“Every Christian can understand Scripture. One of the monumental accomplishments of the Reformers was the giving of the Bible back to the man in the pew. Through the preceding centuries, it was in the exclusive domain of the Roman Catholic Church and its priesthood.
The story is told of a horrified Roman Catholic priest who said to Luther, “Martin, don’t you realize what would happen if every plough boy and shoemaker were permitted to read the Bible?”
To which Luther replied, “Yes; we’d have more Christians!”
Scripture is not a closed book to be understood only by the spiritually elite. Every believer can understand Scripture.”
John MacArthur, Rediscovering Expository Preaching, 115 (Dallas: Word Pub., 1997).
Amen! 🙂
Thanks Ink!
If only all believers would pick up the Word of God daily…think of the vain imaginations that could be cast down every day. Certainly God’s Word is powerful and will accomplish what He sends it forth to do. Thank you for sharing this dear friend!
Amen, Barbara!
The Catholics were correct in one sense: widespread publication of the Bible DID lead to theological confusion as people tried to sort truth from error. But our God sovereignly gathers the loose threads of controversy and winds trails that lead us to His glory (1 Corinthians 11:19 — “for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.”)
Dispute drove Athanasius, Augustine, and the Reformers to both shape and sharpen their theology. Indeed, many of our New Testament epistles were written in direct refutation of error. It is not controversy we need to fear; it is the mental and theological laxity that will not meet controversy head-on.
(Sorry if I tracked a rabbit there. Your post set me to thinking. :o)
You are speaking my language sister! 🙂 There can be no argument that “theological confusion” and factions were a consequence of the Reformation, but that was never the the intent of the Reformers. Their desire was to reform from within — to return to the old paths and faith of the apostolic fathers. But, as you so eloquently stated,the sovereign hand of God was (and still is!) at work in “the loose threads of controversy”. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I visited your blog recently and was very blessed!