Why we are NOT a Bible-based Church

There are plenty of churches that describe themselves as being “Bible-based.” They seem to think that being “Bible-based” is the ultimate measure of genuineness. Yet I’m happy to say that we are NOT a “Bible-based” church, and here's why.

The idea that the Church is founded upon the Bible simply does not stand up to scrutiny. There were worshippers before, during and after the composition of the Old Testament Scriptures. There were Christians before, during and after the composition of the New Testament Scriptures. There's no way the first generation of Christians used the Bible as an instruction manual. They can’t have done that, simply because it didn’t then exist.

What happened before the Bible was fully written?

Just think through all the things that happened in Christianity before the first New Testament Scripture was written:

The Church was “born” at Pentecost…
Gentiles were anointed by the Holy Spirit…
St. Stephen was martyred…
St. Paul saw a vision of our risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…
the faith had spread to Antioch where people were first called Christians…
the dispute as to whether Gentiles could be full members of the Church had been decided by the Council of Jerusalem…
St. Paul had already gone on his first missionary journey…
there were flourishing churches all around the Mediterranean…
Christianity had spread from Judea and Galilee to Samaria, Idumea, Egypt, North Africa, Ethiopia, Syria, Edessa, Parthia, Greece and Italy.

If so much Church history preceded the writing of the New Testament, it just doesn’t make sense to say that the Christian Faith is founded on the Bible. It is far more accurate to say that the Bible reflects the experience and worship of the Church.

What’s more—this is actually the teaching of the Bible. The Bible teaches that the church is based on Jesus Christ, the Prophets and Apostles (Ephesians 2:20). While the Scriptures are inspired by God (1 Timothy 3:16), it is the Church—not the Scriptures—that is the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).

How is the Church the pillar and foundation of the truth?

The “power” of Christianity is found in a personal encounter with the Risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Apostles were personal witnesses to Jesus. They heard Him, they touched Him, they loved Him—and they were in fellowship with Him. Then their joy was made complete by extending the fellowship they had with Him to other members of the Church (1 John 1:1–3).

Today the power of the Risen Lord is experienced in the same way the Church has always experienced Him. He is seen in “the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:35). He is heard in the reading of Scripture (John 1:1, 14). He is received in the washing of Baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 John 5:12). In the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17, 9:17, 19:5–6; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:2). Through participation in the Eucharist (Acts 2:42; Revelation 4–5). And by joining in with the Church’s prayers (Acts 2:42).

This is why St. Paul says Christianity consists not in “words” but in “power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Christianity is so much more than a set of ideas drawn from a book.

History and Scripture agree—the foundation of the Church is a Person, not a book.

This is why The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church is based—not upon the Bible—but upon Jesus Christ and the Apostles and their successors, and their successors’ successors, and on down the line until we reach this present day.