Writer by Clayton Carlson  

      For centuries people have used creeds to quickly convey their beliefs to others and to reinforce those beliefs within themselves. Although those creeds come from Bible scripture, there are few creeds that pledge allegiance to the authority and authenticity of the Bible. To rectify this shortcoming, I have crafted a creed that I hope most Christians will agree with and follow. I call it the Biblist creed. Although the term biblist is not used frequently, most Christians would probably self-identify as one. The dictionary defines a Biblist as someone who regards the Bible as the only rule of faith. Church reformers and true believers have always upheld the authority of the holy scriptures of God over man’s tradition and doctrine. Many Biblists went to their deaths rather than deny the truths God’s word contains, for above all else they took the holy scriptures as the supreme truth of God.                      

Romans 3:1-4 Contemporary English Version 1 What good is it to be a Jew? What good is it to be circumcised? 2 It is good in a lot of ways! First of all, God’s messages were spoken to the Jews. 3 It is true that some of them did not believe the message. But does this mean that God cannot be trusted, just because they did not have faith? 4  No, indeed! God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar. The Scriptures say about God, “Your words will be proven true, and in court you will win your case.”

BIBLIST CREED

I believe the Bible, as originally delivered, is the unfailing word of God. 

It was breathed by God to its authors and will not lie or contradict itself as originally understood.

It is to be understood within its own historical, literary, and cultural context. 

I believe the Bible contains the unchanging truths of God and is for all generations. 

When questions arise it should be followed without distorting God’s original meanings through translation, interpretation, or punctuation and should act as final arbitrator. 

I believe the Bible contains God’s word of truth. For it is God’s written word, not the invention of any man. 

      Christians should agree to uphold the words of God, as he originally delivered them. Adhering to a creed that reveres the word of God, establishes ground rules for all theological discussion within God’s objective truths. Christians who sincerely seek the truths of God should use the holy scriptures as their ultimate religious authority and final arbitrator. When the followers of Jesus do not agree, the original words and interpretations of God should be the baseline for belief. When the words and truths of God are left to be interpreted and followed any way people want them to be, then God’s word will have no definitive or true meaning at all. When God’s words mean anything, they will mean nothing.

2 Peter 1:20-21 Disciples’ Literal New Testament 20 knowing this first— that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever carried by the will of a human, but people being carried by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

      Gaining a true understanding of the words and message God has given to mankind is essential if your desire is to build your Godly wisdom. God’s truths come from him and him alone and have been given and preserved for mankind within the Bible. To fully understand God’s truths and faithfully follow Jesus, it is imperative to let the Bible speak, interpret, and explain itself. Keeping yourself grounded in the truths of God by adhering to a Biblist creed might be the touchstone needed to keep all of your Bible study firmly rooted in God’s words. It will also provide a common source of truth and an ultimate arbitrator for when you discuss biblical principles with others. When believers do this they will be building their houses of faith on the rock-solid truths of God.

Proverbs 9:9-12 New Living Translation 9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. 10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. 12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

      Famous Canadian author Alice Munro was once asked why the families in her stories were always so dysfunctional. Why did she never write about a happy family? Her answer revealed a literary truth. She said that without a conflict there would be no story. Boy meets girl and they live happily ever after, does not sell books. The Bible is similar as there is tension in most of the stories. The lack of conflict probably accounts for why this exception is only three verses long. It involves a group of believers whose actions display they were Biblists at heart and lived by the Biblist creed.

Acts 17:10-13 Easy-to-Read Version 10 That same night the believers sent Paul and Silas to another city named Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 The people in Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They were so glad to hear the message Paul told them. They studied the Scriptures every day to make sure that what they heard was really true. 12 The result was that many of them believed, including many important Greek women and men.

      Being Jews, these people already believed in God, yet they were open-minded enough to listen to something new, unlike most of the other Jews. Although they were glad to receive the new message of Paul, they would not believe it to be true until they could prove it to be true from the word of God which they accepted as the final arbitrator of truth. Proving the validity of what Paul said took time and effort on their part and they did not shy away from the task. How hard is it to prove Jesus was the messiah only using Old Testament scriptures? Which ones would you use? In the end, there were many who came to have a fuller understanding of God’s wisdom and truth. It is the Biblist traits of being willing to listen, prove from God’s word, and accept his proven truth that will lead followers into a deeper knowledge of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 King James Version 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.2 Timothy 2:15 International Children’s Bible 15 Do the best you can to be the kind of person that God will approve, and give yourself to him. Be a worker who is not ashamed of his work—a worker who uses the true teaching in the right way.

    Unlike other cities Paul preached in, the Bereans are never mentioned in the Bible again. This lack of further reference is a testament to their faithfulness. It demonstrates how their Biblist beliefs kept them from straying away from God’s truths. Had they strayed they would have required further admonishment from Paul. All Christians should strive to become Biblists in the Berean tradition.