Don’t be alarmed by the word hubris (hew’ bris). If pride is a two-bit word, and arrogance is a four-bit word, then hubris is a six-bit word for the same concept. The word has to be used, however, since we are talking about intellectuals; two-bit and four-bit words will not suffice. And we know we’re dealing with intellectuals here because the words under examination were spoken at Pepperdine. They would never consent to inviting a mere gospel preacher to speak as he would probably lack the proper academic credentials.
While reading church bulletins written by Preaching Brother (from another state), abbreviated PB, a certain paragraph veritably leaped off the page. Its contents relate to the previous discussion of progressive often meaning “digressive,” as well as the other article in this week’s Spiritual Perspectives, “Instrumental Music: Manmade Rules.” How do we know anything? How do we come to a knowledge of the truth? God has revealed it to us (Pr. 23:23; John 8:31-32). Yet many today are departing from the Scriptures (digressing) and trying to do so under the guise of being “progressive.” With respect to instrumental music, they come up with such old approaches as: “The Bible doesn’t say not to do it.” Of course, the question ought to be, “Do the Scriptures authorize it?”
But if you’re a speaker at Pepperdine, you can drop the pretense of actually believing what the Bible says. Here are the quotes from a speaker there in 1992: “Paul was wrong…”; “…he didn’t understand”; “…he didn’t know what he was doing…”; “…he could have made inroads to more people….”
Are you shocked that anyone would make comments like these? I heard a denominational preacher say Paul was wrong with respect to what he wrote on the role of women back in the late ’70s. Isn’t it wonderful to know that some brethren are catching up with those folks in their attitudes toward the Bible? The speaker at Pepperdine claimed Paul could have been more effective in reaching the Jews—if only he had circumcised Titus. How conceited is this guy—to think that he knows more about evangelism than Paul? Hubris. Don’t you wonder if the speaker spent a day and a night in the deep? And if he was beaten with 39 stripes five times? Nevertheless, he deserves credit for being honest. He challenged the Scriptures head on, even though he errs in doing so. So many others maintain the pretense of believing them while teaching the exact opposite (such as having female leadership roles). Why don’t they just admit they don’t believe the New Testament, either?