by Morne Stephanus
What is 1+1? One does not need a
degree in mathematics to answer this question. From a young age we are made
aware of this rudimentary concept: if you have one apple and you add another
then you have two apples. No matter where you are in the world the answer to
this question will always be two; not three or four, but two. This is the case
because there is a universal mathematical truth: one plus one is always two
regardless of circumstance or location.
Can the same be said for the Bible? Many would unequivocally deny that
the Bible can be universally understood the same. There are those who would argue that truth is
relative, dependant on the individuals and groups holding them. Thus, one person
might believe the Bible to say one thing and another person reading the same
Bible might interpret it completely different and both persons would still be
right.
This view would appear to advance tolerance and consideration if it
were not for the fact that it promotes confusion and ungodliness. Is this what God had in mind when He inspired
men to write His Word? Does God approve
of a view that suggests there is no absolute truth or that you can interpret
what you read in His Word any way you like and still be on the right path? The answer to these questions is a resounding,
NO! “For God is not the author of confusion, but of
peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1Cor. 14:33). God made it
distinctly clear that everyone, regardless of culture, race or location can
understand His word alike. Notice this remarkable account recorded for us in
Nehemiah 8:4-8:
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood,
which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and
Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand;
and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and
Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of
all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all
the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the
people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their
heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and
Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita,
Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to
understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the
book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to
understand the reading.
Is it not interesting that all
these men read from the same book, gave the people the meaning and caused them
to understand it? Israel did not walk away from that gathering with everyone
having a different view on what was read.
In 1Corinthians 1:10 God, through the apostle Paul, admonishes the
church to “speak the same things” and to
“be of the same mind and in the same judgment”. Therefore, speaking
different and conflicting things is diametrically opposed to the command of God
to speak the same things. On another occasion the apostle Paul instructed
Timothy to admonish the brethren to “teach
no other doctrine” (1Tim.1:3). The
same was said to the church in Ephesus, “be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine” (Eph
4:14). The Galatians caused Paul to be
negatively amazed because they were so soon removed from the gospel of Christ
to another gospel (Gal.1:6-9). Paul said he taught the same thing in every
church (1Cor.4:17). Recorded in John
17:20-21 is Jesus’ prayer for unity: Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me. The evidence for a universal
understanding of Scripture is overwhelming. This tells us that it is not only
possible but imperative to understand the Bible alike. All believers in Christ can
be united. However, in order to achieve this holy unity all must adhere to
God’s Word, speaking the same things and being of the same mind. The idea of
being unified is a great one; it is a godly one. Unity has been and still is
God’s plan for His Believers. Therefore, just like Christ prayed for unity and
the apostles preached unity we must practice unity. We must be a people guided by “thus saith the
Lord” speaking only where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is
silent.
Bio:
Born and raised in Cape Town South
Africa, Married to the lovely Amanda Suzette for 3 years. I Graduated from MSOP
in 2008. Since then I have worked with two congregations in South Africa, in
2012 I started working with the Capital City Church of Christ in Baton Rouge.
LA until present.
Websites : http://www.capcitychurchofchrist.com
