The Bible vs Doctrine and Tradition - Page 2 of 2
So, our first and #1 question to address in any Bible study seems to be “Is the Bible really true?” The answer is quite simple, “Yes, totally?”, John 17:17. This may seem to be a ridiculous question to some, but I would note that a number of the new, “modern” Bible translators, theologians and academics, do not believe in the inerrancy of the Bible.
The attacks on the Bible, and many times these are from these noted “religious” leaders, have always been answered in a manner that shows its correctness. The Word of God, the Bible, has never been proven wrong or to contain errors. Only poor translations do this, and there are many.
We do find there are issues that are neither provable nor disprovable. At these times believers rely on God to illuminate and guide us. These are not error, but mystery. And the answers to these may or may not be revealed in our life time or this present dispensation, 2nd Thessalonians 2:7 being a pointed one.
At the same time, we recognize that one is not obligated to believe God, any more than did Cain. He talked with God “face to face” yet did not believe, Genesis 4:16. There will always be those that walk away from God rather than recognize Him for who He is. We do control our own eternity in this matter, as did Cain.
We must be ever careful to recall that the Bible is the true word of God, Psalm 119:160.
Doctrines are set by the interpretations of scripture and may be correct or incorrect. We see this in the birth date of Jesus Christ. The purpose, initially was to set the dates of Easter. Poor interpretation of scripture and time led to the dating of Jesus birth on December 25. This date has become doctrine in some churches. Doctrine must be totally scriptural, Romans 16:17 vs. Ephesians 4:14, to be correct, else it is but opinion.
Traditions are the words of men. We speak of those traditions that were put in place by men and the Apostles both, Colossians 2:8 vs. 2nd Thessalonians 2:15. Tradition may be good and parallel the Bible, but it is never a replacement for or equal to the Word of God.
As we have said and will say again, God makes it quite clear, simple and basic when He speaks about the way of forgiveness, the plan of salvation. We find that in the simplest of words in John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The doctrines and traditions of the new age leaders in the churches of America have clouded this issue. And people are following without reservation or study. Half truths have and continue to replace the whole truth. And America suffers.