Controversies in the Church: Different views on the authority of Scripture

The church in this world has a number of divisions, and one of the underlying causes is that there are different views on the authority of Scripture. The extremes can range from thinking vast parts are mythology or self-serving histories (and therefore without authority) to thinking every word is quite literally verbatim from God and therefore inerrant. 

How are we to navigate this field with respect for the Scriptures, respect for the facts, and respect for people who hold different places on that spectrum of views? Is there room for gentleness and reconciliation? (If not, it's our job to create those if we can.) 

"If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not valid." (John 5:31)

Some of the most commonly-advanced proofs for the authority of Scripture are quotes taken from Scripture itself. But that leads to a circular argument in which something is used as its own proof. It might reinforce the beliefs of those who already believe it, but it cannot move someone who does not already believe it. 

"Every charge should be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." (Matthew 18:16 among others)

There is also some basic disagreement about which side bears the burden of proof. Does the received faith get the benefit of the doubt, or the burden of proof? The answer to that question frames the entire discussion differently: Which side is the accuser, which is the accused? Is Scripture presumed innocent in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, or presumed faulty and must re-establish itself one point at a time? What about accusations against various parts of Scripture: Do they require any burden of proof, or is any accusation presumed to be legitimate? The secular view, which seeks the de-legitimization of the faithful view, it seems that any accusation is presumed to be legitimate. Does that hold within the church as well? 

"Test everything; hold on to that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

I think the reason the different Christian camps are still able to have some dialog is because of the amount of historical or corroborating evidence for various things in Scripture, the number of things that are in fact verifiable or testable. 

In everyday life, we test information against other information, test one belief against another belief, in our human quest for the best and the truest. Scripture encourages this; reason encourages this; experience encourages this. 

How exactly do we test things? 

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other side comes and questions him. (Proverbs 18:17)

Here we come to a bigger obstacle: that people of different views rarely speak to each other. Even more rarely do they seek to understand each other. It is perhaps human nature that we are eager for others to understand us, and less eager to understand why someone might disagree with us. Regardless of where the presumption of innocence lies between worldviews, always to each person their own view seems the one that bears the presumption of innocence and reasonableness. 

Before we can reconcile with each other, we must first desire to understand each other. 

Prayer for our enemies

Some years ago I included a prayer for enemies as part of a longer liturgical service. I'd like to have a stand-alone version of that. It's currently formatted as if a responsive congregational prayer, but can work for private prayers as well. 

Prayer for our enemies

P: The Lord has also taught us to pray for our enemies. Being thankful for his forgiveness, let us pray: (Matt 5:44)

P: Lord, we praise you and give thanks to you, for you are good. (Ps 106:1)
C: Your mercy endures forever. (Ps 106:1)

P: While we were yet your enemies (Romans 5:8-10)
C: You died for us (Romans 5:8-10)

P: The righteous for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18)
C: To bring us back to you. (1 Peter 3:18)

P: Lord, have mercy on us. (Luke 18:3)
C: Have mercy on us sinners. (Luke 18:3)

P: Lord, if you kept record of our sins (Psalm 130:3)
C: Who could stand before you? (Psalm 130:3)

P: Do not bring your servant into judgment, (Ps 143:2)
C: For no one living is righteous before you. (Ps 143:2)

P: When I hid my faults (Psalm 32:3)
C: I wasted away. (Psalm 32:3)

P: When I confessed my transgression (Psalm 32:5)
C: You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)

P: You oppose the proud (1 Peter 5:5)
C: But give grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)

P. You, O Christ, came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15)
C: Of whom I am the chief. (1 Tim 1:15)

P: You have taught us to pray: Forgive us our sins (Matt 6:12)
C: As we forgive those who sin against us. (Matt 6:12)

P: Let mercy be the measure we use for others; (Matt 5:7, 7:2)
C: May their cups overflow with blessing. (Ps 23:5)

P: We remember before you all our enemies: (Matt 5:44)
C: May knowing you bring peace. (2 Peter 1:2)

P: We remember before you all who have wronged others. (Matt 5:44)
C: May your mercy turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19)

P: We remember before you all who hide secret guilt: (Ps 19:12)
C: Create clean hearts, O Lord, and renew a right spirit. (Ps 51:10)

P: Let the sinners turn back to you: (Ps 51:13)
C: No one will be condemned who takes refuge in you. (Ps 34:22)

P: Let us proclaim your righteousness in the great assembly (Ps 40:9)
C: Let us not seal our lips or hide your righteousness (Ps 40:9-10)

P: Let us speak of your faithfulness and salvation (Ps 40:10)
C: Let us not conceal your love and your truth. (Ps 40:10)

P: Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven. (Psalm 32:1)
C: Whose sin is covered (Psalm 32:1)

P: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; (Psalm 106:1)
C: His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)

The parable of the shrewd manager, and the license to forgive

Jesus spoke many parables which people praise, from the prodigal son and the lost sheep to baking bread and planting fields. And then there is the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-9). Godly commentators may hesitate over the parable of the shrewd manager because the hero is something of a crook. When the manager in the parable finds out he is about to be fired, he calls in his master's debtors and forgives parts of their debts at the master's expense, making friends for himself along the way to secure his own future. 

What makes the man's actions dishonest? He's not authorized to forgive those debts. The master was counting on collecting those debts. 

I suspect that part of Jesus' point for us is that we are authorized to forgive those debts. The master is hoping to forgive the debts rather than collect on them. So why is it we're not out forgiving them? Why is it we're so determined to collect, rather than forgive? 

I expect there is more to be learned from the parable, and that commentators have covered those things. But it's not a bad thing to remember when we read that parable: the master wants those debts forgiven, and we're authorized to forgive them. We might gain friends for God, and secure their futures. 

Update 30 Aug 2026: 

In the parable, the manager is supposed to be collecting debts for his master but forgives them -- taking them off the books, against his master's wishes. In real life, we're supposed to be forgiving debts for our master but insist on keeping those debts on the books, against our master's wishes. So if we are worried that we'll fall out of God's favor and get fired (like the manager in the parable), this could be an encouragement to go on a forgiveness spree. And that would also be in keeping with the rest of Jesus' teachings. 

Essential verses on payment of earned wages, as a topic of justice

I have seen a situation recently in which payment of wages was delayed long after the work was complete. Here are some Bible verses discussing the obligation to pay work-for-hire, and the injustice of improper delay. 

1. The worker is worthy of his hire / The worker deserves his wages. (Luke 10:7, 1 Timothy 5:18)
2. When a worker works, the wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. (Romans 4:4)
3. The wages of the workers who mowed your fields, which you kept back, are crying out against you. (James 5:4)
4. Do not withhold the wages of a hired man overnight. (Leviticus 19:13)
5. You shall give [the worker] his wages on the same day. (Deuteronomy 24:15)
6. The hard-working farmer deserves the first share of the crops. (2 Timothy 2:6) 
7. ... let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

I wanted to wrap up on a verse that included generosity, and a benevolent use of the wages. 

Take care & God bless

The narrow way -- what won't fit?

Jesus' most famous teaching is possibly the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12). Odd, then, that this is followed immediately by a teaching that can be viewed unfavorably: "Enter at the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and easy is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter there. But narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus spoke again of a too-narrow entrance when he said that a camel going through the eye of a needle would be easier than for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24). (We can set aside the various interpretations of the eye of the needle, and stick to the point that, in any case, it was too narrow.) 

A "narrow" way is not impossible to pass, but it might require me to carry nothing beyond what is necessary. That was the problem with the rich man who brought on the "eye of the needle" comment: he had much, and loved his worldly things much, and would be sorry to leave them behind. Was he more sorry to leave them behind than to leave Jesus behind? The answer is implied in his actions. The rich man may have been held back by "love" -- specifically, love of things of this world. Sure, there's a lot that comes with that, whether it's safety or comfort or respectability. But a full life does crowd out other things. 

And, possibly, this "way" can be made ready. When John the Baptist speaks of preparing the way, he speaks of repentance: turning away from sins and toward God. And Jesus explains to us some paths we cannot afford to take, such as being unforgiving, or judging others. 

So when I hear that uncomfortable teaching about the narrow way, I hope to turn my mind to things I can let go, whether it's possessions or pride. 

Over a dozen directions for love in the New Testament

The New Testament has many passages about love, everything from love of God (good) to love of money (not). As a current research project has led me to review the New Testament in the original Greek, I was touched to find that there were special words underlying those translations, such as a special word that means "love of God" or that means "loving your children." (I expect Greek is more fluid in making compound words than we are in English.) Below are notes on those special New Testament words describing not just love, but what is loved: 

Good

• philotheos - love of God: 2 Timothy 3:4
• philandros - love of husband: Titus 2:4
• philanthropos, philanthropia - love of mankind (kindness, acting courteously): Acts 28:2, Acts 27:3
• philoxenia, philoxenos - fond of guests: hospitable, hospitality: Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8, 1 Peter 4:9
• philosophos - fond of wise things / philosophers: Acts 17:18
• philostorgos - fond of (one's own) relatives: Romans 12:10
• philoteknos - fond of (one's own) children: Titus 2:4
• philotimeomai - fond of honor (eager/dedicated/persevering): Romans 15:20, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:11
• philophronos, philophron - fond of understanding or sympathy (kindly, courteous): Acts 28:7, 1 Peter 3:8

Not

• philarguria, philarguros - love of money (covetousness): 1 Timothy 6:10, Luke 16:14, 2 Timothy 3:2
• philautos - self-love (self-absorption): 2 Timothy 3:2
• philhedonos - love of pleasure: 2 Timothy 3:4
• philoneikiea / philoneikos - love of strife or argument: Luke 22:24, 1 Corinthians 11:16
• philoproteuo - fond of being first: 3 John 1:9

We tend to think in the most basic way that "love" is good, and it's usually shown that way. But in the New Testament, whether "love" is good seems to depend on what we're loving. 

"Is Jesus the only way?" conversation openers

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -- Jesus (John 14:6)

Jesus' bold saying is a challenge to modern and post-modern minds. There is a tension between the ideal of truth and policy of tolerating all. Below are some notes on the more common objections I've heard to Jesus' claim, and ways to move the conversation forward. 

Objection: There are lots of great teachers

There may be a lot of great teachers from a human point of view, but God raised only one of them from the dead. God made clear which of the great teachers is the way to resurrection and life. We aren't left guessing about it or trying to see who has a better argument (or arguer). Once God has weighed in on the question, human arguments are pointless. 

Objection: There are good atheists too; they should go to heaven

Heaven is God's home. If someone hates God but thinks God owes them admission to his home, God may not think the same way about that. (This is in the context of the "atheists" who are intentionally spiteful about God and believers, the atheists of the "it's cool to be cruel" school.) 

Objection: It's not fair to have eternal fate depend on some obscure belief

God raised Jesus from the dead, and probably every adult in the world has heard that by now. There's no barrier to hearing it: anyone who knows even the barest basics about the major religions knows that. God loves everyone, and desires to save everyone, and sent a savior for everyone. 

After the initial round of discussion, the next move is explaining more about the good news: it means we can trust God. It means God loves us. It means he hasn't abandoned us to pointless lives that are nasty, brutish, and short. Or wherever the good news intersects the listener's felt needs.