Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/91

Contributor - Wim Meijer

Title - The Scriptures Alone

Topic - Reformation

The true treasure of the church is the holy gospel of the glory and the grace of God. This is Thesis 62 of the 95 theses which Martin Luther posted on the door of the castle church of Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.

Luther knew what he was talking about. He had found this treasure after years of struggling to become right with God. It was the Bible, the Word of God, and the in-depth study of this Book of books which led him to the light.

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) is one of the basic principles of the Reformation. It was the Bible (as God's instrument) which caused the Reformation, and in the further development of the Reformation movement we see the Central place which the Bible received.

The Bible for the people.

One of the first things which Luther undertook was to prepare a translation of the Bible in German, the language of the people.

It was an enormous task for Luther to translate the Bible from the original languages into proper German. First he himself had to learn the original languages. Then he tried to translate the original text into everyday German, so that everyone could understand it.

To Luther reformation meant: to bring the Word of God to the people. It is estimated that during Luther's life half a million Bibles and parts of the Bible were distributed in Europe.

Another great Reformer, John Calvin, was of the same mind: the Word of God must be brought to the people. Therefore he preached through several books of the Bible in Geneva, he wrote commentaries on nearly all books of the Bible, and even his dogmatic work, the Institutes, is just as much exposition of the Bible as systematic theology.

The great things which happened in the 16th century in Europe were not in the first place the result of the activities of great men like Luther and Calvin, and many others. It was the Word of God which was at work. Luther himself put it this way: "While I was drinking Wittenberger beer with Philip (Melanchton) and Amsdorf, the Word itself went to work, and so the battle was won."

Scripture.. the living Word of God.

But does not Paul say in 2 Cor. 3:6 that he and all preachers are not ministers (servants) of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life? So why so much emphasis on a dead Word.

To Luther, however the Word was not dead at all. Neither was it to Calvin. According to Luther the Word=Christ.

Every word of the Bible teaches us something about Jesus Christ. Luther: "Whenever I have a text which is as hard as a nut, of which I cannot break the shell, I quickly cast it against the Rock (Christ), and then I find the delicious kernel. Therefore Scripture is not a dead word. When we hold on to the Word we hold on to the living Christ!"

Both Luther and Calvin emphasized the fact that the Holy Spirit is the author of the Scripture. Therefore it cannot be dead. 2 Tim 3:16 - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." The Word is active and bears fruit, and therefore is not dead.

Sola Scriptura today

In their endeavour to lift up the Word of God the Reformers were fighting at two fronts. One front was, of course, the Roman Catholic doctrine which make the tradition of the church and Scripture of equal value, and in practice the tradition dominated over the Word. The other front were certain circles of Anabaptists which claimed to have received direct light from the Holy Spirit, so that they no longer needed the Word of God.

Today, I believe, there are still different fronts where the power, the sufficiency, and the authority of Scripture must be defended.

There is the growing influence of liberalism. Liberalism places the Scriptures under the judgment of the human mind. The wisdom of the word, ,common sense, human rights, tolerance, etc., take over the role which Scripture used to have in the church. More and more churches, also in the Reformed tradition, kneel down before this idol.

Let us be truly Reformed: "Thy word is a lamp unto my and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

On the other side there is a 'growing tendency to emphasize the Holy Spirit and His gifts in what is called the charismatic movement. And God knows how much we need the Holy Spirit in our hearts and in our churches! But the thing which troubles me is, that for some people coming to ecstasy under the influence of the Holy Spirit becomes everything at expense of the hearing of he Word and the studying of the Scriptures. Paul warns against this type of ecstasy in I Cor. 13, especially vs. 19 "But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." (NIV)

The Sola Scripture principle is also reflected in architecture.

Before the Reformation the focus point of the sanctuary was taken up by the altar. The holy Mass was the most important element of the worship service. After the Reformation in the Protestant churches the pulpit was the focus point of the sanctuary. The proclamation of the gospel as the vehicle by which Jesus Christ comes to us had become central.

I hope I am wrong, but I get the impression that by and by the pulpit is moving out of the focus point. Sermons take up less and less of the total worship service. Are we still Reformed?

Sola Scriptura! Why?

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17)

It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Cor. 1:21)

Sola Scripture, not just a slogan, but God's own strategy for His Church!

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