Bulletin
Why No New Teaching?
Why No New Teaching?
Recently listening to a church history book by John McGuckin he glossed over a fundamental question about authority. He is writing from the stand point of the Greek Orthodox Church. He puts church tradition on an equal status of authority as the Bible. So what holds a higher authority to you? What is written in the Bible, or what is written in the councils of church history? If you disagree with my answer, please at least listen and weigh the reasons why the Bible has a higher authority.
#1. God does not change, nor does his words change. Jesus knew that human historians would want to change his words.
“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:19). Jesus is clear here, “don’t relax even my least commands”, “don’t change my commandments” is the basic message. Jesus gave several commands in the sermon on the mountain. Has Jesus really changed his mind on anger (5:22), lust in the heart (5:27-30), divorce (5:31-32), oaths (5:33-37) or retaliation (Mat. 5:38-42) or loving your enemies (Mat. 5:43-48) etc.? Jesus hasn’t changed. He doesn’t improve. His teaching can’t be improved. Do the 7 church councils have the right to edit Jesus’ sermons and teachings? No.
It has been about 2000 years ago since Jesus said those words, has he changed his own mind on these or other subjects? No, he has not. How do I know that today? “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). God does not change. “For I the LORD do not change…” (Malachi 3:6).
Church traditions change with the times, but the word of God does not change. The basic reason why the words of God do not change is because God himself doesn’t change.
#2. The New Testament was meant to be the last word. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2Pet. 1:3). Did Peter say “some things” to life and godliness or did he say “all things” to life and godliness? If God has already granted “all things” to us, why would we need more? He planned that Christ start the new Covenant with his teaching and the Apostles were to finish it by their writings. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14). The New Testament is now complete (1Cor. 13:8-13), it is perfect. Nothing is lacking from it’s pages. We are not to add to it or take away from it (Rev. 22:18-19), but we are to fulfill it with our lives.
Dan Peters
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