Not on Bread Alone
Minister’s Letter – 17/3/2022
Friends, I have been reflecting lately on Jesus' words, when he was tempted in the wilderness, before the start of his public ministry. Quoting Dueteronomy 8:3, Jesus famously said:
It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
From this we can see the authority of Scripture. Jesus relies on what is written. And we must take every word God has spoken, now recorded in the Bible with utmost seriousness. Here, Jesus quoted Scripture to combat temptations to selfishness and self-determination.
Later Jesus said, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."
But we also see the nourishing nature of Scripture. The words of the Bible are life-giving. They are like, indeed better than, our basic daily food. We find some words of the Bible difficult or challenging to our preconceptions. But Jesus says they are good and as essential for our life as our daily bread.
And this applies to all the words of Scripture. Every word of Scripture comes with God's authority. And every word of Scripture contributes to its life-giving power. That's Jesus' opinion, not mine.
Of course, I don't think Jesus means every word of Scripture is equally important. So in Matthew 23:23 he speaks of neglecting the more important (or weightier) matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. But he still also affirms less significant parts like tithing your herbs. And I can recall last year in Wollongong, while preaching through 1 Chronicles, we received significant benefit from obscure genealogies and lists found in chapters 1-9. (Hint: some of those lists are a bit like the lists of names on honour rolls and war memorials found in some churches!)
What are some helpful principles for growing in good Bible reading skills and attitudes? One place is found in the 39 Articles of Religion, to which Anglican ministers are supposed to subscribe as their statement of faith. Here are a few key summary thoughts on what the Articles say about Scripture, with some extracts (in slightly modernised English).
The Bible is enough: Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation: so that whatever is not read in Scripture, nor may be proved by Scripture, is not to be required of any person, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought necessary to salvation. (Article 6)
The Bible points us to Jesus as the only Saviour: For Holy Scripture does set out to us only the Name of Jesus Christ, by which people must be saved. (Article 18)
The Bible should not be contradicted or made to contradict itself: It is not lawful for the Church to ordain anything contrary to God's word written; neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. (Article 20)
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; the focus of both is on the offer of everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ (promised in the Old; arriving personally in the New). But this promise-to-fulilment structure does mean Old Testament ceremonies don't bind Christians today; nor do the Old Testament civil arrangements need to be replicated in modern countries today (though their wisdom or patterns may inform us). Yet the moral commands of Scripture must certainly not be ignored or disobeyed. (Article 7)
The Nicene Creed and Apostles' Creed (also the lesser known Athanasian Creed) are good summaries of central Christian teaching to be believed, "for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture". (Article 8)
More can be said, but my conclusion is this: we cannot take a smorgasbord attitude to Scripture, picking the selections we like, but ignoring the bits we find harder to swallow (often influenced by a diet of other ideas served up by the world). No! Every part of the Bible is nourishing and life-giving.
If we love and trust the Lord Jesus, then we also need to say: I will live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant, Dean of Sydney