SCRIPTURE

The Mystic Christ - Chapter Preview

"It is a pity that most people who are in the field of scriptural study pursue intellectual learning without applying what they've learned in their own lives. They think that they have reached the goal, but as far as their actions are concerned, they are no better than a non-believer caught up in the world of likes and dislikes. They are full of ego. They don't know that the words which they have been studying and repeating in their heads have actually created a big wall between themselves and God." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, vol. 4

The purpose of this chapter is to instill the possibility in the reader that there may be more to the spiritual path than scripture, and that scripture, though mostly God inspired, is, after all, made of words and words are limited. Prayer and love may take us to God but words will never do this because God cannot be contained in a box of words. Notwithstanding any errors that have occurred in the translations and copying of scripture through the centuries, scripture is still valuable. Nevertheless, it is important to understand the limitation of scripture. Love is a higher more reliable revelation of truth than scripture and it is available to everyone right now.

There is a common orthodox belief that scripture is error free because God has personally guarded every word through all time. Those who suggest that scripture may have error are accused of being unable to surrender to God.

The infallibility camp reasons that admitting inaccuracy in the scriptures would grant one license to do anything. They explain that if one part of it can be wrong then the whole of it cannot be trusted. If the scriptures have been tweaked and subverted to some degree, then upon what may we depend for spiritual guidance? What can we trust? Paul tells us:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

The answer is love. We can always trust love. It is important to remember this as we examine the issue of scriptural infallibility. When we poke the pin of historical truth in our inflatable boat of scripture, we will have a solid ocean liner to rescue us. This ocean liner is love. Love is our primary guide and scripture is a distant second. And just what is love? God is love (1 John 4:8 & 4:16). What were Jesus' two commandments? Love God and love your neighbor. Love is the operative word. One who has selfless love will not err. One who has scripture but no love is already lost.

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:9-10, NIV

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