Intellectual but not Thoughtful, Righteous but not Just:

Trumping Hermeneutical A Prioris

for the Sake of the Truth

(Introduction) – A Parable1st C Family of God Fearers

Older Son• Searched the Scriptures

even deeper than his elders

• Flaunted his freedom• Stumbled in his vulnerability

• Reacted to feeling Condemned?

Second Son• Walked in the ways of

the Lord, yet more strictly than his elders

• Paraded his righteousness

• Stumbled in his brittleness

• Reacted to feeling Devalued?

(Introduction) Battles of Ideas

Apologetics • defense of the Faith against outsiders• ajpologevtikoV / ajpologiva -

“to speak in ones own defense”• formal and reasoned justification

Polemics • battle for truth against insiders• polevmikoV / povlemoV - “battle”• strong written or verbal attack

(Introduction)Spectrum of NT Viewpoints

Unorthodox Polarities• Far Left - antinomian libertinism• Far Right - Judaistic legalism

Orthodox Authors• Paul - salvation through grace and faith alone• James - faith demonstrated through works

God’s people may hold very different views, even on things that really matter.

(Introduction)NT Disagreements &

God’s DesirePainful Disagreements

• Paul withstood Peter to his face• Paul parted company with Barnabas

Wise Resolutions• Priscilla & Aquila met with Apollos in private• James kept the 1st C church from splitting

God’s desire is for the unity of his followers - John 17:20-21.

(Introduction)Approach

1 Exegesis to Theology: NT Case Studies • Positions Taken, Presuppositions Held• The Bigger Battle, the Higher Road

2 Illustration & Application• Other Issues in the Bible

• Contemporary Issues

3 Life Application• A Christ-like Response

Case Studies #1 Meat Offered to Idols

Those who KNOW …

• The Intellectualshave a

“strong” conscience resulting in freedomCan be arrogant and

self-confident

Put down the other > for lack of understandingi.e., indict them of error

— Despise the other

Those who DON’T KNOW …

• The Conservativeshave a

“weak” conscience … lack of freedom

Can be judgmental and self-righteous

Put down the other < for their lack of righteousnessi.e., indict them sin

— Condemn the other

(Case Studies) #2 Circumcision & Salvation

Those who KNOW …

• The Intellectualsare a

“weak” minority offer freedomCan be arrogant and

self-confident

Put down the other > for theirlack of understandingi.e., indict them of error

— Despise the other

Those who DON’T KNOW …

• The Conservativesare

“strong,” hold the majority restrict freedomCan be judgmental and

self-righteous

Put down the other < for theirlack of righteousnessi.e., indict them of sin

— Condemn the other

(Case Studies) Presuppositions

IntellectualsValue: discovery and change

Goals: pursue enlightenment, progress, and freedom

Role: Seekers, Inquirers, Enlightened Ones

Style: curious, forward looking

Susceptibilities: permissiveness, imprudence, liberality, pride

• Intellectual but not thoughtful

ConservativesValue: tradition and security

Goals: preserve the past, perpetuate the status quo

Role: Guardians, Defenders, Protectors

Style: caution, fear the future

Susceptible to being: narrow-minded, inflexible, exclusive, judgmental

• Righteous but not just

(Case Studies)Trumping the Presuppositions

IntellectualsValue: discovery and change

Goals: pursue enlightenment, progress, and freedom

Role: Seekers, Inquirers, Enlightened Ones

Style: curious, forward looking

Susceptibilities: permissiveness, imprudence, liberality, pride

• Intellectual but not thoughtful

ConservativesValue: tradition and security

Goals: preserve the past, perpetuate the status quo

Role: Guardians, Defenders, Protectors

Style: caution, fear the future

Susceptible to being: narrow-minded, inflexible, exclusive, judgmental

• Righteous but not justTrumping a prioris for the sake of the Truth.

The Bigger Battle

Faith(working through

Love)

The Higher Road

Love

Case Studies Revisited #1 Meat Offered to Idols

Those who KNOW …

• The Intellectualshave a

“strong” conscience resulting in freedomCan be arrogant and

self-confident

Put down the other > for lack of understandingi.e., indict them of error

— Despise the other

Those who DON’T KNOW …

• The Conservativeshave a

“weak” conscience … lack of freedom

Can be judgmental and self-righteous

Put down the other < for their lack of righteousnessi.e., indict them sin

— Condemn the otherX X

Respect Accept

Case Studies Revisited #2 Circumcision & Salvation

Those who KNOW …

• The Intellectualsare a

“weak” minority offer freedomCan be arrogant and

self-confident

Put down the other > for theirlack of understandingi.e., indict them of error

— Despise the other

Those who DON’T KNOW …

• The Conservativesare

“strong,” hold the majority restrict freedomCan be judgmental and

self-righteous

Put down the other < for theirlack of righteousnessi.e., indict them of sin

— Condemn the otherX X

Respect Accept

Illustration & Application: Other Issues in the Bible

Old Testament• Moses’ Being Forbidden to Enter the Promised Land• David’s Being Permitted to Lead After Moral Failure• To Eat or Not to Eat the King’s Meat in Exile? • Israel’s Poor Performance at Proselytizing Pagans• Ezra’s Command to Put Away Foreign Wives

New Testament• Contact with Samaritans (the unclean, the dead)• “Adultery of the Eye”• Equal Pay for All-Day Workers• Reinstating the Prodigal

God’s people may hold very different views,

even on things that really matter.

Illustration & Application:Contemporary Issues

Slavery, Sabbath, War, and WomenOrdination for Divorced and RemarriedHuman Rights for HomosexualsChina: should we support the government-sanctioned

Three-Self churches or the un-registered Home Church Movement?

What does it mean to be Pentecostal?What about Holiness?Interpretation of Tongues: 2nd or 3rd PersonAre there Apostles today? God’s people may hold very different views,

even on things that really matter.

Life Application:Christ-Like Response

Non-Negotiable Principles COGNITIVE-ATTITUDINAL PRINCIPLE

1. Christ’s example is HUMILITY.

THEOLOGICAL - IDEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLE2. God’s call is to UNITY.

BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLE

3. God’s way is through LOVE.

Life Application:Christ-Like Response

An Invitation to:

Stop making room for the devil:admit, apologize, forgive, refuse.

Grant greater grace; draw a “larger circle.”

Watch your words; guard your tongue; mind your mouth.

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