Australia writes,
"The written record became absolutized. The gospel
became a new law. Faith was confounded with orthodoxy. The Church ceased to be
a charismatic community and became an institution. Instead of the Spirit there
were rules. Instead of the priesthood of all believers, there was wretched
clericalism. Instead of the Spirit and presence of the living Christ there were
religious canned goods. Instead of the living gospel there was dead ideology.
Instead of freedom there was bondage. Yet, like the Pharisees, we have
desperately tried to substitute an incredible devotion to the letter of
Scripture for the prophetic spirit."
30
Jumping
many centuries, we arrive in our historical survey at the religious Reformation
of the sixteenth century. Roman Catholicism insisted on the inerrancy and
infallibility of the Pope; the authority was vested in the Church and its papal
proclamations. The Protestants protested, insisting on the inerracy and
infallibility of the Bible; the authority of sola scriptura. Despite these contradictory claims for the basis of
authority,
Jesus said, "All authority is given to Me, in heaven and on
earth" (Matthew 28:18). Inerrancy and infallibility is inherent in the
living expression of God in Christ, and in Him alone. The Roman Catholics were
susceptible (and still are) to ecclesiolatry, idolatrous worship of the church
institution. The Protestants were susceptible (and still are) to bibliolatry,
idolatrous worship of the Bible. In fact, the Catholics chided the Protestants
for having a "paper pope" and a "God who was imprisoned in a
book." At least the Catholic conception of God and pope was
"personal," though mere man.
The
Protestant Reformation fostered static concepts of sola scriptura, justification, salvation, grace, faith, worship,
etc. All branches of Protestantism down through the centuries have prided
themselves on being "the people of the Book" or "the religion of
the Book." G.K. Chesterton once wrote,
"The Bible and the Bible only is the religion of the
Protestants." 31
Bringing
the historical survey up to date, we have just witnessed a couple of decades of
evangelical conflict and debate. "The Battle for the Bible" has been
the issue. There have been volumes of books and articles on inerrancy,
infallibility and inspiration of scripture. They miss the point!What about
proclaiming the eternal, inerrant, infallible inspiration of Jesus Christ, the
Living Word expression of God, in people's lives? We need a Christo-centric
Christianity rather than a biblio-centric Christian religion. Christianity IS
Christ! thanks well said ausy peroanlly in dweling largely reduced the platonic philoshopy and physco bable stuff, discluding real medical science of carl jurg's sruff , the devestating effect of legalism a repalcement for speit ledness and faith and helping one another.. we are long ways from the real deal that faith works through ausy thanks not all but much is reduced to the economic and human performance stuff , amazing... grace in christ alone no magic buildings , idols or titales and lofty organized doubt you spoke of .. free ecclesia asssembly of people simple ..love to all , stay well.
