wfn.org | Commentary: Bible's true authority lies in power to change

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

June 2, 1999 News media contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-71BP{311}

NOTE: A photograph of Bishop Kenneth Carder is available.

A UMNS Commentary
By Bishop Kenneth L. Carder*

Much discussion today focuses on "the authority of Scripture," as well it
should.  

Holy Scripture is the  primary source of God's revelation in Jesus Christ,
to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. (Matthew 28:18)

The erosion of the authority of Scripture contributes significantly to our
confusion and conflicts as a church.

During a recent discussion of authority  in the Council of Bishops, Bishop
Edsel Ammons pointed out the irony that much of the discussion of the
Bible's authority is more abstract than formative. We talk about the Bible's
authority while paying little attention to the Bible itself.  We verbally
and intellectually affirm the authority of Scripture but demonstrate little
evidence of being shaped by the Scriptures.

The current debates in the church, even about the authority of Scripture,
seem to be more concerned about winning arguments than changing lives.
Scripture can be treated as a resource for evidence in ecclesiastical
debates rather than as a means of grace to transform lives into the likeness
of Jesus Christ. 

Using Scripture primarily as means of winning arguments ignores the Bible's
true authority. I have long contended that disputes about Biblical
interpretation are really rationalizations for ignoring the central truth of
the Bible. For example, it is much easier to argue about evolution and
creation than it is to live as though this is God's world. Or, debating
whether a 'great fish' really swallowed Jonah is far less costly and risky
than acknowledging that God loves our enemies as much as God loves us.

What is the Bible's authority? As I understand it, the Bible's authority
does not lie in its verbal inerrancy or even its factual accuracy. The
Scriptures' authority is in the Bible's power through the Holy Spirit to
transform life into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Its power is not
demonstrated in winning arguments but in transforming lives.

Our Wesleyan tradition affirms that 'searching the Scriptures" is a means of
grace, a means of being changed by grace. Searching the Scriptures for
proofs of preconceived notions about a variety of issues may win a few
arguments in some quarters. However, only by permitting our lives to be
changed by Scripture will the Bible have authority.

Maybe we should spend less time arguing about the authority of Scripture and
more time being transformed by Scripture.  After all, the best argument for
the Bible's authority is a Christ-like life!

# # #

*Carder is bishop of the United Methodist Church's Nashville Area, which
includes the Tennessee and Memphis annual conferences. This commentary
appeared first as a column in the newspapers of those two conferences.

Commentaries provided by United Methodist News Service do not necessarily
represent the opinions or policies of UMNS or the United Methodist Church.

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