Is a Literal Interpretation of God's Word Important?

The source information for a theologian will reveal his philosophy. If a man claims the Koran or the book of Mormon as their epistemology, then his belief will be conformed to what his source teaches. The way a man believes will reveal what he places his trust in. A Christian believes in Christ Jesus because the Bible teaches him about eternal life only coming through a faith in the finished work and Lordship of Christ. A Christian’s source is the Bible, not his mind. Proposing that absolute truth is established only by being revealed by an objective source (God), the only logical conclusion is that there is absolutely one objective interpretation of something God presents as His objective truth. Therefore, a literal interpretation is important because it produces objectivity, decreases human interaction, and brings collective fellowship to God’s people.

As a basic understanding of the God revealed in creation, He is objectivity. Logic would rationalize the fact that if God were subject to human understanding, then He would not be capable of being God at all. Why? Because the authority of God’s dominion would be proposed by faulty, experiential, subjective, and relativistic human reason. In his January newsletter, “The Shepherd’s Staff,” Dr. Clay Nuttall writes, “The faithful interpreter who wants to find the one interpretation of a text will ‘simplify to clarify,’ while the one who wants to insert motive and presupposition will ‘complicate to confuse.’” A man that wants to complicate his message must be unsure of the validity of his message, or is trying to push an agenda. In an attempt to “rightly divide” the Bible, one must remain true to God’s revealed Word through seeking objectivity.

Humans have a tendency to be sinful. It is part of the sin nature in us that points us to a sinful lifestyle, that’s why so much hope in found in I John 3:2 where God tells us that, at the Rapture, we will be like Christ. Pastors, great men of God, should keep themselves accountable when shepherding women. Why? Because the flesh, though dead to our spirit, but is ever-present in our lifestyles. If a great man of God can fall in the blink of an eye in regard to immorality with another woman at his church, how easily could it be for the average Christian to place some personal agenda into the text of Scripture? In an attempt to glorify the Lord in our interpretation of His Word, exegetes need to limit human influence on the text because of the unfortunate influence of the flesh on human reason.

The purpose of God’s revelation is, as the term implies, to reveal Himself in His glory. In his book, Biblical Ethics, Dr. Robertson McQuilkin explains sin as a “moral wrong,” meaning that sin implies a purpose of diluting the righteous character of God. Taking McQuilkin’s definition of sin and the propositions already established, it is a moral, outright, sickening demonstration of unrighteousness when an interpreter takes what God says and adds to it, or takes away from it. There is no room for hidden agendas when a man approaches God’s glorious self-revelation. When God reveals Himself, He does so in means that would reveal His glory to his recipients. Since His recipients are men, then God expects men to comprehend what God wants them to understand. God’s Word, rightly interpreted, performs the purpose as it reveals itself. Therefore, man can have fellowship with God and has an unwavering rule by which to have common fellowship with fellow man through an objective interpretation of His Word.

In conclusion, a literal interpretation is important because it produces objectivity, decreases human interaction, and brings collective fellowship to God’s people. A Christian is labeled by His epistemology like canned food is labeled by their respective labels. If a Christian decides to change his epistemology from the Bible to human reason, let me strongly urge him to change his label to something other than Christian because it paints a bad picture for the rest of us. Imagine going to the grocery store to get corn and bringing it home only to find that the label is wrong, pretty disappointing huh?

Popular Theology

So I've recently undergone much thought and challenge by God through some friends and some studying about the crisis of the local churches in America. It seems that churches are chasing "the new thing" that gets people to church to hear the gospel. This comes alot from the worldview of Postmodernism Christianity that states that the church should toss out doctrine and just work on relating to the culture to the highest degree. My dilemma is, "How is that working out for ya?" The answer to my own question is simple, it's not.

Sure many people flock to hear the latest songs played by the hottest bands. It's a free concert being thrown by the local church that really just encourages rebellion. But, is there any thought at all about the gospel, the most important thing?

As I sit in the seat of the spectator watching these events, I notice that there is a problem with the presentation of the gospel as the distorted truth is being manifested through a terrible problem known as Seeker Friendliness.

Please tell me what your thoughts are on this epidemic and if you are a fan of Seeker Friendliness or a consistent fighter against it. Some people Is it possible for some people to ride the fence on this issue?

A Little Spat on Christian Worship

What if we stopped trying to define what worship is and just worship? It seems that American Christianity seems to be caught up in the ‘Explicities’ rather than the ‘Simplicities.’ There seems to be a fine line drawn in the sand that should not be crossed by our mindset. When concern for minority becomes our major mindset, then worship becomes just another empty religious ritual, and let’s face it, the world doesn’t need anymore of those does it?



When will worship and doctrine become practical and ethical? This question has been a big concern of mine through several conversations that I’ve had with brothers and sisters of different theological viewpoints. When we believe something, then it should be practiced, right? At least that’s what I’ve learned in my interaction with people. People say that our beliefs will focus our attitudes, therefore our behavior will be affected. This is correct, but why is it that when I look at my belief system my behavior is not always a reflection of it? I believe in a process known as Progressive Sanctification, but how come it seems that no progress is being made by the Holy Spirit at times?



This is where the rubber meets the road. I’m studying and learning all sorts of things while in class. I mean I’m getting my head slammed full of material that I will be handling for the rest of my life. I’ve been taught a lot and still have a long road ahead of me. With great power comes great responsibility, right? If what they say about our behavior being a reflection of our beliefs, then my behavior should reflect what I’m learning, but it doesn’t always do that. Many of my friends can testify to how I’ve done and said bad things around them. I don’t understand how things just slip out of me like it’s nobody’s business.



Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-19 that what comes out of the mouth is a direct correlation of what comes from the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 shows that the heart is not always as it seems to us and our evil intentions are often hid by a deceitful heart. In other words, in comparison to what we believe and how we behave, we are in bad shape.



I think that reverential worship (the only way to worship) is through a direct understanding of who God is and where we stand before Him. God is the perfect, holy being that set forth the entire universe with words! I don’t think that we as Christians truly understand this completely, or we would be more in awe of what was going on. If worship indicates a direct link to God and a communing fellowship with God, then we need to be more reverential before the throne of our God.



To come to His throne with the respect that He is due, we need to come in full recognition of ourselves. We need to be in remembrance of the terrible person that we are and the holy Being that our God is. This is the essence of worship. If this is our attitude then whatever follows will be God-centered and completely void of all flesh. Understanding who we are without the divine intervention of our God is the only way to approach His presence.



Moses understood this when He approached the burning bush. Isaiah understood this when answering the call from God. Peter understood this when Jesus called him in Luke. Paul understood this when he was enveloped in the presence of Christ on the Damascus road.



When will we understand this as well? When will we get a full reverential attitude toward the worship of our God that causes us to bow. Worship is not a mindset, it’s a response, it’s a response to the presence of God’s glory being manifested in our sinful hearts.