As we continued the study on Bibliology, the nature of the Bible, my sixth sermon was on the need to interpret Scripture correctly, which depends on what theologians like to call the “Perspicuity” of Scripture. The meaning of Scripture is not hidden or obscure, but clear. Lord willing, this will be the first of three posts on this topic of Scripture’s perspicuity.
So, Fife’s Chief Constable was in a head-on crash resulting in two hospitalisations, and there are reports that her car was the one that crossed into on-coming traffic.
Does anyone really think it is appropriate that those who work under her authority are the ones investigating the crash? Internal investigations by subordinates are only fitting for wholly internal matters. When there are ramifications for people outside an organisation, you simply don’t rely on internal investigations by subordinates of the person who is being investigated.
If Ms Graham is cleared of wrong-doing, some will suggest that the investigation was compromised. If she is charged, some will suggest that she was treated unfairly because the investigators were trying to demonstrate their independence. It’s a no-win, either way. No police officer should be put in this position, and Ms Graham should recognise this and ask for an outside investigation to protect her officers.
This post isn’t really about Fife Constabulary. I only mention it because it demonstrates something important about Christians, and our behaviour. We need to not only be honest and appropriate in what we do, we also need to be visibly honest and appropriate. Appearances matter.
It isn’t enough to be honest about financial matters — we should have safeguards in place so that no one will doubt that we are handling funds properly. It isn’t sufficient to be careful of the safety of children who come to our church — we should ensure that anyone who asks will know we are being careful. We should not only be ethical in our approach to counselling, we should also be visibly ethical. And so on….
People will always make accusations that Christians and churches aren’t doing things properly. We can’t prevent accusations — but we should always be careful to behave in such a way that those accusations will look extremely foolish.
Romans 12:17
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Last summer, Amy Winehouse departed this life at the age of 27. Today, the entertainment world is in mourning again, as yet another famous performer passed into eternity over the weekend. While we don’t yet know what caused Whitney Houston’s death, many news reports are talking about her problems with drugs and alcohol.
My wife and I were talking about the public outpourings of grief in the entertainment world. Flowing out of our conversation, I have some questions for the entertainment industry — and its consumers, including Christians.
It hasn’t worked well for me to get much new writing done this week, so I’ll use something I wrote in the past. We’ll return to something I haven’t posted on in a while — my series of sermons on I Peter from seven years ago.
From 2:13 through 3:12, Peter wrote to tell how believers should live as they expect impending trials and persecutions — as citizens (2:13-17), servants (18-20), followers of Christ’s example (21-25), husbands and wives (3:1-7), and finally as believers who are strangers and pilgrims. Now he gives his readers instructions for the time of their suffering.
I got an excellent question on my post, Is the Oldest Manuscript Really Best? (See the comment section for the whole question.) I thought it was worth answering one small part of it on the front page.
The question asked about the Pericope Adulterae, the story of the woman taken in adultery from John 7:53-8:11: “This did not show up in manuscripts (the Codex Bezae) until much later (4th – 5th century). The same is true with the Comma Johanneum (first showing up in the Latin the Codex Monacensis [6th century]). Certainly nearly half a millennium worth of older manuscripts (used by the early Church fathers) are not incorrect.”
David Brown of Abbot Hall in Dunfermline said to me yesterday:
“A lot goes for blessing that isn’t blessing.”
That is so true. Let me give a few examples that came to me as I thought about it.
“Her Majesty the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England”
(official site of the Church of England).
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Ephesians 5:23
…even as Christ is the head of the church.
Mind Renewers 