FUNDAMENTAL FALLACY

THE FUNDAMENTAL FALLACY

Unqualified Substitution 

 

The deification of a holy text is not Christian.  It is a common religious attitude based on a simple error of logic.  The error assumes an equivalency exists between a revered text and the Deity who authored it.  For Christianity this would be the written word of God, the Bible, unwarranted equivalency with God’s voice spoken by the Holy Spirit.  Though a none-Christian attitude this error does exist within the Christian community. 

Equals

One axiom of logic is two equal things are equal to each other referred to as a symmetric state of equality.  The logical formation is if A = B then B = A.  Examples are; Jesus is the Christ...the Holy Spirit is The Holy Ghost...the Bible is the word of God.  In most instances logically these can replace one another as equals. 

Relating Equals

Equal things are almost always transitive properties.  So that, If A = B and B = C then A = C.  Therefore, if (A)stands for God, and (B) stands for Jesus, and (C) stands for the Word of God the assumption is made that;

IF        God = (is) in Jesus

AND  Jesus = (is) The Word of God

THEN The Word of God = (is) God

Unequal Properties

When accepted by faith that God is good, right and holy, and Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life then the Bible must be inerrant, infallible, and perfect.  This formulation tends to elevate the Bible to a place equal to God, thereby allowing the substitution of any one of them for the other.  However a transitive formulation demands that the equivalent things have ALL and ONLY the same properties as one another. 

Unqualified Substitution

It is obviously erroneous to consider the three members of the Godhead as interchangeably equals. They are one God, but it is the Father who made us, the Son who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who speaks God’s word to us.  It is even more erroneous to equate the Bible with a member of that trinity.   However the error of equating the written text of the Bible with the voice of the Holy Spirit, even when it is done subconsciously, can result in unexpected gross immorality.  

Effects of Error

This fundamental fallacy accounts for Christians historically overriding the Holy Spirit to justify heinous crimes against the weak, religious wars, and public policies that harm the poor as Biblically inspired God ordained acts.  On the other hand the honoring of the preeminence of the voice of the Holy Spirit within accounts for the beauty of genuine love that nourishes, protects, heals, and liberates men today. 

   

Avoid Error

In my opinion the error’s most tragic effect is its devaluation of our personal relationship with God.  As Christians our relationship with God is a person to Person link not one of person to book.  The value of the Bible is to promote, explain, verify, clarify, and equip us for that holy connection. (2Tim 3:16)  As indispensable as that is when the book is accepted as a substitute for (or worse still as an authority over) God’s voice within we fail to recognize God’s indwelling presents and become vulnerable to Biblically justified distortions of the truth.  To equate the authority of the Bible with that of the living God is an idolatrous practice we simply must avoid.