(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
When is “beyond what is written” okay?
Intro:
Pop quiz: What is biblical wisdom?
You got that answer a couple days ago on episode #1161. In a Bible sense, wisdom is the skill for living.
Pop quiz #2: What is the love of wisdom?
Philosophy! And as you’ve heard me quip, we’re all theologians and philosophers…the question just whether or not we’re any good at it.
Today you’re going to hear Paul use the phrase, “nothing beyond what is written.” You might guess what the means, but I want you to hear it in context of the passage today that’s about Christian leaders and our focus question, “When is it okay to go beyond what is written?”
New Testament segment:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 4
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 21
Words: ~445
Does the Bible give us every answer to every possible question? Duh.
No, it’s a cohesive story that points us to Jesus, gives us a mirror in which we recognize our own junk and need for a Savior, and clearly lets us know that trusting the person — and work — of Jesus is our only hope.
Consider Paul’s warning then — don’t go beyond what is written. The context was him exhorting Christian leaders of both their responsibility and the necessity to live by example. What is written is, well, what you and I read every day. But what is wisdom…personified?
I like the way Garrett DeWeese puts it:
…we must practice in our profession what we claim in our confession. The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians that Christ is not only the power of God but also the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). True wisdom is Christocentric in its origin and its application.(1)
So when is it okay to go beyond what is written in the Bible? How do we keep Jesus at the center?
When everything we learn from science or philosophy or a pottery class is subject to Christ, and if there is any PERCEIVED conflict, we trust Jesus over and above ourselves or other sources.
Yesterday I mentioned that in the story arc of Isaiah that chapter 40 marks a significant turning point. For awhile now the attention will be on the far future when a mighty king will do two things: execute judgment on the nations and return Israel to their native land. Sound familiar? Judgment on unbelievers and get believers where they’re supposed to go.
Old Testament segment:
Passage: Isaiah 40-41:20
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 51
Words: ~1391
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Psalm 65
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 13
Words: ~213
The bottom line:
History is full of examples of people who ran into something they couldn’t resolve with the Bible. One good example…Charles Darwin made a case for macroevolution as the origin of species, but the Bible says something different. It threw a lot of people for a loop. Now we know macroevolution fails to explain that (note that this doesn’t mean microevolution doesn’t happen). But LOTS of people were thrown for a loop.
As the old Ghostbusters line went, “Who ya gonna call?”
The question is one of trust. It’s okay and right to look to truths of psychology or business or whatever as long as we trust the God of the universe, the Creator of you and me, above all…that if there is a perceived conflict that the one you ultimately trust isn’t Uncle Joe or that pastor who tells you can’t really trust your Bible because we’re so much smarter now than those dudes 2000 years ago or your college prof.
Wisdom — skill for living — isn’t just a set of quotes or ideas, it’s embodied in the person who Himself is the Word.
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Garrett J. DeWeese. Doing Philosophy as a Christian (Christian Worldview Integration Series) (Kindle Locations 599-601). Kindle Edition.