IV. A Commitment to Biblical Inerrancy and Sufficiency. We call upon all Southern Baptists to unite around a firm conviction in the full truthfulness and complete sufficiency of Christian Scripture in all matters of faith and practice. (Matt 5:17-18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Through the Conservative Resurgence Southern Baptists reaffirmed their historic belief that the Bible is God’s written revelation to humanity and is “truth without any mixture of error.” By God’s grace, what some have called the “Battle for the Bible” that began in the SBC 1979 has been won. However, we believe the “War for the Bible” began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent first questioned the truthfulness of God’s words and will continue until all things are made new in Christ. Southern Baptists must not retreat one inch from the non-negotiable doctrine that the Bible is without error, lest we squander the gains of recent years. Furthermore, we must recommit ourselves to the full sufficiency of Scripture. It is not enough to believe that the Bible is inerrant; we must also be willing to submit to all of its teachings, even if that means we must relinquish our own preferences or human traditions.
One of the main reasons I love being a Southern Baptist is its commitment to the Bible. One cannot be a Southern Baptist and not declare wholeheartedly that the Bible is the perfect, inspired, inerrant, sufficient Word of the Living God. For this I am grateful to God. For what took place in the late 70's and early 80's over the "Battle for the Bible" I am forever grateful. This reputation among Southern Baptists of being a "Bible-believing" people is a major reason why I am so proud to be a part of this denomination.
A statement in the above paragraph, however catches my attention that I believes demands focus for a few moments: "It is not enough to believe that the Bible is inerrant; we must also be willing to submit to all of its teachings, even if that means we must relinquish our own preferences or human traditions." It is easy to declare that I believe the Bible is without error. It is easy to wave a banner that I believe the Bible to be totally sufficient for life and ministry. But it is a completely different animal when it comes to actually submitting to ALL of its teachings. This is huge! This fourth axiom is a call for Southern Baptist's to not just be proud that the "Battle for the Bible" was won (as remarkable and wonderful as that was/is!), but to diligently and intentionally and wholeheartedly ACTUALLY PUT IT'S TEACHINGS INTO PRACTICE!!!!! If the Bible is sufficient, as we say it is, then we must go to it first. If the Bible is sufficient, then we must seek it's demands and it's leadings and it's directives before we go to the way we have always done things or the way other churches are doing things or the programs that seem to be having 'success.' I love this axiom because it is a call for Southern Baptist's to 'put their money where their mouth is' so to speak and actually apply and demonstrate through our lives what we say the Bible is and can do.
Help us, Lord! Help us!
Through the Conservative Resurgence Southern Baptists reaffirmed their historic belief that the Bible is God’s written revelation to humanity and is “truth without any mixture of error.” By God’s grace, what some have called the “Battle for the Bible” that began in the SBC 1979 has been won. However, we believe the “War for the Bible” began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent first questioned the truthfulness of God’s words and will continue until all things are made new in Christ. Southern Baptists must not retreat one inch from the non-negotiable doctrine that the Bible is without error, lest we squander the gains of recent years. Furthermore, we must recommit ourselves to the full sufficiency of Scripture. It is not enough to believe that the Bible is inerrant; we must also be willing to submit to all of its teachings, even if that means we must relinquish our own preferences or human traditions.
One of the main reasons I love being a Southern Baptist is its commitment to the Bible. One cannot be a Southern Baptist and not declare wholeheartedly that the Bible is the perfect, inspired, inerrant, sufficient Word of the Living God. For this I am grateful to God. For what took place in the late 70's and early 80's over the "Battle for the Bible" I am forever grateful. This reputation among Southern Baptists of being a "Bible-believing" people is a major reason why I am so proud to be a part of this denomination.
A statement in the above paragraph, however catches my attention that I believes demands focus for a few moments: "It is not enough to believe that the Bible is inerrant; we must also be willing to submit to all of its teachings, even if that means we must relinquish our own preferences or human traditions." It is easy to declare that I believe the Bible is without error. It is easy to wave a banner that I believe the Bible to be totally sufficient for life and ministry. But it is a completely different animal when it comes to actually submitting to ALL of its teachings. This is huge! This fourth axiom is a call for Southern Baptist's to not just be proud that the "Battle for the Bible" was won (as remarkable and wonderful as that was/is!), but to diligently and intentionally and wholeheartedly ACTUALLY PUT IT'S TEACHINGS INTO PRACTICE!!!!! If the Bible is sufficient, as we say it is, then we must go to it first. If the Bible is sufficient, then we must seek it's demands and it's leadings and it's directives before we go to the way we have always done things or the way other churches are doing things or the programs that seem to be having 'success.' I love this axiom because it is a call for Southern Baptist's to 'put their money where their mouth is' so to speak and actually apply and demonstrate through our lives what we say the Bible is and can do.
Help us, Lord! Help us!
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