From:  (Nigel B. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian
Subject: Re: NEWS: Sex and the Archbishop
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 00:03:17 GMT

 (Ken Smith) wrote:

>>A question which could be answered in a few lines.
>>Where, Graeme, can I find, in the Bible, an outline, or even a hint,
>>of what you term "verbal plenary inspiration" ?

In <>, g, (Graeme) wrote:
>It is a biblical subject which is explained in any good theological
>text book. Try looking it up.

... which is a way of admitting that it is not to be found in the
Bible at all.

Any good theological textbook will also tell you that the Bible was
written by divinely inspired people. They wrote about their experience
of God and their understanding of God. It is also easy to read about
the process by which the Church in the thrid and fouth centuries
gradually reached a consensus about which writings should be
considered part of the New testament. The Church - Christian people,
inspired and led by the Hoily Spirit, wrote and authorised the Bible. 

The Bible is not perfect. The Church is not perfect. No individual
Christian person or community is perfect. But the Church, teaching
from the Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit,witnesses to the Gospel
today. That is why every one of us who professes Christianity is here
- because the Church (other Christians) witnessed to us, and the
Spirit of God gave us faith. The Bible informs that faith, but it is
not the only, nor even the most important part of the process.

You can become a Christian without ever seing a Bible or knowing that
one exists. You cannot become a Christian without the witness of
another Christian, and you cannot become a Christian without the work
of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Cheers

N+

Nigel B. Mitchell

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