Inerrancy Summit – Day One – commenced with an opening address from John MacArthur.
John MacArthur began by reminiscing about the meetings that led up to the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. In an ironic turn of events, John left those meetings—where the Word of God was faithfully exalted—only to fly back to California sitting next to Robert Schuller, a well-known televangelist and one of the fathers of the seeker-sensitive movement.
Robert Schuller
During the flight, Schuller told him, “I can say I believe the Bible and make those words mean anything I want them to mean.” That attitude and approach to Scripture sums up the need for this event.
The Battle for Inerrancy
Furthermore, John MacArthur said he was prompted to convene the summit because more than a generation of church leaders have grown up and entered ministry without having ever fought the battle for inerrancy, and because perspectives like Schuller’s now permeate the church.
Scripture is Under Attack
Next, John MacArthur highlighted four reasons why the inerrancy of Scripture is worth fighting for. The first was that Scripture is under attack, and we are called to defend it. Satan’s primary goal is always to get people to question the truth of God’s Word, and today many of those attacks on the truth come from inside the church (fulfilling Paul’s words in Acts 20:29-30). John traced the many philosophical and sociological threats that have assaulted the authority of Scripture throughout the history of the church, showing how the consistent effort of spiritual terrorists is to undermine the veracity, authority, and inerrancy of God’s Word.
Defending The Gospel – Charles H. Spurgeon
A great many learned men are defending the gospel; no doubt it is a very proper and right thing to do, yet I always notice that, when there are most books of that kind, it is because the gospel itself is not being preached. Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, a full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best “apology” for the gospel is to let the gospel out. Never mind about defending Deuteronomy or the whole of the Pentateuch; preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Let the Lion out, and see who will dare to approach him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all his adversaries.
Inerrancy Summit – Shepherds Conference – Inerrancy and The Prophetic Word.
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