David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Paper
 

http://www.ugst.org/uploaded/Symposi...re_Bernard.pdf

“We must be willing to examine and evaluate modern Pentecostals traditions and practices as follows:

(1) If they are contrary to the Bible, we must discard or modify them as needed.
(2) If they are compatible with the Bible but not required by it, we must grant Christian liberty according to the teachings of Romans 14.
(3) If they are appropriate expressions and applications of biblical teaching—whether specific statements of Scripture or valid implementations of scriptural principles—we must uphold them regardless of the shifting opinions of modern culture, philosophy, and theology.
(4) Finally, if we are lacking in our adherence to biblical teaching, we must be willing to conform our thought and conduct to the Word of God.”

From David Bernard's 2008 UGST symposium paper, "Holiness and Culture."

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

WOW! Finally.

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

Reading this reminds me of the directions for using a "weather rock/wood". Not saying they are wrong, just that they are such basic common sense that it is amazing it took so long.

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

Common sense...LOL better stay away form the bowling alleys...LOL i am glad to see common sense

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

WOW is Bernard going Charismatic?? Surely he's not serious about one and two??

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

#3 kind of covers the bases, though, doesn't it?

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

# 3 seems to say that we must uphold our expressions of bible teaching reagardless of Theology????

(3) If they are appropriate expressions and applications of biblical teaching—whether specific statements of Scripture or valid implementations of scriptural principles—we must uphold them regardless of the shifting opinions of modern culture, philosophy, and theology.

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

I think it means we must uphold them if they are "specific" and "valid" biblical teachings NO MATTER what changes in our culture, philosophy or theology. All theology is not the truth. Have you ever heard of "folk theology"?

IOW, there are some things that pertain to holiness that cannot be abrogated. They are sacrosanct.

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

Yes, numbers one and two are trumped by number three. I don't see any real movement here on the issues. If in doubt just read Practical Holiness: A Second Look. Apparently after a second look it still looked the same to him.

Re: David Bernard's 2008 "Holiness & Culture" Pape
 

I think most everyone agrees that we stick with what the Bible says no matter what culture does. But this part:

If they are appropriate expressions and applications of biblical teaching

is what everyone debates. There's a lot of disagreement about how we apply what the Bible actually teaches to our current culture.