Thread by @PhilipJBenjamin

@UnbelievableJB Here is the reason why I don’t think that Premier should he having debates which include “liberal Christians”. Although if you read on you you’ll find out why there is any such thing as a liberal Christian. /1

@UnbelievableJB How do we come to believe the Bible is God’s word? It’s because of inner witness. The inner witness that leads us to believe the Bible doesn’t say “This is God’s word”. But let’s imagine for a second that that was what was /2

@UnbelievableJB whispered to us. That wouldn’t be a reason to obey it. You don’t obey your boss at work only because he or she is your boss. You obey because his or her requests are either neutral or good. We obey God because He testifies to /3

@UnbelievableJB our hearts that we are sinners and He is not and therefore we need Jesus, who is the word of God - the Truth.

And then we continue as we began - repenting of known sin because sin opens the door to us being lied to - to our /4

@UnbelievableJB being deceived regarding our need for God. That’s why when we fail to repent our desire for spiritual things fades. The Christian life therefore isn’t about seeking to do whatever intellectual activities are necessary to continue /5

@UnbelievableJB to believe that the Bible is God’s word. Proof of this is that there are non-Christians who say they believe the Bible is the word of God. The issue is to continue to see our need for God and therefore for Jesus - for the /6

@UnbelievableJB word of God - for the Truth.

When people fall away they may say it’s because they no longer believe parts or all of the Bible - but the problem is never intellectual. A person’s intellectual doubts can exist while they remain /7

@UnbelievableJB convinced of their need for God and His word.

People fall away because they no longer see their sin and therefore no longer have need for God and therefore also no need for His word.

We should not be showing respect /8

@UnbelievableJB for what liberals say is an intellectual process they are going through if they no longer have a faith which if it ever was is no longer an expression of their need for God arising from their awareness of their own sin. /9

@UnbelievableJB If we do show respect then our faith must presumably be like the liberal whose process we accept — we are building a faith by being God and intellectually sifting through truth to see what we find acceptable. Such people may say they believe /10

@UnbelievableJB the Bible is the word of God but in their heart they are only trusting the parts they think are sensible.

I therefore conclude:

- that there is no kind of Christian other than one whose beliefs about the Bible arise out of /11

@UnbelievableJB their need for God because of sin.

- Premier should stop inviting people whose “faith” involves only accepting truth after it meets their standards for what is sensible. Whether they say they believe all the Bible is God’s word /12

@UnbelievableJB or they don’t. If they continue to hold debates with liberals it gives support to the idea that it’s appropriate to build your faith using the parts of the Bible that seem sensible. That it’s ok to be a Christian and remain God. /13

@UnbelievableJB You might say “How are we supposed to know if someone’s faith is centred on their sin, God’s holiness, and their need for Jesus and to repent? What right do we have to go consider someone to be /14

@UnbelievableJB a liberal if they say they believe the Bible’s the word of God?”
Answer: Three indicators:

- 1. Their intellectual concerns are never given greater focus than their own need for Jesus (the Truth - the Word of God) /15

@UnbelievableJB because of sin.

- 2. They talk about the gospel. The Steve Chalkes and Justin Welbys of this world never talk about these things - it’s not the overflow of their heart. Look at Justin Welby’s Twitter feed - he just /16

@UnbelievableJB CANNOT bring himself to talk about the gospel. It’s always “the good news of Jesus Christ”.

Who cares if someone says they believe in Biblical fundamentals if they never talk about them or if their ideas don’t extend /17

@UnbelievableJB from those fundamentals? They are by their actions unbelievers.

- 3. They are willing to defend their beliefs under pressure. This is shown in being willing to obey “negative” commands. For example holding /18

@UnbelievableJB false teachers to account (Titus 1) - and separating from those with unorthodox teaching (2 John 10,11 and Rom 16:17). And having an appropriate concept of unity (one that puts holiness ahead of unity instead of the other way around). You can see the right /19

@UnbelievableJB emphasis in this Bible passage:

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 NIV
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. /20

@UnbelievableJB No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval./21