Functional Positions in Applying the Word of God

[Ernie]

I would like your help in identifying some foundational beliefs that govern how people go about applying the Word of God.

How would you reword the following?

Are there other foundational beliefs that govern how people go about applying the scriptures?

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Functional Positions in Applying the Word of God

1. If the Bible does not forbid something, it is permissible.
2. Whatever the New Testament holds up as a good thing to do, we should endeavor to do.
3. Individuals and churches should not expect people to do things that are not explicitly commanded in the Bible.
4. Individuals and churches should not expect people to do things that are not explicitly commanded in the Bible unless they can make a good scriptural case for it.
5. Elders/Overseers in the church must give account for how they rule the church. Jesus wants them to give instructions to the church and wants the church to obey them as long as it does not conflict with the higher laws of God.
6. Elders/Overseers can or should involve the congregation in establishing matters of practice whenever possible.
7. The church as a body should decide matters of practice. Elders/Overseers should not be giving directives beyond that.
8. Individuals should decide for themselves how to apply the Word of God. They should not feel obligated to subject themselves to any human being or to a corporate body.

[Bootstrap]

The entire list seems to assume the Bible is primarily a clear set of rules. But much of Scripture comes to us as stories of people and communities struggling to follow God in complex and broken situations, and we learn from what they valued, what they got wrong, and how God dealt with them. Often, there simply is no black-and-white rule they could have followed to get it right. And I think that is one of the lessons we learn from the Bible.

So applying Scripture is not always just asking "what rule applies here?", but also asking "what did faithfulness to God look like in their situation?", and "Given that, what does that teach us about faithfulness to God in ours?".

Sometimes that is the difference between "tithing mint, dill, and cumin" and "the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness". When we discern a particular situation, we can do worse than to ask what justice, mercy, and faithfulness look like in the current situation, how best to live out love of God and love of neighbor, and how to keep our ears open to follow where our shepherd leads uus.

[Ernie]

The entire list seems to assume the Bible is primarily a clear set of rules. But much of Scripture comes to us as stories of people and communities struggling to follow God in complex and broken situations, and we learn from what they valued, what they got wrong, and how God dealt with them. Often, there simply is no black-and-white rule they could have followed to get it right. And I think that is one of the lessons we learn from the Bible.

So applying Scripture is not always just asking "what rule applies here?", but also asking "what did faithfulness to God look like in their situation?", and "Given that, what does that teach us about faithfulness to God in ours?".

Sometimes that is the difference between "tithing mint, dill, and cumin" and "the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness". When we discern a particular situation, we can do worse than to ask what justice, mercy, and faithfulness look like in the current situation, how best to live out love of God and love of neighbor, and how to keep our ears open to follow where our shepherd leads uus.

I agree with this. What is a better term for what I was writing about?

[donnyto989]

These are solid. Add a ninth position. The New Testament is a principles book, not a rulebook. That one lens changes how someone applies all eight.

Also add something about conscience and maturity. Stronger believers may have freedoms that should not be forced on weaker ones, and vice versa. That tension causes most practical disagreements in churches. Naming it helps.

[JohnL]

These are solid. Add a ninth position. The New Testament is a principles book, not a rulebook. That one lens changes how someone applies all eight.

Also add something about conscience and maturity. Stronger believers may have freedoms that should not be forced on weaker ones, and vice versa. That tension causes most practical disagreements in churches. Naming it helps.

Yep I agree. Especially when looking at #1. There's things that the Bible doesn't forbid because they didn't exist yet or weren't possible.
Now we're seeing sex-change operations being possible I think we can apply the Bible teaching principle on clothing that men shouldn't pretend to be women and women shouldn't pretend to be men because the operations and the clothing are expressions of those perversions.

[JohnH]

These are solid. Add a ninth position. The New Testament is a principles book, not a rulebook. That one lens changes how someone applies all eight.

Also add something about conscience and maturity. Stronger believers may have freedoms that should not be forced on weaker ones, and vice versa. That tension causes most practical disagreements in churches. Naming it helps.

Yep I agree. Especially when looking at #1. There's things that the Bible doesn't forbid because they didn't exist yet or weren't possible.
Now we're seeing sex-change operations being possible I think we can apply the Bible teaching principle on clothing that men shouldn't pretend to be women and women shouldn't pretend to be men because the operations and the clothing are expressions of those perversions.

Glad to know you agree with AI's position on the Bible.

[Bootstrap]

The entire list seems to assume the Bible is primarily a clear set of rules. But much of Scripture comes to us as stories of people and communities struggling to follow God in complex and broken situations, and we learn from what they valued, what they got wrong, and how God dealt with them. Often, there simply is no black-and-white rule they could have followed to get it right. And I think that is one of the lessons we learn from the Bible.

So applying Scripture is not always just asking "what rule applies here?", but also asking "what did faithfulness to God look like in their situation?", and "Given that, what does that teach us about faithfulness to God in ours?".

Sometimes that is the difference between "tithing mint, dill, and cumin" and "the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness". When we discern a particular situation, we can do worse than to ask what justice, mercy, and faithfulness look like in the current situation, how best to live out love of God and love of neighbor, and how to keep our ears open to follow where our shepherd leads uus.

I agree with this. What is a better term for what I was writing about?

I've been chewing on this for a few days, and I think I would add some categories to your list.. The ones you list are centered on rules, I think it's important to supplement that with a more wisdom-oriented, narrative, or discernment-based approach to applying Scripture.

[Ernie]

The entire list seems to assume the Bible is primarily a clear set of rules. But much of Scripture comes to us as stories of people and communities struggling to follow God in complex and broken situations, and we learn from what they valued, what they got wrong, and how God dealt with them. Often, there simply is no black-and-white rule they could have followed to get it right. And I think that is one of the lessons we learn from the Bible.

So applying Scripture is not always just asking "what rule applies here?", but also asking "what did faithfulness to God look like in their situation?", and "Given that, what does that teach us about faithfulness to God in ours?".

Sometimes that is the difference between "tithing mint, dill, and cumin" and "the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness". When we discern a particular situation, we can do worse than to ask what justice, mercy, and faithfulness look like in the current situation, how best to live out love of God and love of neighbor, and how to keep our ears open to follow where our shepherd leads uus.

I agree with this. What is a better term for what I was writing about?

I've been chewing on this for a few days, and I think I would add some categories to your list.. The ones you list are centered on rules, I think it's important to supplement that with a more wisdom-oriented, narrative, or discernment-based approach to applying Scripture.

I'm glad to see what you come up with.

I'm wanting to know the term for what I was writing about.
Is this better?
"What functional positions do people take relative to the commands of scripture and establishing rules for conduct?"

[Bootstrap]

I'm wanting to know the term for what I was writing about.
Is this better?
"What functional positions do people take relative to the commands of scripture and establishing rules for conduct?"

Or perhaps ...

Approaches to authority and discernment in applying Scripture

Or ...

Models of biblical authority and application