Scripture Interrupted

A review of Scripture provides evidence that God does not only permit change in human history, but orders it.  For so strong statements against change as we are faced in the verses above there seems to be some sort of contradiction or paradox.  In God there is no contradiction (propositions in which at least one of the two or more cannot be true) so we may treat the matter here as paradox (at seeming contradictions to be true).  Warning against change as violating him, God offers change in the long story of mankind.  It is interesting that studies show that love is found as a universal preference in the emotional lives of the peoples of every culture.  It has also been found that change is the only universal factor of which every society is touched in the management of life.  With so much love among the populations, why so much the paradoxes?

The matter of change is a major theme that must be understood and addressed for those persons forming a world view of life, both physical and spiritual.  Our concern here does not include acknowledged change that characterizes nature and the life of mankind.  Solomon’s objection to change relates to change for change sake, unrelated to structured change for good.  We address then – spiritual life and issues relating to change.  Christianity is our theme, and we leave the matter of change to be addressed by other faiths as they choose.  The beginning point is that Christianity is a revealed faith related to Judeo-Christian Scripture.  To reject inspiration of Scripture is to suggest a different explanation than that made here.  Scripture asserts its special position both in its assertions and in its limitations.  The basic limitation is that God has nothing more to say to mankind than what has been written, and that noted by the Apostle John in the last book of Scripture: Revelation 22:18-19.  That written in Scripture is not to be reduced nor is it to be increased – no amendments that change it by either addition or subtraction.  In this God protects his communication as his own, not that of mankind whose manner is to change things and is created with the urge to change in the primary belief that change is necessary to improve life context. The idea appears early in Scripture when Adam and Eve are instructed to dress the garden and know it.  To dress the garden is to change it even if the change is only in manicure, but the change is to move its meaning from a barren field to crop land in order to support life.  To know it suggests that there will be discoveries that will require amendments to past practices related to it.  There are other instances we may use here to clarify the point.  Change is in order to direct nature’s life efficiently and well related to what is available.

Christianity is the outworking of Scripture to mankind from God.  It must not be changed, or it becomes something other than that it ought to be.  It is changed if it is treated as the ruminations of some devout individuals over two or so millennia of years.  It is changed or interpreted if some affirmed doctrine or procedure is dropped or denied.  It is changed if it is treated only as literature.  It is changed if it is treated only as a human product to be divided up in various ways so to fit this or that philosophy of life or religion.  It is changed if it is interpreted as an ancient document provided from a modestly sophisticated period carried over to a highly sophisticated era.  It is changed when sects, denominations, movements, even individuals overly emphasize this or that factor or factors found in it.  We are faced with conflicts even among Christians, and secularists as well, with odd interpretations found from contradictory representatives claiming truth.  Scripture does not change from its first meaning.  It is self (internally) interpreting.

It is clear that when I spoke to a religious audience I meant to express biblical perceptions without apology, and not first as a spokesman for any denomination.  Although I belong to a denomination that ordained me to Christian ministry, the doctrinal statement I subscribe to before God is first and foremost drawn from Scripture.  Any point that would violate Scripture, or be omitted from Scripture would not suit my orientation or faith. Changes of groups in the human context are so fraught with differences from biblical affirmations that the matter has become a scandal.  I want to speak from Scripture – with no amendments.