Re: Scripture and the ASA; Robt Rogland's post

From: Dr. Blake Nelson (bnelson301@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat Jun 15 2002 - 20:08:10 EDT

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    A few brief words here about what I think part of the
    difficulty is with "inerrancy."

    First, I agree with the statement of faith that ASA
    has in regard to scripture.
    Second, this does not mean that I find inerrancy at
    all a comforting intellectual or faith concept for
    several reasons:
     1. Inerrancy of the scriptures, improperly placed as
    a doctrine, may become idolatry toward the scriptures
    which violates our calling as Christians not to engage
    in idolatry.
     2. While I can believe theoretically in inerrancy of
    the scriptures, I cannot believe that any particular
    person's interpretation of those scriptures is
    inerrant. This makes an absolute inerrancy of
    scripture essentially a logical impossibility. I can
    go through a book length set of reasons why there are
    all sorts of potential pitfalls in interpretation of
    an otherwise inerrant scripture, but I don't think I
    would change anyone's mind about this.
    Third, as a result of the difficulty of assuring that
    our interpretation is inerrant (which I dont think we
    can do), my personal focus is on humility toward our
    theological interpretations of scripture. We may have
    very good reasons to believe that there are better
    interpretations of scriptures than others (something
    that I do believe), but we should be humble that our
    understanding of otherwise inerrant scriptures is
    going to be incomplete.

    Interestingly, I find, from a Calvinist perspective,
    that the doctrine of total depravity and the fallen
    nature of human intellect SHOULD make one humble about
    the interpretation of scripture even while scripture
    is upheld as inerrant as a doctrinal matter.

    Thus, I do find inerrancy a slippery concept (even
    though that quote is mine) even when I believe in the
    inerrancy of scripture, because of the limits (and the
    fallen nature) of human intellect and ability to
    interpret otherwise inerrant scripture.

    So, I see a trust in the inerrancy of scripture can be
    theoretical, but never really actual (in that we can't
    be certain we understand the inerrant scripture the
    way it is supposed to be understood). Thus, we must
    be humble about all things, including our
    interpretations of scripture, inerrant as the
    scripture itself may be.

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