Starting at Go

Related to our life’s objectives is the investigation of lay-theology.  For this there are key words/concepts to consider: Bible, theistic, eclectic, philosophy, culture, language, faith, God.  There is only enough space to offer suggestive directions for laymen of limited bible/theology education to attend.  The following touches on the matter.  The Christian ought to resort to the underlying presupposition that Scripture offers what we need to know as background for present beliefs and actions.  Further, that present beliefs and actions should not violate any of teachings of Scripture, especially in areas vital to effective faith.  That is a large enough assignment, but after that the details may prove difficult.  If it were not so there would not be so many variant church denominations identified as Christian, but contradictory in some important areas.

Let us use language as illustration.  A Page has already discussed the meaning of Word in Hebrews 4:12.  Even deeply committed biblically oriented groups have prevailed in interpreting Word in the verse as representing Scripture.  This is to say that the passage teaches that whatever the Word does is what Scripture is doing.  Careful reading of the context; attention to the way that Scripture uses the original language symbol (word); and, the logic of the passage means it refers to Jesus Christ.  I am unsure about how we will manage a change in the general belief about the passage, even though the popular application appears to be incorrect.  Common belief, even long held, doesn’t make it so.  Scripture interprets itself.

The Church has a long history of differences over the doctrine of predestination.  That too has taken on extra-biblical meaning.  Denominations have been founded on the belief (Calvinistic), and on the denial of the belief (Armenian).  The issues for this doctrine, as for the text, Hebrews 4:12, have been accented since the Reformation.  Common interpretation, attributed to Calvin, is that predestination applies to all persons so that some are predestined for heaven and some are predestined for hell.  That belief has been used as reason to reject Christianity by some persons, in the belief that God has determined the end for each person without regard to the person, so we have no reason to be serious in that we will be Christian if God wills it so, and will not be so if he does not.  The meaning of Scripture doesn’t seem to be quite like that.  The Methodist denomination was founded in the free will concept, and for many decades accused the Calvinists of finding a way to live as they wish, even carnally.  Once a person has genuinely committed self to Jesus Christ, accepted his offer of redemption, and commits without recourse to live through the tenets of the Christian life, that person is predestined to immortality in the kingdom of God.  In that meaning there is cooperation between God and mankind.  If persons commit effectively, so does God. God by his foreknowledge provides his assurance for the Christian.  The use of the word in Scripture is for those who choose to follow Jesus Christ.  Pagan evaluation is different than Christian, but is under some direction of the fair and truthful God who loves all persons in the mortal context we know.  Hope is for the Christian.

One feels apologetic to any seeker after God that persons may have misrepresented God’s will and plans.  We are not surprised that there are those who put spin on anything in life, even the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lay Christians should not hesitate, in facing difficult questions, to delay answers until we can search the meaning of the theme – to find out what is scriptural meaning, in comparing Scripture with Scripture.  We seek the opinions of those who work in the context of interest, and following rules of order and scholarship for answers.  Persons may have high degrees offered by graduate programs of education, may have long and successful careers as scholars, but even they may have to delay responding to a matter until the process has been followed to the end to gain answers – as far as answers may be available.  We should not be embarrassed to admit we don’t know all answers.  The one thing Christians do know that is utterly important is that Christ meets the basic need of redemption related to God’s acceptance, an experience that opens a large field of study for those who care about order and meaning for life.  Clarity for the Christian is found in Biblical theology.  So we research Scripture, accepting clarity where it is offered – in mystery.