I believe in God's word.
I believe it is living and active. Sharper than a double edge sword. The author of Hebrews could not have described better how the word pierces the convictions of the heart.
I'm thinking lately...what is God's word? Pretty simple, right? The scriptures. Easy answer, but what makes the scriptures God's word? Is God's word solely the scriptures?
As I have thought about this over the last year of studying I cannot but help to conclude that when we read the scriptures what makes them authoritative is not by virtue of its tradition, but by the unique way that God continues to unravel salvation history through them. The history of the Israelites, the Jews, and early Christians has become my history. God still speaks through the scriptures not because an oracle simply wrote down ancient Hebrew and Greek words thousands of years ago, but because God still reveals his purposes through his scriptures today. I now find a literal interpretation of the text problematic because of the tendency to place more trust in the scriptures themselves than the Lord who speaks through the scriptures. Our reading of the scriptures must be regarded as sacramental.
And this is half of the story
More than anything lately I have begun to pay careful attention to the messages that I've heard on sunday mornings. I have realized something very important: the difference between preaching and teaching. Perry Downs is right. One of the things that I learned from Dr. Franklin at Olivet is that the Kerygma really is one of the unofficial sacraments of the post-reformation church. So now I regard preaching as important as the reading of the word, because God speaks through preaching. Whereas teaching may be instructive and useful, preaching is different because it calls for change, sacrifice, comfort, and repentance. Understanding this simple distinction now will be very foundational for me as someday I'll have to preach God's word. I think Brian Kay really hits it on the head when he question, "did Jesus Christ have to die on the Cross in order for this message to be preached?"
Praise be to God for all the ways he still reveals his purposes!
