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!