A high view of Scripture …
Developing a high view of Scripture.
The milk of therapeutic Christianity seems to be today’s food of choice. If some posts on the internet are anything to go by, the Bible is little more than a depository for “name it and claim it” texts. You don’t have to visit too many Christian Facebook groups to discover people are slicing and dicing the Bible to fit their wants and desires or parsing passages to accommodate their views. The dominant hermeneutic seems governed by “what this means to me” and “what makes me feel good.” And some of the popular posts, the ones that get hundreds of “Amens,” are the ones that bolster flagging spirits with promises of health and wealth.
At a time when the Bible seems to be relegated to something less than it is, God’s people should affirm that it isn’t a self-help book and it’s more than a collection of inspirational verses. It’s the Book of books. Unlike every other book, the Bible is God-given with (metaphorically speaking) His fingerprints all over it. And as such, it is “useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way” 2 Timothy 3:16 (Msg).
So, here’s to developing and holding a high view of Scripture – to giving Scripture the primary place in informing and directing all that we say and do.
The importance of biblical authority.
But what does a high view of Scripture look like? And how do we develop it? For starters, it involves thought and action – a lifetime of training our minds to die to cultural, religious and other preconceptions that hinder our understanding of who God is and what He’s done for us.
Here’s the rub: Five minutes daily in the Word doesn’t cut it. A high view of Scripture requires intellectual labour. To dine on meat, we must wrestle with the text and battle against our own laziness. And that’s not easy. We must constantly adjust and straighten out our views as we reflect on the Scriptures, which doesn’t happen overnight. Developing a high view of Scripture takes years of obedience, submitting to the Holy Spirit, not imposing our initial views on the Word, and striving to live with what we don’t understand or what makes us uncomfortable.
Cultivating a transformational understanding of the Bible.
That’s not to say that a high view of Scripture solely develops within me. Far from it. The regular engagement with Scripture in the private realm must be in tandem with and informed by the church. That is, our views of Scripture should be judged and remade in the community of faith as it draws on the collective wisdom and understanding gleaned from the past and present study of the Word.
A high view of Scripture ultimately submits to God’s authority as He exercises it in and through the Scriptures. It’s surrendering our inclination to control God. It recognizes that we cannot and should not try to fit Him into our inflexible boxes of what we think He should be like or expect Him to do. And it’s the recognition that the Bible is not an end in itself – God is God, and we must live under His authority in ways that bring honour and glory to Him.
Finally, let’s remember that studying the Scriptures is worth every ounce of effort. The benefits are renewing the mind, a transformation wherein God fills us with faith and hope, and the capacity to love others as Christ loved us. Stated succinctly, the payback for developing and holding a high view of Scripture is that “through the Word, we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us” 2 Timothy 3:17 (Msg).
Please share your thoughts about a high view of Scripture in the comments below.
Related Articles
Scripture and the Authority of God
Summary
In today’s culture, many treat the Bible as a self-help book, focusing on verses that promise personal gain, such as health and wealth, while neglecting its deeper purpose. A high view of Scripture rejects this shallow interpretation, emphasizing the Bible as God’s divinely inspired guide for truth, correction, and spiritual growth. Developing this high view requires intellectual effort, ongoing reflection, and submission to the authority of Scripture within the community of faith. Ultimately, embracing Scripture’s full depth leads to transformation, equipping believers to live faithfully and honour God in all aspects of life.
© Scripture Union Canada
