The Need for a Sound Biblical Christology

As the observations and instructions of Jesus are ignored; as the exercise of Jesus’ initiatives are abandoned; as the truth made known by the Gospel is ignored in favor of political posturing, distorting gender preferences, patronizing of the lesser educated, and in general ignoring the “great commandments,” the church finds its influence being sidelined and diminished because it is moving outside of the way of the Lord.

Such behavioral traits, while seemingly foreign to the Gospel, nonetheless find their way into the practice and “vociferous dialogues” of churches simply because we see the neglect of scripture as the preference rather than the rule in many contemporary church models. Scripture with sound theological interpretation is very accessible, to those who would pursue finding it, but in large measure, missed because of the preponderance of other “political” agents holding the “outlets” of opinion-making hostage to less than biblical agendas.

For some, the breakdowns lie in the false supposition that scholarship will always be speaking with integrity. Without casting a pall of suspicion over all academia, we do find that some “scholars” approach biblical study from a secularist position and make havoc with their intentional efforts to highlight the minutiae, to the neglect of the primary and central witness of the scriptures. While these might view biblical studies from a “faithless” position, citing their rigor in maintaining an empirical view of every text, it strikes me as obvious that deriving spiritual insight with no view for that intention, will yield only on occasion, an accident of awareness.

The pursuit of spiritual principles, when sought with a focus on their value, anticipated with openness, and with a consideration of purposeful witness to the community of believers is an approach to scripture with greater integrity for its intention than to presume upon it a “bankruptcy” of value from the start. The Holy Spirit will guide us in understanding as we anticipate the witness we are blessed to receive.

On the opposite end of the “interpretation spectrum” are those who adopt the positions of well publicized advocates of predetermined theologies whose “footnote analyses” of many passages have forged the theological thinking of many. Contrary to biblical content, numerous speculations of footnotes, while in some ways interesting and in other ways frightening, can detract rather than enhance the central message and the biblical story.

Still others hold to certain translations as the key to integrity of doctrine and interpretation. Some with no regard for the original languages quickly propose that the English versions of certain years are exclusively the “WORD OF GOD” and must be embraced in that singular language and form. For the most part, this view is propagated out of a lack of understanding regarding the biblical material and the sources of scripture. To negate the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek language sources of our earliest biblical materials is to miss the treasure of insight to be gained from their study and use in translation efforts of the modern day.
Still others, largely from a superstitious stance toward the Bible, regard the Bible as sacred, but treat it as an object to be held, rather than to be read, and furthermore, applied. Such behavior is to create a “Teddy Bear” kind of function for the bible…comforting to have around but assuming the content is to be treated as just a “bunch of stuff-ing.”

Jesus spoke of “following Him” and of “hearing Him” and “learning from Him” and “doing” the good things he taught. All of these activities were to be undertaken in the context of a personal relationship of faith in Him. All of these efforts were to be recognized as the opportunity of living a life “in Him.” All of these experiences were to be the outcomes of a relationship of “divine presence”, the Holy Spirit, within us. God abides with us…His Spirit in us, and we in Him. That newness of life that He brings is the transforming experience we should celebrate daily.

When Jesus Christ becomes the center of our attention, the center of our personal
faith and trust, the Lord of our lives, we discover in Him all we need…forever.