John MacArthur’s Inerrancy Summit begins today, and I couldn’t be more excited. Yesterday I hopped a flight from Toronto to Los Angeles so I could be a part of it or, at least, so I could do a bit of writing about it. While I do not intend to provide live-blogging, I will certainly be sharing some updates and reflections on what promises to be an historic event. (Note: You can watch the entire thing online, beginning today at 1 PM EST.) (Another Note: For those who are here, I will be leading a panel discussion at 1:30 on Wednesday.)
One of the very first Christian books I ever read was by James Montgomery Boice who said that, as far as he could see, the battle for inerrancy had already largely been fought and won. He was writing almost two decades ago and at that point it certainly looked as if he was correct. Boice and others were turning their attention to subsequent doctrines of the Bible such as the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture. But, as is often the case, the discussion about inerrancy has resurfaced, which means it is time for believers to renew their understanding of the doctrine and reestablish their confidence in it. And that is exactly my hope for this week’s conference, which features quite an impressive list of speakers.
As the week proceeds, I intend to look for specific things that I think will be especially helpful to me.
- I would like to see a common, simple, and established definition of inerrancy. I assume we will be directed to the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy from 1978, but am eager to see whether the theologians here suggest improving or updating it.
- I would like to see a common understanding of what it really means to deny inerrancy. What the consequences and implications are for those who cannot affirm the truth and whole truth of Scripture? Do we need to break fellowship with these people? Or can we peacefully co-exist even within the same local churches?
- I would like to learn how to speak truth with love to those who are wrestling with issues related to inerrancy, and how to show them the cost of their theology.
- I would like to hear the theologians here deal carefully with some of the challenges to inerrancy and to look honestly at the best arguments against inerrancy (which will be the theme of the panel discussion I will be leading on Wednesday).
For those who cannot be here, please let me know what would be helpful for you to know or to learn. What can I find out, or what can I write about, that might be helpful to you? And, if you’d like to pose a question for the panel I will be leading, what do you consider some of the most significant challenges to inerrancy?
Stay tuned to the blog and to the live-stream, and I will update again either later today or first thing tomorrow.
