Every school of thought, whether secular or religious, has a foundational authority, which determines its character. Whether it be atheism, humanism, islam, mormonism, catholicism, adventism, talmudic judaism, biblical Christianity, or any other religion, each one has some underlying authority that determines finally, the tenets of the resulting belief system.
For some the underlying authority is nothing more than an idea. The notion that man is alone in the universe and is ultimately the one who will determine what is right and wrong, good or evil. It is to man himself that he must answer, and there is no god other than that one raised up out of his own intellect.
For others, the authority is a written one. A book, or books, viewed by its proponents as the authoritative voice of god, and therefore to be obeyed. For islam it is the koran, that determines the nature of the muslim religion. For mormonism, it is the bible, the book of mormon, doctrines and covenants, and any inspired statements of the current mormon prophet. For catholicism, it is the bible, the apocraphyl books, certain visions, and the inspired statements of the Pope. For adventism it is the bible and the writings of Ellen G White. For talmudic judaism, it is the old testament, and the talmud, the oral traditions of the pharisees . The belief system of each of these religions differ because they have a different underlying authority. They cannot be the same, They cannot agree with each other because they each have a different gospel from the others as determined by their foundation.
So what about Biblical Christianity? What is its underlying authority? It is the Bible alone and in its entirety. To say it another way, it is the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. During the reformation it was, sola scriptura. So, why are there so many brands of Christianity? Why are there so many denominations all claiming to be bible believing Christians? The answer unfortunately is a simple one. Not all Christianity is Biblical Christianity. The degree to which a church or denomination is seen to be biblical is entirely dependant on the degree to which it adheres to the underlying authority of the Bible alone and in its entirety.
Some reject the old testament as, " for the Jews", and so lack much of the foundation they require to be Biblical. Some reject parts of the Bible as not part of the inspired word of God, thereby weakening the foundation. Some don't like the way Paul or some other writer said things, so don't listen to them, forgetting that God is actually the author of the whole Bible, not just the letters in red. Some have formulated confessions, to summarize the doctrines of the Christian faith, only to have those confessions become elevated to equal authority as the Bible, refusing to consider that they may contain error, and should be corrected. Some make the church itself , the pillar and ground of the truth, unwittingly changing the underlying authority all together. Making the church the ruler, and the Bible, the servant.
So how does the individual Christian become a Biblical Christian? He must be ready to trust himself completely to the foundation God has provided for him. He must believe, the Bible is absolutely true in every detail, that there are no contradictions in Gods word. That it is Gods word specifically to him from Genisis to Revelation. That he is to add nothing and take nothing away from it. That any conclusion he comes to regarding faith or practice must be in harmony with everything the Bible says about that particular subject. When confronted with a statement from the Bible that seems to contradict a conclusion, he must be willing to go back again and reexamine his conclusion and correct it if necessary. Always coming humbly before the Lord asking for wisdom, that God in his mercy will grant him understanding.
The true believer will never be satisfied with just being a christian. But will seek with all his heart to become a Biblical Christian. It is not an easy road, it requires much labor and diligence, it is often a lonely road, but it is the road that leads to life. Perhaps one day I will meet you on it, and we can walk for a time together.
ps 12:6-7 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.
ps 119:137-144 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. My zeal hath consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten your words. Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
prov 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
rev 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Wendell A.K.A. blueheron32
