Have We Lost Anybody?

“I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [1]

Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would begin the first practice of each season by holding up a football and saying, “This is a football… Have we lost anybody?” For Christians, “This is the Bible, the Word of God… Have we lost anybody?” This morning, I’m requesting that each Christian stand, holding up your Bible, and verbally affirming the Word of the Lord. We will use PSALM 19 as a guide. I am inviting you to repeat after me:

• This is my Bible;

• It is the testimony of God;

• It is perfect, sure, and right;

• It is pure, clean, and true;

• It revives the soul and makes wise the simple;

• It makes the heart rejoice and enlightens the eyes;

• It endures forever and is altogether righteous;

• I desire it more than the riches of the world;

• In keeping His commands there is great reward

• Today, may I hear it and receive it, meditate upon it,

and perform all its precepts to the glory of God alone.

Amen!

As followers of the Risen Son of God, the Bible is our standard for orthodoxy. The Lord gave the Word, and we are responsible to do His will as delivered in the Word He has given. Liberal theologians have levelled disturbing criticisms at conservative theologians who adhere to biblical orthodoxy. These supposed scholars call biblical orthodoxy “a false presupposition.”

I willingly confess that biblical orthodoxy is a presupposition I hold as true. It is this conviction that guides my service among the faithful and before the Master Who appointed me to this service. This conviction has guided me for these fifty-five years of service as His preacher.

Liberal scholars—whether deliberately or ignorantly—seek to introduce doubt in the mind of the conservative believer, suggesting that his or her convictions are somehow wrong and illogical because, according to the infidel scholars, our convictions are based on false presuppositions. What the liberal scholar will not tell you is that every human being, including themselves, operates with presuppositions. The liberal’s presupposition is that his own personal opinion is the standard of truth. By contrast, we who know Christ understand that the Bible is the standard of truth. Ultimately, all human systems must measure up to it, and if any of those human opinions disagree with the Bible, know that human opinion—not the Bible—is wrong.

While some individuals fear the emphasis placed on the authority of a confession, we are confident that no statement of faith is inerrant, though it is quite useful. A statement of faith is a confession which we, as followers of Christ known as Baptists, have adopted for our guidance. A statement of faith is concise reminder of the truths we hold defining our conduct in the world. Our authority to teach comes from God’s personal appointment to teach. Thus, our authority to teach comes from the Lord God Himself. We willingly and joyfully submit to His authority.

The sanctity of Christ likewise should be reflected among His churches through corporate integrity. When the personal agenda of an ungodly person in the church dominates the agenda of the church, that congregation has lost Christ’s corporate integrity. By treating other Christians according to biblical principles, the practice of discipline would discourage the rumour mongering and the backbiting that characterise too many churches and Christian institutions. And through testimonial integrity, the sanctity of Christ is upheld as Christians exhibit morally responsible lives. A corrupted witness to Christ comes from the moral failings of Christians in their personal lives and from the moral failings of Christians in their corporate lives. How are they going to see Jesus if you do not look like Jesus?

IGNORE SIDE ISSUES — “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” [1 CORINTHIANS 2:2]. Residing in the dark recesses of the memories of multiplied theologians, is the knowledge that once upon a time theologians actually prepared themselves to “think” as they prepared to serve among the people of God living in the midst of this fallen world. These seminarians studied Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to enable themselves to read the biblical manuscripts in the original languages. They studied Latin so they would be equipped to read the writings of the church fathers in the language in which their works were first recorded. They studied theology—systematic and biblical, equipping themselves to understand how to grapple with the great questions of life. They were trained in hermeneutics and in homiletics so they would be able to communicate coherently the message of life. In short, these students were prepared to confront the world, serving as ambassadors for Christ armed with the ability to think, and equipped to declare the message of the Saviour cogently and persuasively.