Inerrancy — Lessons from History (1)
For the rest of this week, I’m going to be blogging on the subject of inerrancy. I’m particularly interested in discussing the history of the denial of inerrancy in the CRC. This with a view to recent discussions over at Reformed Academic.
Let’s begin with something general from Wayne Grudem’s helpful book, Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism. Early on in the book (chapter 2), Grudem examines “the historical connection between liberalism and the endorsement of women’s ordination in the church.” He notes that there is a historical pattern (28), although only the Episcopal Church has seen it through to the end:
1. Abandoning biblical inerrancy
2. Endorsing the ordination of women
3. Abandoning the Bible’s teaching on male headship in marriage
4. Excluding clergy who are opposed to women’s ordination
5. Approving homosexual conduct as morally valid in some cases
6. Approving homosexual ordination
7. Ordaining homosexuals to high leadership positions in the denomination
Unless you actually want to go along this trajectory, you need to learn from history.