[OBW]

As has been stated by some recently, there are things that we can use our good minds to deduce. But there are parts that we can only accept by faith. And other parts that we cannot even understand and can only accept that what it actually means is really the truth.

The main thing about a book like the Bible (ignoring the part about it being written by the actual God of the universe) is that it is true to those of us who believe. We believe in God because we believe in God. This almost sounds postmodern because it is only true for those who believe that it is true. By that, I mean that it is accepted as true and is given place to guide us in the ways that we believe are true because we believe.

I am not saying that it is not true to those who don't believe. But if they don't believe, in this life, they don't believe. When (as we understand and believe) each of our lives ends (with or without the end of times) they will discover that what we have said was true was actually true.

If you try to use inerrancy on an unbeliever, it is pointless. They don't believe any of it, so making a claim about how accurate it really is seems kind of stupid. With the exception of some of the most liberal of Christians, if you use the inerrancy argument on another believer, what does it mean? We all believe. And we believe the Bible. So what is the point?

The point is to lay claim to a particular interpretation of a particular passage as meaning a specific thing as opposed to another specific thing that some other people think it means. So it is not really about the accuracy of the Bible, but the accuracy of our interpretation. And that claim is made out to be part of the Bible through your claim of inerrancy.

And this results in the classic error of begging the question. The issue at hand is the interpretation of the Bible. One side claims that their interpretation is simply the Bible while the other is not. They are forcing their interpretation — not by working through the words, history, hermeneutics, etc., but by declaring that it is simply so. (Sounds a lot like Nee and Lee.)

Inerrancy is a ruse to win an argument without making an argument. Just state that your position is God-ordained and walk away.

In short, no matter how we want to understand the accuracy, inerrancy, etc., of the Bible, the only really important part is faith in Christ and obedience to his words. That might seem to insist on knowing what is really right. But it seems that the parts that are really important don't need that kind of rubbish to prop it up. And the parts that people think do need it still don't because we have faith, not scientific proof.