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[bob]

I have had the pleasure and nourishment of hearing many committed Christians speak of their faith and help me grow in mine. Yet every one of them has been human – I had no sense that I was receiving direct revelation from God. That is not to say that I do not respect and value their input. As to whether Paul poured out fresh or stale water, I would ask why it must be one or the other. Could any man other that Jesus pour out perfect revelation? Apparently, Paul and Peter had some heated disagreement, thus one must logically conclude that human error contaminated the message promulgated by at least one of them after Jesus' departure.

Yet I realize that even if I where to rely solely on the “red letters” of Jesus in the gospels, that also would be putting my faith in the ability of the gospel authors to faithfully and completely record the teachings of Christ. There will always be a human element. The Holy Spirit is an interesting way around this, but I have encountered prayerful, godly men and women who claim the Holy Spirit as their guide on doctrinal issues, yet they differ among themselves. Are you saying that anyone who disagrees with you has not sought and received the Holy Spirit? I doubt it – you would not so generously engage the members of this forum if you felt that way. I can only conclude that, once again, the limitations of human discernment on spiritual matters can cloud the truth, even when we sincerely seek it from God. Why should I expect my experience with the Spirit to lead me any closer truth than theirs? Perhaps the Spirit applies more to the heart and soul than to the mind.

But who ever said it would be easy? Just because most of us can read and have access to the Bible, is truth really any closer to us than to an illiterate peasant in tenth century Europe? We all must sniff our way through obstacles to the truth, whether it be the corruption and vanity of the church during that time, or something more technical today, as we are presented with real, scholarly questions as to what exactly the four gospels are – how they came to exist if they are not independent, eyewitness accounts. Surely you are aware of the “synoptic problem”, etc.

Jesus said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. (Mt 22:37)

We should not discount the role of the mind in this important trinity of human assets (gifts from God). I mean no disrespect to your kind replies to my questions.

Thanks! Keep posting!

[bob]

I posted in the Biblical Doctrine forum…

[bob]

I posted in the Biblical Doctrine forum…

[bob]

I posted in the Biblical Doctrine forum…

[bob]

I do seek the Spirit, and yet I have had no resolution on this issue for nearly twenty years. It is usually presented as something on the other side of the leap of faith. I must leap first, then I will see.

But I have committed to Jesus! It seems that my leap was not as large as some. I probably should put the issue behind me. But if I must resolve this issue in order to do so, it might sadden you to know that I am leaning away from literal inerrancy. Jesus preached to masses of illiterate peasants who never had the benefit of clarifying exposition by the apostles. I cannot believe that he left them without the tools to respond to his message, the very message which God sent him to deliver.

[bob]

Thanks for freshening this topic for me, Nick.

Perhaps you all will indulge me as I frame this topic to meet my own needs:

What has biblical inerrancy got to do with following Jesus? I want to follow him and consider myself among his followers. I feel that I was called by Jesus while meditating on his words in the four gospels. But the later books do not move me like the words of Jesus.
How do I really know that I can trust Paul, let alone the unknown author of Hebrews, for example. Christian doctrine seems to imply that the “good stuff” came after Jesus death and resurrection, as most doctrine has its roots in the letters of Paul and others. I wonder if that is when the “human stuff” entered into the church. I know this is threatening, to chip away at the foundation. But if biblical inerrancy is true (and I am not entirely sure one way or the other), then one should not have any fear that a little respectful exploration of the foundation will cause the house to fall. Let us begin:
Sincerely, how can we trust in writings written by man?

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