WHY SCRIPTURE? II Peter 1:19-21

September 11, 2011 You may want to keep your Bibles open this morning, as there are several verses in II Peter I am going to point out to you as we make our way along. II Peter was written during a turbulent time: a time of rapid change – new ideas, and heavy questioning of old attitudes. The biggest change in the church is that by the point in time II Peter was written, it is overwhelmingly Gentile. And these Gentiles have brought with them into the church Roman philosophies and Roman religious sects – new ways of thinking about God and new practices. More and more the church looks like contemporary Roman society and less and less like the devout Jewish world of the disciples and the first church in Jerusalem. So naturally there are issues and lots of questions:

What do Christians believe about X, Y. and Z and why do we believe that? Roman philosophers say this, Greek wisdom teachings say this and the ancient

Israelites believed this and whose to say who is right and who is wrong? And these old scripture scrolls we read in worship – these are about God and the

ancient Israelites hundreds of years ago – what do they have to do with us, anyway? I hope these questions sound familiar to you because when I hear them I’m not so sure if we’re talking about Rome in the First Century or secular American culture today. Why Scripture? How can these letters and stories written thousands of years ago in an entirely different context actually speak to us in our modern world? And when scripture disagrees with modern practice who is to say who is right and who is wrong? Into this chaos of the late First Century Church, St. Peter – or someone very close to him – took up a pen and began to write about these issues. “You can trust scripture to be your moral compass because it is God’s story and it may be ancient, but it is still very relevant because the world hasn’t changed that much. Let me show you why I say that and give you a few fair warnings: False Teachers – Players – Scoffers. First of all you need to know there will always be false teachers.” People whose sole intent is to lead you astray. II Peter Chapter 2, Verse 1: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. There will always be false teachers – and we know this is true!! We know because we have seen them!. Most of the time they are people who have a pretty high opinion of themselves and like to hear themselves talk. They like the feeling of self-importance they get when other people are listening to what they have to say. So they try to hold center stage:

Maybe by trying to appear smarter than other people spouting off a lot of statistical evidence and “(quote) studies show” –

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Or by being a Pied Piper – a charismatic leader that everyone adores and is ready to follow wherever they might lead –

Or even by being a constant Rebel. You know one of those people who questions everything – scripture, the church, the government. Prove it – show me – how do you know? One of those people you can’t have a conversation with without them finding something to disagree with or argue about.

o “Hey, I think it might rain”. “I don’t know it looks pretty sunny to me.” o “Wow, your should have see the traffic on I-40 today.” “No, you should have

seen it yesterday.” Always questioning, always inserting a superior attitude, which is ok when you’re 16 because that’s what you’re supposed to be – but at age 40 – well – it’s getting a little old….. When I was in Divinity School years ago, there was a New Testament professor at a nearby University, who basically did not believe anything the New Testament says, and taught his class as a way to – as his website now reads – “disapprove the myth of the Bible.” Sort of a sad story really. This guy was raised a Biblical Fundamentalist, studied at Bible Colleges. Then off to theological graduate school at Princeton, only to discover that his black and white world of Biblical inerrant and fundamentalism didn’t hold up under intense language and history studies. Instead he discovered the bible has differing opinions and unresolved issues. So instead of taking the next step, which most of us as mature Christians end up taking sooner or later – which is simply recognizing and accepting that any talk about God and any revelation about God is going to contain ambiguity and gray areas. Because that is the nature of God – part is revealed to us – part will always be mysterious and unknowable. And we have to live in that tension “For now we see as in a mirror – dimly” the Apostle Paul writes, “only then shall we see face-to-face.” But instead of taking that step, this professor renounced his faith, renounced Christianity as a whole, and devoted the rest of his career to persuading others that Christianity is false and the Bible is a hoax. (In other words, in his worldview the Bible is either inerrant – without human error – or not true at all.) So my professors – coming out of a whole different Christian worldview, challenged him to an academic debate. “Come on over, talk to us about this.” “Not available” was the answer. Semester after semester – year after year - long after I was graduated and gone, still invited. “Let’s sit down and talk about this” “He is not available” his staff would reply. “Not available? What do you mean, not available? When will he be available?” “No time soon” they answered. I will let you draw your own conclusions, but if you ever decide to read this North Carolina Professor’s most recent book on the New Testament entitled “Forged”, just remember to stand up in front of hundreds of 20 year olds who are already questioning everything anyway and announce to them, “Everything you’ve ever been told about the New Testament is false and I alone am here to teach you the truth” is one thing. It is an entirely different thing to be willing to sit down with colleagues with equal education and experience and have an academic debate. False Teachers. There have always been. There always will be and usually, you will recognize them …..by their arrogance.

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“Scripture will show you their false teaching” II Peter says, “If you will trust it to do so.” The second thing II Peter warns about is “Players”. Well, actually that’s my word – players. II Peter, Chapter 2, verse 14 :

They have eyes full of adultery insatiable for sin. They have hearts trained in greed.

Verse 15: They have left the straight road and gone astray. And down at verse 17 – They are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm.

Can you imagine that metaphor? A waterless spring, a mist driven by the storm. In other words, there are folks out there who will wrap you up like a mist – totally engulf you with their ways, but to no good purpose – they are waterless – they can not bear fruit – and they drift hither and yon with no direction. I have met folks like this - folks who are like landmines. If you get caught up in them and step into their life, you’re going to loose a limb. They usually end up in my office saying things like, “Pastor, I know it is my seventh wedding, but this time I am sure it is right”. Or, their eyes are bloodshot and wild looking. They can’t walk straight, but they say “Preacher I need $25 – just $25. Got to pay the rent. It’s not for drugs or anything.” Or even someone – and these folks are harder – “Preacher, Mrs. Jones called Mr. Smith the worst Sunday School teacher she’d ever heard and I thought you should know and, by the way, I called Mr. Smith and told him what she said too. It’s only fair he should know.” You know people who are constantly trying to stir up something, promote conflict, because they have no peace in their own souls – waterless springs – mists driven by a storm. Years ago, a preacher friend of mine was newly married and pregnant with her first child when a man in her congregation made a pass at her, as my mother’s generation says – or hit on her as my children’s generation says. It completely caught him off guard when in Christian love and pastoral authority, she responded by asking him what was wrong in his life that made him act that way. Not exactly the answer he expected. But he gave her what was probably a very honest answer – “I just wanted to see if I could.” Players. Folks out to get from you what they can get. Folks who have issues in their life that they desperately want to make your issues as well. Waterless springs – mist driven by the storm. “Scripture will be your anchor in the storm”, II Peter says, “if you will trust it to be so.” Finally, II Peter says, “There will always be scoffers.” II Peter 3:3 First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts. Scoffers. People who do not see the need for faith or understand why anyone would take up a cross and live a sacrificial life for Jesus. “Come on, let’s go to the beach this weekend. Church? Why do you want to go there??”

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In II Peter, scoffers specifically are folks who say “Your Jesus said He’d be right back and it’s been 100 years, so He must not be coming back after all.” And the author answers back words which echo across time – The Lord is not slow about His promise, but is patient with you. From the ancient prophets in the beginning of time, God has revealed His presence and His commandments. And while the Lord is slow to act and not always clearly understood, God is always present.. So II Peter says to a turbulent and confused young church.

There have always been and always will be false teachers who desire to offer alternate opinions as equal in authority to scripture.

Always been and always will be players, people who act in immoral and non-scriptural ways and who try to convince you to join them.

Always have been and always will be scoffer – people who see no need for religious faith and do not understand your commitment to Jesus and probably try to talk you out of your commitment.

But, in the meantime, there is scripture. Scripture which is not inerrant – it’s the lamp – not the morning star. Scripture that is a story across time – not an indexed guide to all modern ethical dilemmas But even so, scripture contains the Light of God – enough to guide us through the dark on our way home. The ancient words of scripture tell of a God who is never completely understandable – elusive – and acts in ways we don’t always understand – but always present. And those old scrolls we read in worship do not have an indexed reference to modern moral dilemmas like we sometimes wish they did! Look Under the A for Abortion, Abstinence, Animal Rights, Look under the B for Baptism: Infant or Adult Look under the C for Capital Punishment, Church Councils and can marriage be defined by the government or should that be the church’s job? But they do contain stories of faithful people and what made them faithful = words spoken by the prophets and the life of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God: “The bright and morning Star” Revelations calls Him. And here in II Peter the author says scripture is not full light. Full light – complete understanding – will come when the Morning Star rises in our hearts. But in the meantime, scripture is our Lamp – just enough light to push back the darkness and guide us on our way. So Bottom Line?

Do not be so quick to discount scripture because it is a new day. It is really not that much of a new day.

Do not be disappointed because scripture does not immediately give you all the answers you seek. Study – listen – learn – trust. The key to scripture is that it forms us – molds us – overtime. Slowly, the ancient texts will open to reveal their meaning in deeper and more meaningful ways as the days of your life slowly pass by.

And above all understand this, in time the Morning Star will rise in our hearts and all truth will be revealed. In the meantime, The One Who said I am the Way, the truth, and the life is full authority in our lives and scripture is the strongest reflection of His light.

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So, if for us – as for the audience of II Peter, the question is Why Scripture” The answer is because scripture is the Lamp that lights our way home. Thanks be to God this Christian Education Sunday, Amen