Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21st Century

Scripture - it is finished in red letters

This article explores the subject of Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21st Century.  Part one will discuss the authority of God understood within Christian theism generally and historically.  Part two will discuss the authority of God historically within American culture.   Part three will consider God’s authority within 21st century postmodern America as that philosophical system increasingly dominates most scholarly activities today.  Part four will be a Christian theistic response to the conditions discussed in part three.

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The Spirit of Antichrist, Christian Self-Flagellation, and Getting It Wrong

Elijah and Ahab

The Old Testament of the Bible contains many narratives that give instruction to the modern Christian. One such example is the story of the prophet Elijah and the evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.

In 1 Kings 21 we find the account of the King and Queen of Israel plotting to dispossess a man of his property.  Deceit, lying, and libel were all employed expertly by Jezebel to cause the murder of the man Naboth. His crime? His desire to retain his land and vineyard and not sell them to the King. Naboth rightly stated that he was forbidden to sell his land to anyone because God had given it as an inheritance (21:3). Thus in seeking to obey and honor God Naboth became an enemy of the King and Queen.

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Spiritual Formation as Spiritual Deception: Beware the Peddlers of Grace (Part 2)

sanctification

Evangelical Sanctification Historically Expressed

Both D. A. Carson[1] and Steven L. Porter[2] recently wrote articles that appeared in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society questioning the approach and methodology of spiritual formation teaching.  Although separated by eight years, Carson’s article explaining the dangers of spirituality apart from a robust bibliology appears to have laid a solid groundwork for Porter’s article espousing the need for a biblical methodology that presents a clear and thoughtful evangelical theology of sanctification.  In the process of their individual critiques they offer some pertinent historical context related to sanctification.

Porter begins his critique of spiritual formation teaching by asserting that its practices must fall within prescribed biblical territory and as such the effort to define acceptable spiritual formation activities belongs to Christian theologians.  That Christian theologians have not been involved in establishing parameters is evidenced by the “plethora of false spiritualities plaguing church and society”[3] in our present day.  This is to be expected when the purpose or goal of sanctification is not rooted in biblical revelation and directive.

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Pastor You Must Be A Theologian – Part 4

Scripture and compass

In this series of posts I’ve been discussing the great need of the Church today that it’s shepherds be theologians in the highest sense of the word. I share with you a quote by CH Spurgeon who was speaking about the importance of pastors preaching the full counsel of God’s Word. He stated:

“The glory of God being our chief object, we aim at it by seeking the edification of saints and the salvation of sinners. It is a noble work to instruct the people of God, and to build them up in their most holy faith: we may by no means neglect this duty. To this end we must give clear statements of gospel doctrine, of vital experience, and of Christian duty, and never shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God. In too many cases sublime truths are held in abeyance under the pretense that they are not practical; whereas the very fact that they are revealed proves that the Lord thinks them to be of value, and woe unto us if we pretend to be wiser than He. We may say of any and every doctrine of Scripture—to give it then a tongue is wise in man. If any one note is dropped from the divine harmony of truth the music may be sadly marred. Your people may fall into grave spiritual diseases through the lack of a certain form of spiritual nutriment, which can only be supplied by the doctrines which you withhold. In the food which we eat there are ingredients which do not at first appear to be necessary to life; but experience shows that they are requisite to health and strength. Phosphorus will not make flesh, but it is wanted for bone; many earths and salts come under the same description— they are necessary in due proportion to the human economy. Even thus certain truths which appear to be little adapted for spiritual nutriment are, nevertheless, very beneficial in furnishing believers with backbone and muscle, and in repairing the varied organs of Christian manhood. We must preach “the whole truth,” that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

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SER 15 – Dr. Mike Heiser – The Divine Council

Mike Heiser

Psalm 82:1 in the NASB says, “God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers.” Note that “rulers” used here in the NASB is better translated “gods” or elohim.

This same passage in the ESV says, “God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.” This is a better translation from the original Hebrew.

The Old Testament gives a clear picture of Yahweh utilizing a divine council of elohim to administer the affairs of the cosmos. Indeed the Israelites believed in a multitude of elohim but only assigned certain characteristics to one elohim, the divine name Hashem. Is this news to you?

Episode 15 is my interview with Dr. Mike Heiser on Soaring Eagle Radio. Listen here.

Dr. Mike Heiser is the Scholar-in-Residence at Logos Bible Software. He holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin in Hebrew and Semitic Studies and the University of Pennsylvania in Ancient History with a focus on Egypt and Syria-Palestine.

His websites for more information are:

Main site with a wealth of Bible studies and resources – http://drmsh.com/

His books The Facade and The Unseen Realm – http://www.readthefacade.com/

Divine Council information – http://www.thedivinecouncil.com/

This episode and every episode can be discussed on the SER website – www.soaringeagleradio.com