We must humbly trust in God and His Church
What you need to know:
People of the bible. The question as to whether the Church only lives for nothing but the Bible has come up various times. Some believe there is more to a follower of Christ than their dedication to what the Bible says or asks of them, writes By Msgr. John Wynand Katende.
Should Christians settle for being known as the “People of the Book”, as the Qur’an (3:64) states? Is Christianity a religion of the Bible, as some Christians seem to claim? Such questions tend to arise whenever someone probes Church teachings or practices, seeking clear-cut Biblical evidence.
The name “Christians” was first given to followers of Jesus Christ at Antioch, which name has, ever since, been appreciated as accurate (see Acts of the Apostles 11:20-21). Nevertheless, a profound bond links sacred Scripture and the faith of Christians. John 1:1…14 says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. Jesus is the Word of God.
The Word of God is dynamic and active as per Hebrews 4:12, and cannot be confined to a book (see John 21:25). Actually, after His redeeming death and resurrection, Jesus continues to save the world through word and sacraments, especially through the Eucharistic real presence (see John 6:54).
The Word of God was first transmitted orally and only later committed to scripture. We must, hence, interpret the Scripture within the wider living Tradition of the whole Church, because, being guided by the Holy Spirit, she carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word. “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter”, appeals St. Paul in 2 Thessalonica 2:15.
God is a God of order and a God who makes sense. He does not reveal messages to private individuals who stand for mutual disagreements and contradictions. This means that a person proclaiming a message should understand and explain it in harmony with the totality of revelation and of the official teaching of the Church.
When St. Paul wrote in I Timothy 3:14-17 that “all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”, he was referring to only the then existing Old Testament scriptures. Not until the New Testament scriptures were canonized by the Church in 367 AD, did they become authoritative to faith.
The role of the Church in the writing and assembling of Scripture demonstrates its authority to give the authentic interpretation of Scripture. This is the same authority that the Church has always exercised to denounce heresies. A heresy is false teaching that denies basics of Christian doctrine, such as Christ’s divinity and His humanity.
Nowhere does Scripture claim to be the sole rule of faith (sola scriptura). Those who believe in “me and my Bible”, making it subject to their own personal beliefs, are implicitly belittling the whole of God’s revelation. Relying on individual interpretation of the scriptures reveals a culture overrun by individualism and rejection of authority. It weakens the unity and mission of the Church founded by Christ, and for which He so earnestly prayed (Jn.17:21).
Some denominations/sects even deny the basic truths of Christianity that the Church has affirmed for centuries! Though all claim to possess the Holy Spirit and to have the definitive interpretation of Scripture, it is not possible for all of the conflicting interpretations to be correct. Ultimately, the entire human society suffers a gradual loss of belief.
If we want to be guided by God, then we must docilely submit to God’s Word and to its interpretation by His Church, rather than lean unto our own opinions (see 2 Peter 1:20).
People of the book
This is an Islamic term which refers to Jews, Christians and Sabians. It is also used in Judaism to refer to the Jewish people and by members of some Christian denominations to refer to themselves.
The Quran uses the term in reference to Jews, Christians and Sabians in a variety of contexts, from religious polemics to passages emphasising the community of faith between those who possess monotheistic scriptures. The term was later extended to other religious communities that fell under Muslim rule, including polytheistic Indians and monotheistic Indians. Historically, these communities were subject to the dhimma contract in an Islamic state.
