Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART II: T HEOLOGICAL AND M ISSIOLOGICAL P RINCIPLES AND I NSIGHTS • 143

2. Supporting texts

a. Don’t be taken captive by substitute centers of emphasis, other than Christ, Col. 2.8-10 – See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” b. Teaching human tradition and not Jesus Christ, Mark 7.3-8 – (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat

B. The key to apostolic and biblical authority

1. Jesus Christ himself is the key both to the subject and interpretation of the Scripture, and therefore of both spirituality, service, and mission.

2. Supporting texts

a. He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them, Matt. 5.17-18 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

b. He interpreted the Scriptures as texts which referred to him.