The Presbyterian Layman January/February 2000 Volume 33, Number 1 Posted March 27, 2000

Do we accept the authority of Scripture? “We need to remind ourselves that in spite of our differing interpretations we [Presbyterians] are overwhelmingly united on the authority of the Bible.” The quote comes from the final chapter of The Divided Church, which is reviewed on page 19. Are we really so united? Just three pages earlier the authors affirmed “the commitment on the part of both of us to the authority of Scripture (though perhaps with different understandings of what this means).” Which is it? The issue hinges on the article: Are Presbyterians “overwhelmingly united” in our belief in the authority of Scripture or are we divided by “different understandings” of Scripture as an authority? Evidence Those searching for answers to such questions will find relevant clues throughout this issue of The Presbyterian Layman. For example, the Jesus Seminar’s Marcus Borg believes that “the Bible is not in any way divinely inspired and is completely a human creation” and declares that people who take the Christmas story literally do so because they lack the “mental equipment” to engage in critical thinking. In mid-January, Borg will give lectures sponsored by the PCUSA-related Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va. David Lull, until recently the director of Bible Translation and Utilization for the National Council of Churches, insists that tradition, reason and experience can override Scripture and that Christians cannot appeal to the authority of Scripture to settle church disputes. The PCUSA, already the council’s biggest financial supporter, is considering funneling an additional $400,000 into the fiscally challenged agency. At the recent U.S. meeting of the World Council of Churches, another beneficiary of Presbyterian largesse, “womanist” theologian Jacqueline Grant, was invited to offer a “Biblical reflection”. She used the opportunity to attack the parable of the talents (Matt. 25) as “reeking with patriarchal, racist and classist assumptions,” simultaneously disparaging the authority of the teaching and the Teacher. And the Covenant Network has announced that the topic of its next annual conference will be “Biblical Authority and the Church”. Is it really likely that this would be their theme if Presbyterians were “overwhelmingly united” on the issue? Or is it more likely that, having failed to convince Presbyterians that Scripture does not say what it unambiguously does say, the Network and its allies are now looking to make the meaning of the Bible’s words irrelevant by obliquely attacking the classical Christian doctrine of Biblical authority? The definite article The authority of Scripture or Scripture as an authority? The definite or indefinite article? The distinction runs far deeper than grammar. For nearly two millennia, nearly all Christians have recognized that they are a people called out by God, a community shaped and formed by God’s Word. To be sure, there have been exceptions. As early as the second century, Marcion produced a Bible more to his liking by eliminating the entire Old Testament, three gospels, the catholic epistles and those portions of Paul’s letters that failed to meet his single standard: love. Despite his sincerity and creativity, his views were resoundingly rejected by the church of his day, which knew that it is not we who judge Scripture, but Scripture that judges us. The church that excommunicated Marcion survives to this day. Marcionites died out centuries ago. Marcion’s methodology, however, undergoes periodic revivals. Its current champions include Borg, Lull, Grant and Covenant Network leaders who pick and choose which parts of Scripture they view as authoritative. This too shall pass. But until it does, Presbyterians should beware of those who purr, “We all believe in the authority of Scripture.” Clearly, not all Presbyterians do. Those who believe in the authority of Scripture must continue to insist that it is not the privilege of any individual or organization to negotiate or limit Biblical authority. And we must remember that in the third Christian millennium, as in the second Christian century, standing firm for the authority of Scripture does not divide the Church. Rather, defending the definite article preserves “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

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