Loyalty To the Scripture
Posted: Saturday, May 03, 2008
by John Waddey
firstcenturychristian
God has spoken to us in the pages of our Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2). To be loyal to the Father we must be loyal to His divine book. The word "loyalty" suggests that one is "unswerving in allegiance, faithful to a cause, ideal or custom" (Webster). Because one is loyal he will "Buy the truth and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23). He will honor God by speaking his word faithfully (Jeremiah 23:28). A loyal saint will contend for the faith (Jude 3) and defend the gospel (Philippians 1:16). Being loyal we will pledge ourselves to God's word as did David:
"I will never forget thy precepts" (Psalms 119:93)
"I shall keep thy law; yea I shall observe it with my whole heart" (Psalms 119:34)
"I will speak of thy testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame (Psalms 119:46)
While every brother would loudly amen the above sentiments, observation tells us that not all mean the same thing when they speak of loyalty to the Word.
I. Some are loyal to the black, leather-bound book in a blind, emotional way. This loyalty is fighting-strong yet fuzzy and nebulous in content. For in addition to the divine truths recorded in the book they are fiercely loyal to their opinions about the Bible. They are loyal to interpretations of the Scriptures, hallowed by long use, even though they are incorrect. Even if it means denying the obvious context or the lexical meaning of a word, they will be loyal to the traditional view of a verse.
While loyalty is a commendable virtue and essential to salvation, blind loyalty is like blind faith. Only truth can make one free from error (John 8:32). Even as zeal without knowledge led the Jews into opposition to the faith of Jesus (Romans 10:2-3), so loyalty without proper knowledge will often set a man at variance with the truth of the gospel.
II. God would have us be loyal to his word, correctly understood. Catholics interpret Matthew 16:18 to say that Peter is the foundation of the church. While I am totally loyal to Matthew 16:18, I know the foundation is Christ (I Corinthians 3:11).
Our loyalty is tested when we learn that the Bible's true message differs from the brotherhood's traditional understanding of it. A loyal Christian is willing to adjust his views if his interpretation is found to be deficient. Paul provides us just such an example: "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:7). But when he learned his error, he tells us, "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision..." (Acts 26:19). This should be our attitude toward every new truth we learn.
God's great doctrines do not need irrational, unsound, faulty interpretations or arguments to defend them. They have a more noble strength and foundation than that. The apostles never stooped to use "cunningly devised fables when (they) made known... the power and coming of (the) Lord Jesus..." (II Peter 1:16), nor should we.
To cling to an argument we know is not valid is a form of intellectual dishonesty. When our adversaries discover it, not only will they laugh us to scorn, even our sound arguments will have less impact on their hearts. They will assume that all of our arguments are likewise defective. However, even if the opponent never caught us mishandling the Scriptures, the omniscient God who searches the minds and hearts would see us and hold us accountable.
Change agents seek to discredit the church and her preachers by suggesting that our faith and practice are based on preference and tradition rather than Scripture properly understood. Let all of God's children "Give diligence to present (themselves) approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
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