Authority and Scripture

What do we mean when we say that the Holy Scriptures are authoritative and how does that work itself out in our daily living, both in the church and in the world?  Here are three perspectives for your consideration.

First, I recommend Keller’s companion sermonfor this chapter (Chapter 7).  This sermon compliments the chapter nicely and near the end Keller shares his thoughts on the necessity of scriptural authority.

For a second comment on the authority of scripture consider the words of the Westminster Confession:

The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.

For a third viewpoint, John Frame, in The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God(pages 124-125), offers this:

God rejects the wisdom of the world and calls His people to a special wisdom of His own that is sharply at odds with the world’s values.  Believers are to stand for God’s wisdom and against false teaching, even under the most difficult challenges.  This is a touchy subject for modern people; intellectual authoritarianism is difficult to present attractively!  Intellectual freedom, academic freedom, freedom of speech and thought–these are important values in our time.  Can modern people be brought to worship a God who is an intellectual authoritarian?  That depends, of course, on God and His grace.  The fact is, however, that this authoritarianism is the source of true intellectual freedom.  Human thinking must be subject to a norm, to a criterion.  If we reject God as our norm, we must find another (rationalism) or despair entirely of knowledge (skepticism).  Rationalism brings intellectual bondage to human systems, and skepticism is intellectual death.  When we serve God, however, our minds are set free from human traditions and from the death of skepticism to accomplish their great tasks.

As always, your thoughts and comments are most welcome.

randy