Inerrancy of the Scriptures

In my Systematic Theology course, a question was asked of all the students. I got to thinking that this question might be a good question to ask everyone who considers themselves a Christian. It's a very important question so I wanted to share it with all of you.

By definition, inerrancy of Scripture means that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact. In other words, inerrancy means that the Bible always tells the truth and that it always tells the truth concerning everything it talks about. This definition does not mean that the Bible tells us every fact there is to know about any one subject but it affirms that what it does say about any subject is true. Here is the question. (My answer follows):

Do you think belief in inerrancy should be a requirement for church membership? For teaching a Sunday school class? For holding a church office such as elder or deacon? For being ordained as a pastor? For teaching at a theological seminary? Why or why not?

My answer is "yes" to all the questions above. Here are my reasons why I believe this:

First off, when we talk about inerrancy, we are referring to the original manuscripts (Autographs) which were the documents written by the Bible authors through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These documents represent the very breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and since God cannot life (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18) it should lead one to understand that the Scriptures are inerrant. This is to say that God can not lie therefore the Scriptures are precise and without error regarding those things that God has revealed to us within Scripture.

As members of a church or any of the other positions listed above, a believer would have to adhere to the understanding that the Scriptures are inerrant. To do otherwise would be bringing into question the very truth and character of God, let alone His knowledge of everything revealed in Scripture.

If we are to reveal the true God, then we need to reveal everything about Him including His inerrant Word and explain why His Word is inerrant. Furthermore, if we do not believe that His Word is inerrant, do we then go on to say that "this is true, but this other part of the Bible is not?" This would lead us (and those who we would be teaching) down a slippery slope.

Another reason why I believe it is so important to understand God's Word as inerrant is because if the Bible weren't inerrant then the things it speaks about would have the potential to be corrected by another author/book. If this were the case, then the author of that other book would be superior to God; that person (creature) would be greater than his creator! That, in and of itself is an impossibility. Paul warned about this very thing in Romans 1:25 "who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."