Being a part-time English professor I often interact with funny words. Recently I came across a rather peculiar word that I could not help but adopt into my vernacular, I bet it’s one you haven’t heard of either: Gimcrack. A gimcrack is a flashy or showy object of little or no use (think spoilers, Flavor Flav’s giant clock, or Glen Beck’s monologues). The word almost feels like it describes itself. There are some who also believe that perhaps the word describes the concept of Inerrancy in Christian theology. This is another funny word, but a word whose meaning is extremely important for all theological discussions.
Theologian Wayne Grudem defines the word simply for us: The inerrancy of Scripture means that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact (Systematic Theology, 90). What this means is that the Bible is authoritative because it is God’s Holy Word, and it is perfect and without fault in everything that it affirms. The importance of this word cannot be overstated. If the Bible is indeed divinely inspired that means it is true in every detail of its content.
Now there are some who gladly affirm the authority of Scripture, on some level. But rather than describe the Bible as authoritative they like to speak of the Bible as true in principle. That is to say that the details and specifics are not necessarily true but the principle behind them is true. Some even feel comfortable to describe the Bible as “infallible,” but they refuse to identify it as inerrant. They limit its truthfulness to certain aspects, most commonly associated expressly with religion. The Bible, then, can be wrong on other subjects. But this is not an acceptable option for the Christian, Grudem summarizes the problems with an improper, limited, or non-existent view of inerrancy.
First, Grudem says, We make God a liar and promote lying among his followers. 1 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is God breathed, if we find out that God intentionally misspoke, falsified information, etc. then we make him a liar. That is to say, we make God out to be like the news media, or sleazy politicians (or all politicians?). Then we read in Ephesians 5 that we are to be imitators of God and we find justifiable cause for blatant and meaningless lies.
Second, we cannot trust anything God says. If God has spoken falsely to us in some things (even minor things) it puts in doubt everything he says everywhere else. How can we determine what is true and false, what is to be obeyed and what is to be ignored? Where can we draw the line in the sand that allows us to live and trust God? Honestly, we can’t. If God lies once that allows that he is capable of lying again. And, as we all know, it’s hard to trust a known liar.
Third, if we deny inerrancy we ultimately make our own human minds the highest standard of truth. In this case God’s Word doesn’t hold the place of highest authority, for we see it as an equally flawed source of truth. We stand over it, then, with our “impeccable minds” ready to make judgments about its veracity. Ultimately this returns us to our discussions of authority, for once we deny inerrancy we have made ourselves again the authority over God’s Word.
Finally, we will find that the denial of inerrancy leaves to doubt not simply minor details outside of religion, but even major doctrines. For example, to deny inerrancy is to deny that God’s Word is true, a major doctrine. To deny inerrancy is to question God’s character, when he says that he is not liar (Numbers 23:19). This doctrine is intimately connected to others in Scripture and we must hold it if we are to hold any of the others.
In the coming weeks we will continue to explore more of this doctrine and its implications. We will respond to common criticisms as well. Ultimately, however, Christians must contend that God’s Word is completely true in all that it states…i.e. it’s no gimcrack!
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 