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The Bible.
1. The Bible contains the Word of God. Although written by man and translated into many languages, it is both inspired and interpreted by the Holy Spirit according to the Will of God and can be relied upon. 2. The Bible is more than the printed word. It becomes the Living Word of God when it is read in humility and with open heart and mind. It convicts, challenges, encourages and empowers through a renewed and awakened understanding of God’s Word and leads us into the very presence of God. 3. The Holy Spirit is the primary source of inspiration and interpretation as Holy Scripture is read. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit, the words of Holy Scripture, however noble, are powerless and without life. 4. We should be open-minded and follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit when reading Holy Scripture but we would be unwise to ignore the understanding found in traditional interpretations of the Word of God. 5. However, the understanding or interpretation of God’s Word we have been given may seem to challenge or be in conflict with what has gone before. It does not mean that either is in error, just that they are different answers to different needs in different times. 6. Every care in interpreting the Word of God should therefore be made that it is both consistent with the Will of God and follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. 7. Prayer for proper understanding and interpretation before reading the Bible and the giving of thanks for the Living Word after reading are appropriate. 8. We should always approach Holy Scripture without any preconceived ideas. The principle is to come empty before God, ready to be filled spiritually. There is a sense in which ‘theology’ can get in the way in this respect if care is not taken – theology is simply man’s way of trying to understand, explain, order and rationalise what is truly beyond his comprehension. It can sometimes present great difficulty for the Holy Spirit as it tries to lead, encourage and prompt us. Theological training importantly has its place, but it shouldn’t get in the way of God. 9. A closed mind is not the Servant of God where understanding Holy Scripture is concerned, but neither is ‘the open mind’ which is deaf to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, perverts the truth to its own ends and essentially only hears the desires of a self-seeking heart. 10. The Bible, whilst containing the Word of God and being important benchmark sources of spiritual wisdom, understanding and knowledge, is no substitute for spending time with God (in just the same way that reading a biography is no substitute for spending quality time with the real person). 11. The Bible should be treated reverently and with due respect. 12. The Bible should never be or become an object of worship in itself. It is ‘of God’, but it is not God. 13. The Bible is not the only source of spiritual wisdom, understanding and knowledge – God speaks to us in many different ways. Holy Scripture does not therefore have a monopoly on the Word of God but it remains the trusted primary source of spiritual agreement in all things. 14. In all matters of discernment, there should be prayerful collective consensus in properly interpreting the Word of God.
copyright (c) 2004-2008 The Province and Jurisdiction for On Call Ministry and its member groups unless otherwise stated. |
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