What’s in the center?
Sola scriptura (“by scripture alone” in English) was a motto that came from the Protestant Reformation. Rather than following the dictates of the Roman Catholic institutionalized church in general, or those of the Pope in particular, the Reformers declared they would henceforth follow the Bible. Virtually every Protestant denomination clams to only be following the Bible – all 45,000 of them.
So, if all Christians (or at least all Protestant Christians) are following the Bible, how’d we come to have over 45,000 ways of doing so?
The answer, of course, is that anyone can interpret the Bible any way they want.
The problem is Sola scriptura.
Jesus is the center of our faith, not the Bible, not anyone’s interpretation of the Bible. Jesus.
What Jesus did and said is well documented. The four Gospels are historically accurate. Proving that is beyond our scope here, but they are reliable for sure.
We know what Jesus said to do. It’s just that we don’t want to do it.
- Love everyone?
- Forgive enemies?
- Be willing to die, but not to kill?
- Practice active nonviolent resistance?
- Promote justice, peace, and wellbeing?
- Generously share everything?
- Willing take the place of a servant?
- Be kind and helpful to nasty people?
- Care for the sick, incarcerated, and homeless?
- Give away your coat?
- Live a simple life?
- Pledge allegiance only to Jesus?
If we were to put Jesus in the center, actually doing what he says to do, and filtering all of scripture through who he is, what he did, and what he says, we’d likely windup not very attached to religion, or denominations, or doctrines, or creeds. We’d likely end up being radical Jesus freaks.