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| Vancouver, 2018 |
The verse that is cited in the video below:
John 9:25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
To paraphrase the statement I have heard Pastor Courson provide over the years:
Do not sacrifice what you know, for what you do not know.
In contrast to Pastor Courson's description of Billy Graham and this late evangelist's stated, supposed, lack of academic background in his dialogue with the late Charles Templeton; I have a formal academic background with religious studies and philosophy of religion. I have academically reviewed various historical, theological and philosophical intellectual objections to biblical Christianity and reviewed various Christian views, both in formal Canadian and British academia and on websites.
The description of Billy Graham's approach could be without absolute precision, coined as the use of a 'bible only' paradigm to Christian faith. 'Bible only' is not a precise term, because even those within 'bible only' movements may at times, minimally appeal to other sources. I do not view 'bible only' approaches when they use scripture accurately, in context, as wrong, but they are certainly intellectually limited. Again, all truth is God's truth, even as the scripture is the final authority on religious matters within Christian faith and philosophy. This is the only legitimate revealed word of God. (note: Billy Graham has written books for teaching)
Pastor Courson is a fine, verse by verse, contextual, biblical teacher and has produced what I consider is an excellent biblical commentary series that I have cited on this website work. So, to be clear, Pastor Courson is not strictly a 'bible only' pastor, he has written a biblical commentary and consults commentaries. Rather, as I have listened to Pastor Courson since 1987, and use his commentaries, he would use philosophical theology and related philosophy and philosophy of religion, minimally at best.
Objections to biblical Christianity can be reviewed and reasonably answered. This is true, as Christian scholars, even when guided by the Holy Spirit, are finite (permanently) and tainted by sin in this present fallen realm. (see Romans for the universal fall of humanity and the remedy through Christ's atoning and resurrection work applied to believers)
Billy Graham's approach to Christian faith, described in the video, with Charles Templeton's objections and eventual apostasy, by simply trusting in the bible, is not the only palatable, reasonable approach within biblical Christianity. These types of objections can also be handled reasonably and successfully, academically, within biblical studies, theology, philosophy of religion and other academic disciplines, while at the same time staying true to scripture in context and not sacrificing what one knows, for what one does not know.
For balance, I can definitely appreciate Pastor Courson's advice for his listeners, and most people within the Church are not led to take theology, philosophy and bible degrees, and write related websites.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
