What Has
Happened to Lutheranism in
What
has happened to Lutheranism in
Doubting
and challenging the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, many modern
scholars have questioned the authorship and the accuracy of what is written in
the Bible: “Did Jesus really say the words attributed to Him in the
Bible?” “Could the miracles really have happened?” “Was
Jesus really virgin born?” “Did He rise bodily from the dead on the
third day?” “Could God have created the world in six days?” “Were
Adam and Eve real people?” “Did a flood actually cover the whole
earth?” On and on the questions go.
Instead
of accepting all of the Scriptures and each and every word of the Scriptures as
the inspired and unerring Word of God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21;
John 17:17; 10:35; Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5), many modern religious
scholars and now many pastors and teachers have doubts as to whether or not all
of the Bible really is God’s Word. Instead of saying that the Bible is
the Word of God, you may hear them say that the Bible contains God’s
Word. Instead of saying that all the Bible is
historically true and accurate, you may hear them say that the stories in the
Bible may not be literally true, but they teach and illustrate God’s
truth. Instead of accepting and teaching all that the Bible says as God’s
truth, you will find them trying to dissect the Scriptures into what is God’s
truth and what was only a cultural mandate.
As
a result, more and more ministers and teachers often ignore clear and plain
statements of Scripture and attempt only to use the examples of Scripture to
teach faith, love, kindness, and other social and moral issues. Think about it.
How often do you hear ministers calling violations of God’s commandments
sins deserving of God’s eternal wrath and punishment? And, how often do
you hear ministers proclaiming forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation,
available only through the shed blood of Jesus? If all ministers accepted the
whole Bible and each and every word of the Bible as God’s true and
unerring Word, do you think there would be women in the pulpits, joint worship
services and prayers with non-Christians and erring churches, or the acceptance
of homosexual clergy?
The
saddest part of this ever-growing problem is that the members of so many
churches suffer grave danger and harm to their souls. They are lulled into
feeling comfortable in their churches even though they hear little of God’s
Word there anymore. Little is heard of sin and God’s judgment--in fact,
all sorts of open sin is tolerated and accepted within the churches--and little
is taught regarding genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Sunday school
and Bible study materials are full of interesting stories and projects but are
often devoid of the Bible itself. Sermons are full of interesting illustrations
and religious words and concepts, but how much of it actually comes from the Bible?
What
can you do? First of all, if you haven’t done it already, pick up that
Bible from the shelf, blow the dust off, and start reading. You’ll be
surprised at how much of it you’ve never heard taught or explained in
sermons or Bible classes. Secondly, pray for your church and your pastor. Pray
that they would read and study the Bible and accept it as God’s inspired
and unerring Word and then proclaim it unashamedly. Thirdly, talk to your
pastor and let him know that you want him to preach and teach the Bible in your
church--nothing more and nothing less! Let him know in a kind way that, though
his thoughts and orations may be interesting, you are coming to hear God’s
Word and to learn of God and His ways. And, finally, if your church won’t
faithfully preach and teach the Bible, even after your prayers and urgings,
find a church that does and go there. Don’t let the devil rob you of God’s
Word and take from you the eternal blessings which God offers and gives through
faith in Jesus Christ!
- Randy Moll