Is the Bible the only rule for faith and practice?

The NT Epistles are replete with admonitions and Paul’s prayers with regard to the exercise of discernment leading us to “prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.” Clearly, Paul - and others - under the direction of the Holy Spirit, recognized that believers would need to apply Biblical principles to matters not specifically addressed in the Scriptures, including the Christian’s relationship to the culture in which he/she resides.

Those that hold the view that they hold carte blanche if the Scriptures are silent on a particular issue demonstrate an immature view of the sufficiency of Scripture, i.e. “Show me where the Bible says that there’s anything wrong with ____________.” They are limiting God’s Word to a list of what’s right and wrong. Ironic, isn’t it, that those who yell “Legalism” and “Pharisee” the loudest are those who are most deeply entrenched in a legalistic approach!

IMO, the believer needs to ask the following questions:

• Do the Scriptures directly address the topic in question?
• In addition, what historical examples are found in the Scriptures that reveal God’s attitude toward the topic in question?
• What are the Biblical principles that apply to the topic in question?

Joel, I believe you raise a valid point when you say:

It seems from some recent discussions that this foundational principle has been thrown under the bus of Culture.

The challenge is that I believe that some people in this world have thrown the Bible under the bus in order to embrace an ungodly position because it feeds the flesh, but I believe that others have have thrown the Bible under the bus because of peer pressure from certain subcultures within fundamentalism. Usually though, I do not think that either side has made a decision to throw the Bible under the bus.

For example, we have some dear Christian friends who are dresses only for women. I highly admire their zeal for modesty, but when they invited us to go roller skating with them, I insisted that my wife NOT wear a dress for that activity because of my concerns about modesty (I wanted here to wear pants in case she fell down with her legs in the air). You see, we were both attempting to apply a Biblical standard, but both of us were coming to very different conclusions. I do not think it is as simple as saying that one group threw the Bible under the bus for cultural reasons. A number of other discussions that we have had in SI would fall into similar categories, but I believe that the reason that most of us are spending the time discussing them is that we really do want to take the Biblical position even if others accuse us of being ungodly as we do so. (Consider our Lutheran friends who think that we are being rebellious for not baptizing babies).

You go ROLLER SKATING??!!

Joel,

I would start by reflecting and familiarizing yourself with the Regulative Principle of Worship, and how it functions compared to the Normative Principle. Both perspectives would look to the Bible in establishing parameters in matters especially related to public worship (which is what I understand to be at the heart of your concerns), but the principles are contrasting and incompatible with one another. Scott Aniol has dealt with this at Religious Affections and in his book Worship In Song, and you can find plenty of others who have addressed this, too. I would also observe that it might behoove you to read something like Bob Kauflin’s Worship Matters ​(I would observe that it has been influential among many Northland alumni). There is much that a conservative could affirm and agree with, but he is someone who would unashamedly use forms and instrumentation “we” would consider progressive. This book might be another volume that you could reference to see the various arguments that have shaped people’s views on the matter in the last few years.

Greg, I do not roller skate very well- poor balance. I was actually able to skate better when I was younger. In fact there used to be a skating rink a few miles north of your church that I went to a few times as a youth. I think it was just west of town on HWY 19.

But now for the next question to direct things back to Joel’s post. Would it be wrong to go to a skating rink that played the “wrong kind” of music in the background. I know a man who quit his job because they were playing the wrong kind of music at the factory where he worked. He has since been barely getting by doing odd jobs around town.

Not criticizing the man you referenced, Jerry, but that’s a different issue than someone going roller skating. One is for recreation, the other one is providing for one’s self and family (something commanded in Scripture).

If you follow the music thing rigidly, you aren’t going to be able to function in our society, almost. You hear it in restaurants, stores, or even on your deacon’s ring tone on his phone! :O But it is a question worth asking.

Joel,

Is the Bible the only rule for faith and practice? I would say yes, it is. But for example, I would say that as a pre-trib, pre-mill dispensationalist. I don’t necessarily think that my covenant theologian amillennialist friend appeals to something outside of Scripture to reach his conclusion. He interprets through a different grid than I do.

I don’t think, Joel, that you can, as opposed to tending towards Calvinism or Arminian along a spectrum of soteriological conclusions, be accurately described instead as a “Biblicist.” You end up having a position that leads you to show up somewhere along the spectrum, whether you want to embrace the label or not.

I don’t think the current manifestation of positions on music is terribly different. I do think we can look to the Bible to shape our music position and practice. I do not believe, as someone who is musically conservative, though, that my friend who is exclusively Psalm-singing or no instrumentation is necessarily “un-Biblical.” He is, I can say, misinterpreting relevant Scripture passages- but the problem isn’t necessarily appealing to extra-biblical sources. As much as it would be convenient to say that the musical progressive is discarding the Bible, I don’t think that is an honest assessment.