Retain the Bible’s authority in church

by Archbishop Peter Jensen

Modern spirituality invents its own standards and rituals, but the Bible stands as an authority over all traditions.

Throughout history human beings have been incurably religious. Religion has continued and even flourished under atheistic regimes such as those imposed by Marxism. Despite the secular mood of our day, religion has not disappeared, it has surfaced again often under the guise of ‘spirituality’.

Contemporary spirituality retains its popularity and it is so often undemanding. It is more interested in whether spirituality meets a felt need rather than the truth. We can invent our own rituals and standards of behaviour. In particular, it does not require corporate disciplines such as going to church.

Christianity starts with revealed truth. According to our faith, God has not left us in ignorance and darkness. He has not left us to invent our own religion. According to our faith, God speaks and his word is recorded in the Bible.

That is why the private study of the Bible and the public preaching of the Bible are of such importance. It is interesting that when preaching loses touch with the Bible it also loses touch with Jesus Christ. The Scriptures really are a book about the Saviour.  Likewise, where possible, personal and family Bible readings have proved to be an immense blessing. It means that God speaks to each of us through his prophets and apostles, and that our lives may be shaped by his word.

Some people claim to be led by promptings of the Spirit within their own souls. In giving us the Bible, God has committed to us a public document which all of us may appeal to. We do not have to be experts in spirituality or specialists in religion. The Bible stands as an authority over all church leaders and traditions.

Of course, church traditions, Christian experience and human reason are significant ways by which we may determine belief and behaviour and understand the mind and the ways of God. But the authority of the Bible is singular: it stands alone.

I hope that the Bible retains its place in our churches. I hope that it is read, and read well. I trust that readings from both Old and New Testaments are customary in the churches. I hope, also, that families read the Bible together and that as individuals we study the word of God. Of all the books in the world this is the most precious and the most important.

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