Calvin Synod Herald, 2006 (107. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2006-01-01 / 1-2. szám

Scripture Teaches Fully All Goodness. We judge, therefore, that from these Scriptures are to be derived true wisdom and godliness, the reformation and government of churches; as also instruction in all duties of piety; and, to be short, the confirmation of doctrines, and the rejection of all errors, moreover, all exhortations according to that word of the apostle, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, etc. (II Tim. 3:1617). Again, I am writing these instructions to you, says the apostle to Timothy, so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, etc. (I Tim. 3:1415).

As worded elsewhere, the final authority in all places of debate, the only rule of faith and life is the Bible. Nonetheless, Scripture does not clearly define how the government of nations or the church is to be administered in minute detail. The right of apostolic succession is false. The Bible says that the office of apostle was a gift of the Spirit to the church, not an office to be assumed and passed on as the mantle of Elijah, which was only done with the permission of God by special dispensation to the student who requested it as his lot. Thus all forms of government that adhere to the revealed Word of God and that hold all things to be done decently and in order can claim the authority of the Bible. Form of government should not be a division in the church of Christ. The need here is to be careful with future reformation of the church. That the fathers have made a grave error in exegesis of Scripture must be proven, before allowing for such change in the church. What is not broken does not need a repairman. There was a time for reformation on a grand scale. God raised up men of integrity and intelligence, being gifted in the things of God to bring about the reformation of the sixteenth century. The so-called great enlightenment was the father of more darkness than light, obscuring the clear Word of God behind so-called scholarship. Pray the church does not fall into the same pit again, and most prayerfully consults the Sacred Text before accepting such wide-ranging change again.89

Scripture is the Word of God. Again, the selfsame apostle to the Thessalonians: When, says he, you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God, etc. (I Thess. 2:13.) For the Lord himself has said in the Gospel, It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of my Father speaking through you; therefore he who hears you hears me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me (Matt. 10:20; Luke 10:16; John 13:20).10

The Reformed have long agreed the Bible is God-breathed, inerrant, and infallible. The Helvetic here asserts the same thing. We can also see here that even at this early point of Reformed history attention was given to the very words spoken by the prophets being the same as the Word spoken directly by God. Peter confirms this in saying that Paul’s writings are in places difficult to understand, bringing Paul’s writings to the level of Scripture long before they could have been widely known or published in the churches." Peter also uses Paul’s words to confirm his own as the truth. 12 To the degree the commentary of the preacher today agrees with the revealed Word of God, the preacher today serves in the same capacity as the prophets of

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the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament, and has in fact uttered the Word of God. It is crucial then, that the speaker speaks in the vernacular of the audience but with careful intention to the context and intent of the Scriptures that under gird his exposition. Also in this sense, it is the responsibility of the hearer to take to heart and ponder what is being taught with equal attention to what God has revealed in the Bible. It also then becomes essential that the churches carefully and with much prayer insure the one they call pastor is called of God to the task. The calling being of more importance than education, oratory skill, or any other earthly consideration, or this statement in whole is false and the hearer is not receiving the Word of God.

The Preaching of the Word of God Is the Word of God.

Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good.

The question would have to be does this include only the actual quotes from the Holy Writ or does it include the words of explanation/exhortation of the preacher? The Helvetic first clearly says it must be one properly called. If properly called, then the preacher’s words of exegesis (exposition) are valid as if from God. Matthew twenty-three covers this same issue and in almost the same words as the Helvetic. Do what the preacher says, even if he does not practice what he preaches. That such a false preacher needs to be dealt with and removed from office not being the issue. Unless such teaching is clearly in contrast to the Revealed Word, the congregation has heard the Word of God. Scripture testifies and authenticates itself as the very Word of God. The words of the preacher should be tested by the church, more particularly, the officers of the church continuously and the preacher held accountable for deviation from the clear doctrines of the Bible. It is not okay as many denominations think for a man to differ (so-called exceptions) and believe another thing, as long as they do not teach them in church. If it varies from the Bible it is not to be believed nor taught. Error is not made truth because it is not proclaimed from the pulpit. Extreme care must be taken that the conscience of God’s spokesman is not hindered, much less bound; nonetheless, clear deviation from the Bible must be dealt with post haste.13

Neither do we think that therefore the outward preaching is to be thought as fruitless because the instruction in true religion depends on the inward illumination of the Spirit, or because it is written And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor, for they shall all know me (Jer. 31:34), and Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (I Cor. 3:7). For although no one can come to Christ unless he be drawn by the Father (John 6:44), and unless the Holy Spirit inwardly illumines him, yet we know that it is surely the will of God that his Word should be preached outwardly also. God could

_____________________________CALVIN SYNOD HERALD