The Bible Alone: Not Sufficient Enough for the Church Today?
Volume 36 – January/February 2009
By Michael C. Gaudiosi
I have asked this question so many times, and I have received so many answers. Some by well meaning people, others by self-proclaimed biblical “scholars”, however I have yet to receive the definitive answer to this question. It’s not that I don’t know the definitive answer, it’s just I have not received it yet. So I will answer the question myself. It’s because some people hate to be taught!
When was the last time you saw standing room only and long lines at a theology conference? Yet, you see so many of these so-called signs and wonders conferences pack in the crowds! People would rather have their senses and emotions mesmerized and even be entertained than to be taught.
As some of you may know, I have been writing for The Noble Berean since January 2005 and if you have ever read any of my articles you will notice in every one of them I write the words:
SOLA SCRIPTURA
Which means simply…”The scriptures alone.” There have been times where I have received many comments about these two words more than I have about the topic of the article itself, so I thought I would write about why some Christians, or those who call themselves Christians, are simply not satisfied with the sufficiency of scripture.
It has always boggled my mind how many people in the Church today claim the Bible as the final authority, yet continue to do things that are not even found in the Bible! How do they justify this? Simple…by using the “scripture is silent on some things” song and dance! I always hear John 21:25 quoted over and over:
John 21:25 – And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
So the justification is…“see? Jesus did things and they were not written in scripture!” This verse of scripture simply states there were many other things Jesus did that IF THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN there would not be enough room in this entire world to contain all the books…plain and simple! This by no means says Jesus did many other things which are never mentioned, or taught in scripture! So one may ask…“what were the many other things Jesus did which were not written?” Simple! Just read what was written about the life and ministry of Jesus in the Gospels and then you’ll know!
Then there is the “you can’t put God in a box” theory. So many people have used this argument to try and justify behavior which cannot be found in scripture. This reasoning goes hand in hand with the “let the Spirit have His way” mentality. For example, I was once part of a charismatic church (yes, that may be hard to believe!). There were so many things done in this church which clearly could not be found in the Bible, however this did not stop the pastor. The only explanation I received was “you can’t put God in a box…we must let the Spirit have His way”.
Well..I would have to agree with the first part…we cannot put God in a box! Wait a minute!! Did I not call this a theory in the previous paragraph? Am I contradicting myself? Absolutely not! We cannot put God in a box, no one has the power to do so except God Himself. So what I am really saying is God has put Himself in a box?? Technically speaking…yes! How has He done this you may ask? By His own Sovereignty God has chosen to limit the evidence and revelation of Himself first, through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ…and secondly, through His written Word.
This by no means is saying God’s power is limited. If God wanted to manifest Himself in ways contrary to scripture then He can! He can do things which deny, contradict and even add to scripture if He so wanted to. I am not saying God cannot do this, what I am saying is God WILL NOT do this! God will NEVER say nor do things opposite of written Holy Scripture. How do I know this? Read Psalm 138:2 for starters:
Psalm 138:2 – I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
What makes some people reject SOLA SCRIPTURA is the fact that it does not put God in a box, rather it puts people in a box! What people can say or do in church is limited to scripture, and that tends to frustrate some people! They know very well if they were to abide by the written scripture alone, they would have to stop doing all these ridiculous, unbiblical, man-centered, emotional driven things which they claim to be a so-called “move of God”.
If we truly are to “let the Spirit have His way” then we must remain steadfast in sound biblical doctrine, just like the New Testament Church did (Acts 2:42). When scripture is taught and obeyed, then the Holy Spirit can have His way! God will never move in a place where His Word is not honored.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Just in case you didn’t have a chance to read Acts 2:42, here it is:
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
This scripture is very much alive today as it was back then. When the believers in Acts chapter two remained steadfast in the apostles doctrine, it was only then where they had true communion and fellowship…and love for one another! Yes… all this through sound biblical doctrine!
Do I believe God still speaks to His people today? You bet I do! How can one hear the voice of God? How do we know WHEN He is speaking? Open your Bible! How do I know what job to take? Who I should marry? Which church should I go to? Open your Bible! Am I saying the Bible has the answers to all my life’s problems…even in today’s twenty first century society and culture? YES!!
What…? Does the Bible really tell me what job I should take? Well, scripture may not name the exact place of employment, but it does encourage good, honest employment (2 Thessalonians 3:10). How about who I should marry? The Bible may not provide the person by name, but it does tell you the character of the person you should marry (Proverbs 31, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 2 Corinthians 6:14). These are just to name a few.
Why in the world would we believe the Bible does not contain the answers to our everyday life? More importantly, why is scripture not enough for some people? I can write about this till I am blue in the face, and still people will continue to fight me tooth and nail on this, and that’s fine…I’m sure people will argue with me over this very article, and again…that’s fine with me! You can seek more than God’s Word to get some kind of feeling, or experience if you like. But as for me…scripture is sufficient!
SOLA SCRIPTURA…The scriptures alone!! may God bless you!
