BB KEET REFORMED VIEW OF SCRIPTURE
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into the Dutch Reformed Church's struggle with scriptural interpretation in the 21st century, highlighting a shift from viewing the Bible as infallible to questioning its factual nature. It discusses the impact of historical criticism and the rise of inclusive theologies, leading to acceptance of same-sex unions and a 'spacious house' approach to accommodate diverse beliefs. The script contrasts this with the traditional reformed view, advocating for a return to sola scriptura and the authority of scripture as the ultimate guide for Christian faith and practice.
Takeaways
- 📜 The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa has historically believed in the infallibility of the Bible, but there has been a significant shift in the late 1990s towards a more critical and metaphorical interpretation of scripture.
- 🗣️ Some ministers and commissions within the church have made statements suggesting a departure from traditional interpretations, such as viewing facts as subjective and the resurrection narratives as metaphorical.
- 🌈 The church has also seen a move towards inclusivity, with the acceptance of same-sex unions and a recommendation to the government to scrap the traditional definition of marriage.
- 🔍 The script discusses the influence of historical criticism and how it has been used to challenge traditional Christian beliefs, leading to a crisis of authority within the church.
- 👥 The paper contrasts the views of theologians like Yan Hayes and Vly Yonka, who opposed the biblical justification of apartheid, with those of Professor Yuri Laru and Ferdinand, who embraced historical criticism and its implications.
- 📚 There is a noted concern about 'genitive theologies' such as feminist, postcolonial, liberationist, and Marxist theologies, which are seen as external influences manipulating the church's interpretation of scripture.
- 🏛️ The script highlights the struggle within the Dutch Reformed Church between maintaining traditional reformed principles and embracing a more progressive, inclusive approach.
- 🌟 The paper suggests that the church's current direction is in contrast to the teachings of Professor Benny K, who advocated for a strict interpretation of scripture and rejected the biblical justification of apartheid.
- 📖 The importance of 'sola scriptura' (scripture alone) is emphasized as the guiding principle for interpreting scripture, which stands in opposition to the more relativistic approaches that have gained traction.
- ✝️ The script concludes with a call to uphold the authority and reliability of scripture, to interpret it within its original context, and to resist the pressures to conform to contemporary societal desires.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the paper titled 'Bat and the Reformed View of Scripture Rediscovered'?
-The main theme of the paper is the struggle within Protestant churches, particularly the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, regarding the interpretation of scripture and the impact of historical criticism and other theological shifts on their beliefs and practices.
How did the misuse of the Bible for justifying apartheid affect the Dutch Reformed Church?
-The misuse of the Bible for justifying apartheid led to a dramatic shift in the view of scripture within the Dutch Reformed Church, causing a crisis of faith and a struggle for identity, as well as a reevaluation of their historical stance on the infallibility of the Bible.
What significant changes occurred in the Dutch Reformed Church's view of scripture in the late 1990s?
-In the late 1990s, the Dutch Reformed Church experienced a reversal in its view of scripture, moving away from the belief in the infallibility of the Bible towards a more metaphorical and mythological interpretation, as evidenced by statements from church ministers and commissions.
What are the key differences between the theological approaches of Yan Haynes and Professor Yuri Larus?
-Yan Haynes was concerned about the disintegration of the unity of scripture and the undermining of reformed principles of interpretation, while Professor Yuri Larus and Ferdinand Deist popularized and applied 19th-century radical German historical criticism, which led to a more relativistic view of scripture.
How did the Dutch Reformed Church's stance on marriage evolve, as mentioned in the script?
-The Dutch Reformed Church's stance on marriage evolved to the point where, in 2019, the General Senate approved same-sex unions, and in 2023, the General Secretary recommended to the government the scrapping of marriage between a man and a woman, based on the argument that it is based on binary gender notions.
What does the term 'sola scriptura' mean in the context of the Dutch Reformed Church's theological debates?
-In the context of the Dutch Reformed Church's theological debates, 'sola scriptura' refers to the principle that the Bible alone is the final and complete authority for a Christian, emphasizing the primacy of scripture over human reason and tradition.
What role did historical criticism play in shaping the Dutch Reformed Church's views on scripture?
-Historical criticism played a significant role in shaping the Dutch Reformed Church's views on scripture by introducing doubt about the divine origin and inspiration of scripture, leading to a questioning of the church's traditional interpretations and a move towards more liberal theological positions.
How did the teachings of Professor Benny K influence the Dutch Reformed Church's stance on apartheid and scripture?
-Professor Benny K, through his teachings, influenced the Dutch Reformed Church by refuting the biblical justification of apartheid and advocating for a return to reformed principles of interpretation, emphasizing the authority and reliability of scripture as originating from God.
What are the key principles of scriptural interpretation outlined by Professor Benny K and others in the script?
-The key principles of scriptural interpretation outlined include the authority and inspiration of scripture originating in God, the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation, the final authority of scripture over human reason, the importance of the original meaning of the text, the unity of scripture, the necessity of interpreting scripture within its context and genre, and the use of clear texts to explain difficult ones.
What warning did Yan Haynes give regarding the impact of historical criticism and genitive theologies on the church?
-Yan Haynes warned that accepting the so-called incontrovertible results of historical criticism would lead to a dangerous path, undermining the infallibility, clarity, and unity of scripture, and potentially leading the church to abandon the word of God.
Outlines
📜 The Crisis in Protestant Churches and the Shift in Biblical Interpretation
This paragraph introduces a crisis within Protestant churches, particularly in South Africa, where there's a struggle between traditional beliefs and a new, more liberal interpretation of the Bible. The Dutch Reformed Church, once staunch in its belief in the Bible as the infallible word of God, is undergoing a dramatic shift in its view of scripture. This change is evident in statements from church ministers and commissions that suggest a move away from historical and factual readings of the Bible towards metaphorical and mythological interpretations. The paragraph also touches on the church's grappling with issues like same-sex unions and the rejection of traditional views on marriage, indicating a broader movement towards inclusivity and diversity in beliefs.
🔍 Historical Criticism and Its Impact on Theological Interpretations
The second paragraph delves into the effects of historical criticism on theological interpretations, particularly within the Dutch Reformed Church. It discusses the methodological features of historical criticism, which include the use of human reason as the sole measure of truth, denial of divine inspiration in scripture, and a continuous reevaluation of methodologies. The paragraph highlights the work of theologians and biblical scholars who have either embraced or rejected these critical approaches. It also discusses the influence of historical criticism on the church's stance on apartheid and other social issues, leading to a fragmentation in the church's interpretation of scripture and its application to modern challenges.
🏛️ The Legacy of Professor Benny K and Theological Resistance to Apartheid
This paragraph contrasts the theological streams within the Dutch Reformed Church, focusing on the legacy of Professor Benny K, who resisted the biblical justification of apartheid. It discusses how Benny K, along with other theologians, engaged with and refuted the radical aspects of historical criticism and other generative theologies that undermined the authority of scripture. The paragraph also draws a parallel between Benny K's theological stance and that of former Prime Minister Dr. DF Malan, who used Darwin's theory of evolution to justify apartheid. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to reformed principles of interpretation and the divine inspiration of scripture, as opposed to interpretations that serve political purposes.
🌟 The Principles of Scriptural Interpretation and the Relevance of Professor Benny K's Teachings
The fourth paragraph outlines the principles of scriptural interpretation as advocated by Professor Benny K, emphasizing the divine origin and authority of scripture. It discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in interpreting scripture, the importance of sola scriptura as the final authority, and the necessity of interpreting the original meaning of the text. The paragraph also highlights the unity within the diversity of scripture and the importance of context and genre in interpretation. It concludes with a call to uphold these principles in the face of contemporary challenges and a quote from 2 Timothy, urging ministers to preach the word and endure hardship in their service.
📢 The Call to Preach and Uphold the Word of God
The final paragraph is a direct call to action for ministers and theologians to preach the word of God with patience and careful instruction. It emphasizes the importance of being prepared to teach and correct, regardless of the season or societal trends. The paragraph warns of a future where people may turn away from sound doctrine in favor of myths that cater to their desires, urging the audience to maintain their commitment to the truth and the teachings of the Bible.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Facts
💡Resurrection narratives
💡Metaphor
💡Mythology
💡Dutch Reformed Church
💡Apartheid
💡Historical criticism
💡Sola scriptura
💡Reformed principles
💡LGBTQ+ movement
💡Binary gender notions
Highlights
The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa has undergone a significant shift in its view of scripture, moving away from the belief in the Bible as the infallible word of God.
Some ministers and commissions within the church have suggested that facts are subjective and that the resurrection narratives should be read metaphorically.
The church has been grappling with the misuse of the Bible to justify apartheid and the influence of critical theology in academia.
The Dutch Reformed Church has seen a dramatic change in its stance on scripture since the late 1990s, with some leaders questioning the historical and factual nature of biblical accounts.
The church has been challenged by the idea that no single belief system can claim to be the correct way of belief, leading to a more inclusive approach to worship.
The church's General Senate has approved same-sex unions, reflecting a departure from traditional Christian teachings on marriage.
The concept of a 'spacious house' has been introduced, suggesting that the church should accommodate a wide range of viewpoints, even those that are radically different.
The paper discusses the impact of historical criticism and its methodological features on the Dutch Reformed Church's interpretation of scripture.
Theologians like Professor Yuri laru have been influential in promoting a critical approach to scripture, which has been met with resistance by others within the church.
The paper highlights the work of Professor Yan Haynes and vly Yonka, who opposed the biblical justification of apartheid and warned against the dangers of historical criticism.
The influence of genitive theologies, including feminist, postcolonial, and Marxist theologies, has been significant in shaping the church's recent stance on various social issues.
The paper calls for a return to the principles of Sola Scriptura and the reformed interpretation of scripture, as exemplified by theologians like Professor Benny K.
The historical context of apartheid and the role of the Dutch Reformed Church in its justification is explored, with a focus on the theological debates of the time.
The paper concludes with a call to uphold the authority and reliability of scripture, emphasizing the need for the church to return to its reformed roots.
A quote from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 4:1-5 is used to emphasize the importance of scripture as God-breathed and useful for teaching and training in righteousness.
Transcripts
facts don't exist facts are things you
make up for yourself the resurrection
narratives should not be understood
historical and factual but read
metaphorically and
mythologically by worshiping together
with people of other religions we don't
give up the correct way of belief none
of us can claim a correct way of
belief how did we get here in
2023
the story behind the story needs to be
told also for our International
friends friends once again thank you for
the
privilege my paper title is bat and the
reformed view of scripture
rediscovered quote the Bible is the
product of the fraud of people quote we
don't believe in the Bible we believe in
God
in the second decade of the 21st century
Protestant churches around the world are
embroiled in a death
struggle some are already firmly caught
in a strangle hold and eliminated others
are still fighting a good
fight here in South Africa the struggle
emerged dramatically in the wake of the
misuse of the Bible for the
justification of aparte and the Takeover
of critical theology at state
universities and mainstream churches
the Dutch Reformed Church historically
considered the largest reformed
denomination in South Africa subscribed
since its Inception to the belief that
the Bible is the infallible word of God
although this confession is still
maintained on paper there was
undoubtedly a dramatic change in the
late 1990s a reversal in the view of
scripture striking examples confirming
the shift include such statements by
Dutch Reformed Church ministers or Comm
missions like this quote facts don't
exist facts are things you make up for
yourself quote the resurrection
narratives should not be understood
historical and factual but read
metaphorically and
mythologically quote from the Dutch
reform General Senate documents serving
tonight quote by worshiping together
with people of other religions we don't
give up the correct way of belief none
of us can claim a correct way of belief
even Jesus's teaching on marriage has
been abandoned as 2019 General Senate
approved same sex unions while the
General Secretary of the Dutch Reformed
Church in
2023 officially recommended to
government the scrapping of marriage
between a man and a woman as the latter
is based on quote binary gender
Notions recently a general Senate
Commission decided that quote the way
complex issues in the church should be
dealt with is to hold one another close
even though we have different
interpretations and opinions the new
mantra propagated by
moderators is the idea of a spacious
house where radically irreconcilable
viewpoints may be safely accommodated
the inescapable realization took hold
there's a impass in the Dutch Reformed
Church a recent Moder to admit it an
irrevocable fault line not just on
secondary issues but on the most basic
tenance of the
Reformation everyone knows it or should
know
it but how did this all come
about how did we get here in
2023 the story behind the story needs to
be told also for our International
Friends got a few case studies to try
and Shine the Light on how this
occurred serious concerns on the One
Hand by Yan Hayes vly Yonka two students
who studied under Burk Hower in the
bathing tradition senior leaders in the
Dutch Reformed Church systematic
theologians uh Pioneers uh who did
remarkable work for reconciliation as
well vly yuner Yan on the one hand and
on the other hand two very well-known
historical critical biblical Scholars
also in the Dutch Reformed Church
tradition the one Ferdinand died uh the
other one Professor Yuri laru from
ptor Professor Yuan Haynes who taught
systematic theology at stalos and ptor
was assassinated on the 5th of November
1994 probably because of his leadership
role against the biblical justification
of
apartate not long before that during his
farewell address at the University of
Pretoria he expressed his grave concern
about the socalled incontrovertible
results of historical criticism which
included such conclusions as one the
disintegration of the unity of scripture
number two the settled thinking patterns
of the Christian faith must be abandoned
and thirdly the church can no longer
express its views with
authority as background usually
historical criticism involved uh the
following methodological features going
back to rarus lesing Strauss bolman and
so forth number one human reason is the
sole measuring stick for truth and
interpretation number two the divine
origin wonders and inspiration of
scripture is denied number three the
distance between the text and today is
problematized and fourthly continuous
methodological adjustments all the time
just four basic
principles Yan addressed his concerns
about this to his Old Testament
colleague Professor Yuri laru who not
only contemptuously rejected in public
Dr Bayer's nudus theological protest
against aparte but also once described
the Bible as the product of the fraud of
people professor L and ferand Di in
particular after the death of Professor
Beni K in 1974 popularized and applied
19th century radical German historical
criticism in a surprisingly effective
way in South
Africa where Benny K Yan Haynes and vly
Yonka who by the way all rejected the
biblical justification of a party took
German critical scholarship very
seriously but rejected its relativistic
and unchristian implications laru and
Di's eulogy for historical criticism
undermined our reformed use of scripture
and gradually infiltrated siners and
eventually hijacked
them the infallibility the clarity and
the unity of scripture and tested
reformed principles of interpretation
were in
tatters a new generation of pastors were
pouring into to the church with this
socalled more responsible use of
scripture in harmony with our precious
reformed Heritage as represented by
among others Calvin baon K Yona Hayes
had the courage to protest in response
to laru and diced propaganda for the
so-called incontrovertible results of
historical criticism hes prophetically
warned quote if accepting the so-called
incontrovertible results of historical
criticism lead one and obliges the
Theologian to adopt such views it is in
my judgment a dangerous path to follow
not long after that he was
assassinated but haes was not yet
finished in his farewell address Haynes
who along with yoner and K as we said
stood up against the biblical
justification of a part it warned
further of the socalled genitive
theology including feminist postcolonial
liberationist and Marxist theologies H
pointed out that these theologies
including the biblical justification of
apartate do not operate from the Bible
itself but from outside and therefore
also manipulate it for a particular
political purpose such approaches has
led the dut Reformed Church in recent
times to embrace the lgbtq plus movement
producing for some quote a dangerously
kind Jesus that is certainly queer and
not fixed that's from a ordained Dutch
Reformed Church Professor down the road
here Yan Haynes did not
exaggerate in 1993 as did vona when he
warned that the genitive theologies
quote are nothing less than a radical
overthrow of the rudder of the ship of
the Christian
Church in front of a hall packed with
theologians and academics Yan Haynes
concluded his professional and
ecclesiastical career highlighting
concerns about a dangerous New
Direction threatening scripture and our
confessions as well as influences from
outside of the Bible that will
manipulate the church to abandon the
word of God
this takes us to Prof Ben Kat a
generation before haes and Yona Benny
kit here who taught round the it's about
a kilometer or so from
here from 1920 to
1959 and what I want to do is as I
compared yanes vko with d and laru these
two different theological streams I want
to compare B yet briefly with a former
prime minister of South Africa Dr DF
malan against the background that I've
just painted it is remarkable that
Professor Benny KET who in stalos took a
courageous stand against the biblical
justification of apartate Thoroughly
wrestled through the radicali of
historical criticism in Europe and kept
up to dat on a variety of genitive
theologies including Marxism feminism
refuting its unbiblical foundations and
rejection of reformed principles of
interpretation basically everything Yan
and vly Yonka warned against Benny K
already knew intimately and rejected a
generation
earlier this particular reform
theological stream with roots going back
to Haron baren in the Netherlands
counters the general perception in South
Africa and the world that basically the
whole Dutch Reformed Church believe in
the divine inspiration of scripture and
with that lens constructed the
theological truth of apartate through
scripture over and over biblical
Scholars like Professor Farin and who
was also for a while in stalos painted
the latter picture for us trying to
argue that it was biblical Scholars who
practiced historical criticism like
himself who stood up against the UN
biblical justification of a
parate often the latter is used as
argument for why historical criticism
and genitive theologies must be embraced
today which we know destroyed the
authority of scripture and our precious
reformed
confessions friends so briefly be before
I say a few things about Benny KET I
want to say something about uh a
theologian and a politician that I think
the world probably has never never
understood or
appreciated unknown to a generation of
African speaking Christians in South
Africa is that Dr DF malan the architect
of most aparte laws implemented between
1948 and 1952 was a disciple of Charles
Darwin and his theory of the survival of
the fittest this theory was malan's
foundation for a parted Milan was also a
theological liberal Dutch Reformed
Church Minister who practiced historical
criticism in ut for his doctrate before
he went into politics interestingly
Benny Kia took over from DF Milan at a
very distinguished Church KET when Milan
went into politics K was there for a few
years before he was called to become
professor in stalos now this brings us
to Benny K who interest in L took over
as I said from DF Milan as Pastor from
the famous re Church where the Andrew
murus and family also were famous
pastors G
argued already in
1949 in A Brave series of articles in
the official Church newspaper that the
biblical justification of apartate was
false and
unscriptural responding to a Dutch
reform church Commission on the this
matter KET said the following quote one
feels like throwing your hands up in the
air in frustration and say where does
the commission come up with such an
explanation and view of scripture I
noticed that some of the commission
members are my former students I can
only solemnly declare here that they
certainly did not learn such a view of
scripture at the Seminary nor will they
find it anywhere else in the Christian
church 1949
next quote if we want to understand the
message of the scriptures we must turn
directly to scripture without
reservation and then in accordance with
the whole thrust of the scriptures try
to find out what is being said to us in
a particular place so that what happens
in practice can be brought into line
with it and the scriptures are not bound
to what happens in practice the
authority of God's word demands this
from us
otherwise we will reduce his word to the
demands of what we consider essential
friends how did Professor Benny kit in
1949 come to this interpretation of
scripture through historical
criticism through Marxism through
feminism through the lgbtq plus
Movement by saying that the Bible is the
fraud of
people by worshiping together with other
religions by abandoning Jesus's teaching
on
marriage by saying we can never discover
an eternal or universal truth as the
Dutch reform church General sinate wants
to say
tonight on the
contrary he got there through Sola
scriptura and our Irreplaceable and
tested reformed principles of
interpreting scripture going back to
barfun and celvin and the apostles and
to Jesus Christ
himself I think if Professor bit could
have been here today and would have
given us advice how do we interpret
scripture and how he interpreted
scripture in
1949 and if you would have given us
advice on what to do about marriage and
about the uniqueness of Christ I think
he would have given us these principles
I'm just quickly going to mention them
after being in k for a number of years
nine number one The Authority the
reliability and the inspiration of
scripture have its origin in God himself
number two it is guaranteed by the
internal witness of the holy spirit in
Believers number three it is not against
human reason or evidence but due to sin
Humanity can never correctly interpret
scripture without the illum mination of
the Holy Spirit number four scripture
alone solar
scriptura is the final and complete
Authority for a Christian confronting
and interpreting those who bow and
submit under the authority of scripture
number five the original meaning of the
text and not how contemporary Society in
1949 or 2023 want to reinterpret it is
the essential and correct interpretation
number six within the diversity of
scripture there is also a remarkable
Unity that the Holy Spirit provides
running like a golden thread through all
the books binding them together number
seven scripture should always be
compared and interpreted with scripture
and human methods must never change its
original purpose and intent number eight
difficult texts and they are of course
difficult texts must always be explained
in light of what is clear and may never
be used to abuse or obscure what is
clear and the last one texts must always
be interpreted in context and according
to its unique genre and how a theme is
understood throughout scripture friends
can we finish can I quote from
scripture I read Prof Bob
pastoral uh commentary on the 1 and 2
Timothy and I just want to quote Paul
writing to one of his theological
students a junior pastor and I think
Prof Ben K and pro Yona uh and others
would agree with us to conclude a paper
uh on this topic with this piece of
scripture 2 Timothy 3 verse 1617 and 4:1
to5 all scripture is God breathed and is
useful for teaching rebuking correcting
and training in righteousness so that
the servant of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work in the
presence of God and of Christ Jesus who
will judge the living and the dead and
in view of his appearing and his kingdom
I give you this charge preach the
word be prepared in season and out of
season correct rebuke and encourage with
great patience and careful
instruction for the time will
come when people will not put up with
sound Doctrine instead to suo their own
desires they will gather around them a
great number of teachers to say what
their itching ears want to hear they
will turn their ears away from the truth
and turn aside to
myths but for you keep your head in all
situations endure hardship do the work
of a
evangelist discharge all the
duties of your
ministry I thank
you
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