Forum, 12-2: Word of God is dying

By Tom Udager, dentist and co-founder of Big Brothers - Big Sisters of Rapid City. | Saturday, December 02, 2006

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A death has occurred in many denominational churches that begs the question: "Where has the word of God gone?"

I have been a Lutheran for most of my 72 years. As a child I was taught that the Word of God was inerrant. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has rewritten its constitution and eliminated the errancy of God's word as a core belief of this body. Church leadership believes that the complexity of today's society demands that we take a fresh look at the meaning of God's word.

I believe that God, in his wisdom, would question this approach. In Hebrews 13:8 the Bible says, "God is the same yesterday, today and forever." In the gospel of John 1:1, God's word states, "In the beginning was the word." He is saying that before He created the world, the word of God was in place.

It is the height of arrogance to believe that we can improve upon God's Word. From God's word in Romans 9:20, the question is asked, "Does the clay instruct the potter?" I don't believe that we, as God's creation, can improve upon the majesty of the creator. We all need a source of truth in our lives. God's Word is Truth!

The progressive movement has had a resurgence in this nation, during the past five decades. Progressives believe in change, reform of government and also of "Faith." They have used Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution to discredit what we, as Christians believe to be true. If we are descendants of primates through the process of selective change, then we are no more than a progressive ape, with no purpose in life, but to satisfy our basic instincts. If it is true that God, in His incredible love for us, created us in his image, to care for this earth, and populate it to His Glory, and that He has a "Plan" for the lives of each of us, then Charles Darwin's theory is just an exercise in speculation.

We as members of the Christian community cannot accept both scenarios as truth. God's Word is Truth, or Charles Darwin's theory is true. It is time for us to make a decision.

The indecision that we have lived with in the past century has encouraged the perversion of the incredible beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His churches are in turmoil today because the Bible has been held up to ridicule and ignored as out of date.

I committed my life to Jesus Christ 29 years ago, and I have yet to be disappointed in His Word. Our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches are facing the same question in their congregations. If God's Word is not truth, then we deny the very basis on which the church is established. The church of the gospel of Jesus Christ, cannot exist without the inerrant Word of God, as our foundation! Without His Word, we are nothing more than a fraternal organization.

The progressive movement is dominated by humanists, who believe man is capable of self-fulfillment and ethical conduct without God. Humanists are each a god unto themselves. They do not believe that God's Word is Truth, but they each form their own belief of what truth is. The core of their belief system can be summarized in the statements, "If it feels good, do it" and "take care of No 1."

This movement has had an undeniable influence upon churches and this nation, over the last 50 years. The main problems reported in our schools in the 1950s were running in the hall, chewing gum and talking in class. The major problems reported in our schools today are assault, rape and murder. We have progressed beyond our wildest dreams.

We had a number of social issues on ballots across the country. Silence from pulpits regarding God's Word, concerning these issues, contributed to the confusion. The Bible speaks clearly to each of these issues, and comforts us with the "Promise" that "The Truth will set us Free" (John 8:32).

Where has the Word of God gone? To the death of irrelevance in our churches. I would challenge you today to ask your pastor, your church council, your bishop or your priest: "Is the Word of God alive in our church? Is the Word of God truth?"