I know several Christians who silently wonder at the confusion that pervades the Church. One only needs to visit a local assembly to hear the Pastor interpret a passage of scripture as thus and when he visits another or watches a preacher on air; the same passage is given a different or even conflicting interpretation. This makes some to wonder exactly what should a Christian believe? Some get to this point of despair when a passage of scripture they have based their hopes on did not 'work'.
More disturbing today, are the responses of the Church to this problem. One part will say the other is ignorant and that God will soon open their eyes of understanding. Another fast growing response to this dilemma is when some of these preachers take a 'tolerant' stand and readily misinterprete 2 Peter 1:20, 21 to justify the need for several interpretations of the scripture:
"Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
(King James Version).
Brothers and sisters the root of all these goes right to the very question of the inspiration of the scriptures.
Why Inspiration?
First of all, by inspiration we mean the influence by which something is recorded. Regarding the Bible, inspiration here refers to the influence of the Holy Spirit on the Bible authors by which their account is regarded as authoritative. It is noteworthy that 2 Peter 1:20, 21 clearly indicates that the prophets and Bible authors did not orchestrate their accounts from their heads, they had the Holy Spirit influence them.
The Scriptures itself testifies of its divine inspiration as stated in 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."
There are however 3 broad schools of thought on the inspiration of the scriptures and these greatly influence how we interpret them.
The First is the ORTHODOXY: which believes the entire Bible IS the Word of God. Generally they agree the scripture writers were inspired by God in their record of the Bible's content.
The second category is the LIBERAL OR MODERNIST: These say the scriptures CONTAIN the Word of God; some part of the scriptures, they claim are certainly God's word, while a quite some other parts were either man's fictional idea or just mere myths thus containing several errors.
The third category which this article is concerned with is the NEO-ORTHODOXY: these believe the scriptures BECOME the Word of God through personal encounter, such as insight or as some put it, 'rhema'. However those in this category mentally agree with the Orthodoxy school of thought but practice and encourage the basic precept of the Neo-orthodoxy. Most of Christianity can be safely categorized into these three thoughts on inspiration of the Bible.
Identifying Neo-Orthodoxy Dangers
Much of today's Christianity is based on the Neo-orthodoxy inspiration of the Bible. It is a unique tool among the Neo-Pentecostal denominations and is fast being accepted by several other denominations. The difficulty in identifying its potent danger is that it seem to subtly derive its authority from the Bible. Let's take a simple test below:
1. When you read the Bible, are you seeking a 'Rhema' or quickening in your heart about the words that you'll regard as God's present Word, promise or instruction to you?
2. Do you believe that by 'confessing' some scriptures, it becomes real to you and only then can it manifest?
3. Do think the scripture is a book of mysteries or even mere stories that can only be resolved by some means or the other?
If you find these traces in your beliefs or practices, you are most likely in the neo-orthodoxy category. You may still wonder what the big deal may be in taking this position. Pay close attention to the following:
Its Dangers
Firstly it breeds contempt for the scripture as the entire counsel of God on any human or spiritual matter it addresses. When a man takes one part of scripture (he regards as a promise) and openly declares that his life is based on that verse of scripture; in so doing he disregards what the other portions of scripture have to say on that issue.
For instance, have you ever heard someone say "I cannot be sick!" and goes ahead to quote Mat 8:17
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
This scripture refers to Jesus' healing ministry and not a "health" ministry. There are several scriptures particularly in the New Testament where Paul left one of his partners sick and thanked God for the deliverance of another from a sickness that almost claimed his life attributing the healing to the mercy of God.(see Phil 2:26,27; 2 Tim 4:20). Clearly it is unscriptural to make such assertions as “I cannot be sick”.
Secondly it breeds dishonesty in the Christian who is selective of what is God's Word to Him (usually to satisfy his own desires) and will never consider that whether good or bad, all things work together for good to them who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). The Bible simply becomes a tool to get God to favor them, its quite similar to hiring prophets to prophecy only 'good' things about them like the scenario played out in King Ahab's day (see 2 Chron 18). Much like what you hear some preachers say today: 'you are your own prophet; what you say is what you have'!
Thirdly, bulks of today’s devotional materials are completely overturned by this school of thought. This aptly is reflected in the 365/366 Bible texts to be reviewed in a year; the interpretation derived from these scripture passages are not only unscriptural but are also presented as God's present Word to the readers. The result is that Christians are only fed with choice passages of scripture which does not in any way reveal the entire counsel of God.
Fourthly, and very pertinent is the practice of getting a 'rhema' (or a quickened Word) for the month or year as practiced by some Christians and Church leaders alike. The latter claim God gives them a 'rhema' for the flock, the result of which we see millions of Christians literally base their entire lives for 366 days on ONE word from God! The most disturbing thing though is that this 'word from God' is usually in form of a high sounding promise; hardly can I remember any being an instruction; rather only promises of a better life. I do not need to mention the fact that a huge percentage of them do not even get to experience what the 'rhema' represents yet are required to still believe that the 'rhema' for the next year will certainly come true for them.
Beloved, do not be deceived, the Bible as it is, represents the entire counsel of God and CANNOT BECOME God’s Word through ‘a personal encounter’. It must be stated clearly here that true discipleship that produces a mature Christian who is thoroughly furnished in every good work is only premised on accepting the whole body of scripture as the Word of God.