Exegesis and Polemics

Recently the Evangelical world was rocked by the publication of the Manhattan Declaration http://manhattandeclaration.org/. The responses ranged from white hot affirmation to "what a crock". In recent years there also appeared a similar document titled The Evangelical Manifesto. The response to that publication was similar.

The focus of this post is not the examination of either of these documents. It is my purpose to address the methodology of such endeavors. We have become 'giants' in the realm of Polemics and 'midgets' in the realm of Exegesis. The former depends on eloquence and well crafted argumentation to achieve 'victory'. The latter depends on the accurate and precise exegesis of the special revelation God has graciously given and preserved for our well-being and walk of obedience. The former is transitory and fleeting. The latter is eternal and lasting.

The first and primary evidentiary case in Polemics is "Who signed it?" If a significant collection of "Evangelical Luminaries" have signed on, then it must be orthodox, accurate and binding upon the conscience and conduct of all Evangelicals. Right? WRONG!

The first and primary evidentiary case in Exegesis is,'does my conclusion(s) constitute agreement with the text of Scripture'? If it does, then it matters not whether the "Luminaries" agree.

I am well aware that exegesis is tedious, time consuming and difficult. This task cannot be engaged by the casual Apologist. It is for those who have invested years of preparation and study. It is for the diligent. It is for the plodder not the 'flash in the pan' participant.

The Reformation was birthed and continues to exist on the labors of serious exegetes. The fruit of that historical movement continues to this very day. My appeal is that we return to this profile. It matters not who signed on. It matters for all eternity whether or not my postulates and conclusions are "rooted and grounded" (Col. 1:23) in the words and their relationships in the text which give meaning to language and to our theology. This alone is the plumb line of orthodoxy and orthopraxsis.

Join me in this quest. It really does matter!

Those Who Did Not Believe

Though you already know this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe (Jude 5).

Who are these people today? Who are 'those who do not believe?' Scripture is timeless in its application. Jude had reference to specific people when he wrote. There are those today that would be identified as 'not believing' just as those in that first century.

The church has lost the capacity to discern and to act in the midst of such tragedy. She is not able to identify the culprits. When there is an identification, there is utterly no will to act and discipline such people. Worse, and repeatedly, the Leader with discernment who has the integrity and courage to identify those who have 'taken the way of Cain' (Jude 11) are maligned and labeled as rabble. They are set aside and denied any role in leadership of that assembly. How sad.

Truth is:

1. Revealed

2. Absolute

3. Transcendent

4. Propositional

5. Incarnate

What about the church in which you worship. Is there discernment? Is there the capacity to act with wisdom, compassion and according to sound exegesis of the text? If so, rejoice! If not, take immediate steps to begin a process of correction to this malaise. Secure a copy of Alexander Strauch's Biblical Eldership. Implement the identification, selection and affirmation of men qualified to serve in this role. Pray for them. Encourage them. Ask God to restore integrity to His church through this process.