QC and SG accountability (28/6/19)
Selwyn shared about his reading on how science is consistent with Scripture in different ways, so that we do not need to fear scientific discoveries or shrink away from scientific endeavour. He mentioned his understanding that the days of Genesis 1 were not likely 24-hour days. We have discussed the matter previously here: This led to a discussion as to when to take numbers literally in the Bible (e.g.lifespan of the pre-Flood patriarchs).
My answer was that we always read the Bible according to genre and context, understanding that there are different genres in the Bible, and that some books have sections with different genres. Context (e.g. metaphors in the gospels) also helps us to understand if numbers are to be taken literally (Matt 19:22 "Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.") comes to mind, actually!
We also asked when promises apply to us in the Bible. This has also already been discussed here.
I summarized by saying that we should be able to feel the inner witness of the Spirit speaking to us through the Word. In addition, there should be a certain consistency of the promise in both the OT and NT, rooted in God's character. One important question to ask is whether the promises in question is made to 'national Israel' or 'spiritual Israel'. In Romans 9:6 we know that we Gentiles who have the faith of Abraham have him as our spiritual father and are incorporated into the true, spiritual Israel.
On the other hand, promises of national prosperity for Israel as an ethnic group or kingdom do not apply. The promise of Mal 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it" is made to a faithless nation, and I would not apply this directly to our real-life experience, Other promises (e.g. Ac 20:35) are better encouragements for us to give generously.
David asked how the church should relate to small groups. My answer was that the church must give direction to SGs regarding the strategic direction of the church. But 'disciplemaking' is a meaningless word without clear definitions and a way forward. Much of the thinking about disciplemaking and SGs has already been done and expressed in the relevant handbooks (SGM and Disciplemaking). But it is difficult to change the practice of many SGs who don't actually grasp or want to practice disciplemaking in the ways articulated in these handbooks.
My answer was that we always read the Bible according to genre and context, understanding that there are different genres in the Bible, and that some books have sections with different genres. Context (e.g. metaphors in the gospels) also helps us to understand if numbers are to be taken literally (Matt 19:22 "Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.") comes to mind, actually!
We also asked when promises apply to us in the Bible. This has also already been discussed here.
I summarized by saying that we should be able to feel the inner witness of the Spirit speaking to us through the Word. In addition, there should be a certain consistency of the promise in both the OT and NT, rooted in God's character. One important question to ask is whether the promises in question is made to 'national Israel' or 'spiritual Israel'. In Romans 9:6 we know that we Gentiles who have the faith of Abraham have him as our spiritual father and are incorporated into the true, spiritual Israel.
On the other hand, promises of national prosperity for Israel as an ethnic group or kingdom do not apply. The promise of Mal 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it" is made to a faithless nation, and I would not apply this directly to our real-life experience, Other promises (e.g. Ac 20:35) are better encouragements for us to give generously.
David asked how the church should relate to small groups. My answer was that the church must give direction to SGs regarding the strategic direction of the church. But 'disciplemaking' is a meaningless word without clear definitions and a way forward. Much of the thinking about disciplemaking and SGs has already been done and expressed in the relevant handbooks (SGM and Disciplemaking). But it is difficult to change the practice of many SGs who don't actually grasp or want to practice disciplemaking in the ways articulated in these handbooks.
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