The State of the Church in Respect to the Doctrine of Scripture

Abstract

In this impassioned paper, Prof. Siegbert W. Becker defends the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture against rising skepticism within Lutheran circles. He critiques modern theological trends that question biblical authority, arguing that such doubt echoes the serpent’s “Yea, hath God said?” and ultimately undermines faith in Christ. Becker warns that separating the “Christ of faith” from the historical Jesus leads to doctrinal collapse and spiritual ruin. He exposes the dangers of redefining truth, inspiration, and biblical interpretation through relativistic or mythological lenses, and calls out the dishonesty of affirming doctrine while denying its factual basis. Becker urges a return to the historic Lutheran commitment to Scripture’s literal and natural meaning, cautioning against both over-interpretation and under-interpretation. He concludes with a plea for theological integrity and courage, affirming that the church’s survival depends on unwavering fidelity to God’s Word. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)