ADBC: 27 – Scriptures Rule and So Do The Stars … Kinda

Here’s the premise of the conversation.

Previously in the conversation: I asked my brother about reading material for wisdom. This unlocked such a precious answer that I will encourage him to record it so we can have a special guest pod version of it for your listening pleasure as well as reading. It’s a brilliant piece. Then there’s his response to the question on the problem with this age of information. That response was so considered and on point, that I’ll also see if he can get that in audio form for your consumption as well. I appreciate that people can take on information by listening to it and although you’re here to read, it’s good to have something to share with your friends of top quality that they can listen to in their own sections. So don’t be surprised if those sections crop up on this blog in the not too distant future. In the meantime, do yourself a favour – take some time out to read these truly insightful considerations on matters of great importance where living a good life is concerned. My brother makes no claim to be a great arbiter of wisdom or a sage, but that’s because he’s too modest and humble to do so. I’m happy to encourage you to check his material and consider your own processes that lead you to the conclusions in life that you reach. Read his article. Share the material. Read his blog as a whole. Engage in conversation with him. Feel free to disagree with him, but do so on a basis that is thought out and considered rather than knee-jerk emotional reactions that reveal more about your own insecurities in the challenge his views present. Yeah and again I encourage you – read his article.

It was good going through his responses and then I read his questions … and … well, check these out for yourself as I endeavour to offer responses to them:

Q – You mentioned judging things and their veracity “according to scripture.” As you may or may not know, I reject the sola-scriptura or “primacy of scripture” approach because I see the need for non-written elements like hermeneutics, means of interpretation of scripture and even the definitions of words, all of which exist outside of the text of scripture. So my question is, how can scripture itself tell you what to do or be one’s essential guide when non-scriptural lenses and filters are needed to even understand scripture?

Why I like your questions – however challenging they are – is because of how they challenge me to, first of all, understand them and then think through the best way to approach a response to them. Then what you kindly do is where I don’t get a proper understanding of your question you provide a clarifying question to help me address the point you are making. It’s a reason why I like the conversation for all those processes.

With that, I come to this question and I really take my time to understand it. I appreciate the context you give around it. It triggers a search in me back to my time of understanding how I know things. Back in my school days and through my time in educational institutes I had the opportunity to do studies that challenged how I know what I know and if the structures that frame my knowledge are solid. This is all setting the context in myself for addressing what I believe to be the nub of your question. Herein is also the opportunity given for you to correct me if my understanding is incorrect.

The nub of your question is: how can scripture be an essential guide if something is needed to understand scripture?

This goes into what makes something have an authoritative place in my life.

As much as I know some who wish to assert that the first thing to do is to see how scripture interprets scripture, even those folks acknowledge that non-scriptural references are needed to understand aspects of scripture.

Yet, for me, it is all based on my understanding of who is important in my life and the source for authority in getting to know Him more. I believe in Jesus Christ and how I believe and get to know of Him primarily is through the scriptures. I believe that the scripture is the inspired word of God given to people over centuries and collected to outline what is essential and primary to those who believe in God through Jesus Christ. I appreciate and acknowledge that understanding scripture in places requires reference to non-scriptural material, but that does not diminish the status of scripture to me.

It’s also the case, in my reading of scripture, that it’s not totally indecipherable. It’s not as though the only way to understand it is via the non-scriptural material. I am of the belief that as the word of God, He helps in gaining an understanding of it as you read it. There is so much in there establishing how God is to be worshipped and obeyed that it is sufficient as the authoritative source for what I do and how I conduct my life and as a source for what is right in His sight.

I trust that this response at least gives you the perspective that I have on how it is a source of authority in my life and also why its status is not diminished by accessing other resources to help understand it.

Q – In an attempted contradistinction against astrology, you stated that “physical healing is based on scripture.” Isn’t there a difference between “based on” and merely “mentioned?” As someone could argue that the Bible states that the stars were set as rulers over the earth, that they govern the seasons and times of men, the notion of their having some influence over man “based on” scripture? How could you argue otherwise?

Physical healing is based on scripture – not just mentioned in it. Followers of Jesus see plenty of times where physical healing takes place and then see those who follow Jesus likewise partake in physical healing as part of the continuation of what Jesus did. And what Jesus did, followed a trend of physical healing that was evident in what we refer to as the Old Testament. This was evidence of what God brings in to overcome the consequence of rejecting His rule. So the approach to physical healing for me as someone who believes in God is based on what He reveals in scripture – it is a basis.

Indeed the Bible states the purpose for the stars in the heavens as a governing source of seasons. That is not a basis for humans to take astrology as a valid method of discerning what God wants them to do. If that were the case there would be scriptural instructions or allowances that indicate that. In my understanding of scripture at this stage, no such instruction or allowance is given to those who look to follow God as revealed in Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit who inspired the writing of the scriptures that inform, shape and guide human conduct. There is something about the nature of the worship, obedience and relationship with God, as I understand it at this point in scripture, that did not require observance of the position of the stars for a guide to righteous human affairs. I’m open to being corrected on that matter if scripture states otherwise.

Q – Knowing the importance of words, you wrote “Take that with the responsibility given to man regarding the planet …” You also said, “…  there’s scope for the exploration of the methods by which the planet functions …” Do we live on a planet? What therefore is a planet? And on what basis do you write unreservedly, in the sense of absolute fact, that we live on one? Is the claim or assumption based on absolute fact?

Thank you for pointing out my use of the term planet. I’m happy to correct it to refer to what scripture says and as I understand at this time, subject to further information, I would change the term for the word ‘earth’.

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Clearly, Hesediah, you enjoyed the responses I gave previously as a platform to ramp up the stakes in this round of questions. I can tell for sure, that you had the questions on tap to boil or grill me on this occasion. I appreciate that for the challenge it gives me to think through things more and even acknowledge where I’m not totally sure about something. Thanks for that, bro.

Here are some questions for you:

Q – How is your journey towards homeschooling? What are the key things you’re learning at this stage of the journey? What do you think parents should consider if they’re considering homeschooling?

Q – In Britain, there are age restrictions on a variety of activities from being able to consume alcohol and smoking, to when you can drive a vehicle and when you’re eligible to vote. What is your view on these age restrictions is there a valid moral basis for them?

Q – There is a lot of focus in some circles on the importance of learning to read and then spending time to read as much and as widely as possible. With the range of information that can be input via listening or watching material, in your view, is there a rightful preference to reading as opposed to other ways of taking on information to be better informed and learn more?

Asking questions is a great way to not just find answers, but also discover processes that help understand where those questions are coming from and how the answers can at least be processed even if there’s no conclusion. You’re a big help on those matters for me, bro! Thanks for your time.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden