains the Word of the Lord."  What is the difference?  The difference is that for the former the whole scripture is taken as the Word of God, whereas in the latter it is only potentially the Word of God.  The Confession of 1967, Second Helvetic, and Westminster say that all of the Bible is inspired and potentially the Word of God when the Holy Spirit illuminates it.  As inspired and potential it is in effect worthy of being called "the Word of God."  The Bible itself is not too bold to call itself "The Word of the Lord" (Ps. 12,33; Acts 8, 13).  
     To believe that God has spoken to us by His Son means that God cares enough to let us know His will and indicates He may speak to us through words and providence.  The approbation of the centuries is God has spoken and still speaks through the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
     Some have a favorite saying about the Bible, "I take the Bible seriously but not literally."  What this in effect does is remove any commands, imperatives, or the idea of obedience from God's Word.  If my son is on the sofa and I ask him to mow the grass; he tells me an hour later that he didn't mow the grass but he took my words seriously but not literally- then we would have a serious and a literal problem.
     The "True Preaching of the Word of God" is a mark of a true church.  It is not that the preaching has to be perfect in grammar, presentation, form, or even perfect in doctrine.  But as Berkhof says, "there is a limit beyond which a Church cannot go in the misrepresentation or denial of truth, without losing her true character and becoming a false church.  This is what happens when fundamental articles of faith are publicly denied, and doctrine and life are no more under the control of the Word of God."  The Reformation taught us to listen to the scriptures above tradition, human power, or even experience.  God's voice is to have priority of the cacophony of voices wanting our obedience to their way.  Leith says, "Whenever the Word of God is heard there is the church; and without the word of God there is no church, no matter what doctrine, sacraments, or structure the church may have."  Barth has said that the reality and unity of the church consists on hearing the word of God.
     The Word of God is found when we listen to it with open ears and open hearts- but it also must be truly preached. After all, how can they hear without a preacher?

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear your Spirit speaking through your Word.   We pray that your Spirit would descend upon us so that more and more churches would preach your word truly and clearly.