“Hey, bro, would you like to meet together on occasion and work through something like Calvin’s Institutes with me?”
“Nah. I don’t follow men. I follow Christ. I’ve barely got time to read and so I just stick to my Bible reading. I don’t have time for the words of men.”
—
I could have replaced Calvin’s Institutes with any other Christian book and the point would be the same. On occasion I’ll encounter a superhero, whom I call Bible-Only Man. This superhero can quote Scripture like a champ. His knowledge of Old Testament stories could rival any OT scholar. You don’t dare play this guy at Bible trivia.
I’m always a bit concerned when I meet a Bible-Only Man. In part because his life is usually falling apart.
You’d think the two wouldn’t be together.
After all, it is generally true that a person whose Bible is falling apart usually is living a life which isn’t. And so why is Bible-Only Man about to make shipwreck of his marriage?
I think his inability/refusal to read good solid Christian books is a symptom of a much greater problem. And it’s why I’m immediately concerned for someone who, in an uber-spiritual tone, tells me they only read the Bible. That bigger problem is the failure to properly apply and live out what is written in the Scriptures.
Reading through the Institutes (or other Christian books) helps me in application of the Scriptures. It also grounds me in a historic community. When I only read the Bible I’m shielding myself from the application of the rest of the church.
Of course if you’re ever at a spot where you have to decide between the Scriptures and other books, you choose God’s Word every time. The Bible cannot be replaced. But at the same time the best Bible study is done in community. Good solid Christian books are part of that Bible study within community. Forsaking that is usually an indication that the tangible local community is also being forsaken. This is why I’m concerned for Bible-only man.
Besides if Bible-only man were really reading his Bible then he’d know that sheltering himself from the community isn’t all that biblical.
In his book Commenting and Commentaries, Charles Spurgeon wrote, “It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.”
I find great instruction in Spurgeon’s observation.
Like the folks who stay away from church, the Bible-only man has forgotten that the Christian Faith is not only individual in nature, it is also collective. God’s people have a part in the process. The Bible teaches that there is a gift, a spiritual anointing to help us understand what it says. It also tells us to study Holy Writ, and we have Paul demonstrating in his sermon on Mars Hill that he was thoroughly acquainted with the secular works of his day, including philosophy. The value of such knowledge is that it allows us to view the Scripture from another perspective and to check our understanding of it in the light of the new knowledge without letting that information change our estimation of the Book – only our enlarged viewpoint as we see how the Bible comprehends new knowledge or, rather, anticipates it. Our problem is that we fail to grasp what the Lord is saying to us in His written word, because we have difficulties with perspicuity or clarity. And be it noted that science calls for such economy of words and terms as to make clear what it is seeking to demonstrate.
I think James has a good point.
Its not that Mr. Bible-man isn’t reading Christian writers, it is that he is not getting instruction from other believers, like his pastor, his Sunday School teacher, his small group team.
Certainly godly Christian writers can increase one’s understanding because they bring different perspectives and ideas into one’s mind, but so does the local fellowship.
Once they had nothing but parts of the NT to read. Were their lives falling apart? Rather they were increasing because of the Word and fellowship.
On the flip side of that coin are the troubles one can get into by reading books, or listening to the radio, or whatever, when the message is ‘off’ but the speaker or writer is persuasive with words. Not every person is like most of you on this blog, trained in theology in some way, or in some, in many ways.
Finally, its not that he is only Bible-man that is life is falling apart. Its because he is a hearer and not a doer [I say that in general for it may not be true every case]. Id he was not applying what he has read.
Great learning and not enough doing isn’t good.
Mike, just to be clear I’m not arguing that we need more than the Bible to read for Christian growth. I’m arguing that usually Bible-only man is a symptom of a larger problem. A problem which Spurgeon nails in the quote shared by Robert Vaughn.
Good stuff, Mike.
Bible only Man’s cousin is Bible and Favorite Author only Man (you know “Bible and MacArthur only, Bible and Piper only, Bible and Blackaby only, Bible and Beth Moore only”, etc.
Although I wouldn’t likely work through “The Institutes” with anybody. You would need to start when you where about 5 and hope to make 90 in order to cover the whole thing (insert smiley face emoticon here).
“Bible only Man’s cousin is Bible and Favorite Author only Man (you know “Bible and MacArthur only, Bible and Piper only, Bible and Blackaby only, Bible and Beth Moore only”, etc.”
Agreed.
Another close relative within this family might be the “appeal to authority” man – this man always announces what so and so (non biblical author) said/believed/stated about such and such as if that ends the matter once and for all.
Oh yeah.
Unless its, “Dave Miller said.” That should generally end debate.
I know what you mean Tarheel, some people just love to quote folk, especially in a theological scrap.
Dave Miller in his book, “Brick Wall and Picket Fences” says, “People who love Jesus do not like to fight. We prize unity, love, and kindness.”
Nothing else need be said.
You’re right – Miller says it – I believe it – that does it. Scratch that.
Miller says it, that does it. (at least in his own mind 😉 )
You are correct, reading the Institutes with someone would be quite the commitment. Reading through it again now. I wish more people knew it’s not really a systematic theology but a Christian living type of book. So rich and rewarding.
I need to do better about letting Mike know what I’ve posted. He comes along and puts up 7 or 8 of his “best of Mike”, which I post when I have a need. Most of the others come and go within hours, or a day or so at most.
Hold on guys! Which edition of the Institutes of Christian Religion are you talking about. Somewhere I heard that Calvin “extended and revised” his magnum opus at least a half dozen times. Also, I think some of the editions were in Latin and others in French.
I don’t know which edition is really the “authoritative” one. I have a two volume set of the Institutes edited by John McNeill. Of course Calvin didn’t write in English so anyone wanting to demonstrate “theological one-up-manship” could whip out a facsimile version in either Latin or French. But then some other guy could say that some purported “gold standard” is not as “authentic” as some other of Calvin’s editions.
Talking about the Institutes is opening Pandora’s box!!
Roger Simpson Oklahoma City OK
I’m reading McNeill. I think that is the English version that most serious students of Calvin use. I say that because in my class on Calvin and the Reformed Tradition we couldn’t get the other versions it HAD to be McNeill.
I don’t know about Bible only man, but I do believe we should be Bible first and foremost men. We shouldn’t try to make the Bible fit into a philosophical framework. We shouldn’t interpret the Bible based on what some philosopher said, when other verses clearly don’t go along with the philosophers system of theology. We also shouldn’t jump on every theological bandwagon that comes strutting down the road. And, we don’t need to base our beliefs on what the new, popular, cool, hip authors are writing about. Also, we don’t need to base our beliefs on what the traditions of men have been, for years and years, just because, well, it’s been around for years and years. And, we don’t need to believe something just because our Momma and Daddy believed it.
We need to Bible first and foremost men. We need to be people, who base what we believe on the clear teachings of the Scriptures. I use many Bible helps and commentaries when studying the Bible. I appreciate anything that helps me get a more clear understanding of the passage. Besides, I need all the help I can get!!!! But, I believe strongly in letting the Bible just say what it says, and not try to make it fit into any system, or philosophical framework.
David
Agreed, Vol! Good comments.
I totally agree. It’ll always serve us well to just let the text speak…even if it makes us uncomfortable or even if we have to confess that we aren’t quite sure how this fits into our theology. Such an attitude conveys that we are striving to be mastered by the Word instead of standing over the Word and positioning ourselves as ones who have mastered the Sacred Text. Good words, David.
Excellent comment Vol!
I see, Mike, that in addition to your pastoral duties you’ve signed up as a free agent relief pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals. Nice going!
I believe I’ve been signed to start and not throw out of the pen.
You’ll never regret being a Cardinal. There’s thousands of people, out there, who wish they could be you. And, there’s 100’s of underprivileged, pro baseball players, out there, playing for lesser teams. Every Yankee wishes they could be a Redbird. Every Royals player dreams of wearing the red and white uniforms with a bird on the front. But alas, there’s just so many spots on the roster.
We’re glad to have you on the team, Mike. Pitch good. Pitch like a Cardinal. Go Cards!
David 😉
This might be the most offensive comment I’ve ever received on a blog…
🙂
Should we permaban him?
I’m not sure what permaben means, but it doesn’t sound good.
David
Ban your ip address and email from the site for this vulgarity!
The word “cardinals” causes little children to cry…
If we were going to permaban people, we’d start with Red Sox and Patriots fans, but fans of the Cardinals would be high on the list simply because of their general demeanor.
Royals dreaming of wearing a Cards uniform? You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ve got a pretty great thing going here in KC the past 2 seasons.
Gary, Gary, Gary, I think they’ve got some over the counter drugs for your condition. Please get on your meds before you hurt yourself with that kind of thinking.
Go Cards!
David 🙂
“the past 2 seasons”…
…most important words in the sentence.