The Proper Solution to Our Own Theological Biases

I have recently finished reading Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is concerned to interpret the Bible correctly (which should be everyone). I wanted to share one particular section that I thought was very well stated and vitally important for the church today. I must admit that my own upbringing in the so called “Church of Christ” makes this statement really stand out to me. After warning of the danger of reading our own theology into the Bible (when in fact the Bible is saying no such thing), he points out that a very common “solution” to this problem is no solution at all, but simply aggravates the problem.

But if we sometimes read our own theology into the text, the solution is not to retreat to an attempted neutrality, to try to make one’s mind a tabula rasa so we may listen to the text without bias. It cannot be done, and it is a fallacy to think it can be. We must rather discern what our prejudices are and make allowances for them; and meanwhile we should learn all the historical theology we can. One well-known seminary insists that proper exegetical method will guarantee such a high quality of exegesis that historical theology may be safely ignored. I can think of no better way of cultivating the soil that sprouts either heresy or the shallowest sort of traditionalism. (p129)

This is exactly what I have seen in the Campbellite movement known as “The Church of Christ.” Over and over again they would insist that they just follow the Bible, while all those “denominations” out there follow the traditions of men. But to quote (from memory, so I hope I am not misrepresenting him) James White, “Those who are the most enslaved to their traditions are those who think that they don’t have any.” The so called “Church of Christ” is rife with heresy, and this issue is a major contributing factor.

But even in churches that are theologically sound, this mentality is far too common. I am concerned that many may be teetering on the edge of the truth, and only a little nudge would send them plummeting down into the chasm of error. Sola Scriptura is a vitally important doctrine, but if you think that Sola Scriptura means that you should ignore historical theology and assume that you have no theological presuppositions when you come to the text of Scripture, you are in a very dangerous place.

~The 1689 Confession Proofing Project~ Chapter 4: Of Creation

Chapter 4
Of Creation

1. In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.

2. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfill it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.

3. Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.