by jimwalton » Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:08 am
Because the church made this mistake doesn't mean that everything it says is a mistake. They were misinterpreting a Bible text in correspondence with the current scientific model. Now we know both were incorrect. But since you don't assume science is untrustworthy because they have come to a new understanding, you should also not assume the preaching of the church is untrustworthy because they have come to a new understanding.
We evangelicals don't believe that the teachings of people are infallible, but that it's the Bible that is authoritative. Some people in history past (as well as in the present) have made interpretive mistakes, and, just like any other discipline (science; history, etc.), we should be allowed to recognize our own errors and adopt more accurate understandings.
Because the church made this mistake doesn't mean that everything it says is a mistake. They were misinterpreting a Bible text in correspondence with the current scientific model. Now we know both were incorrect. But since you don't assume science is untrustworthy because they have come to a new understanding, you should also not assume the preaching of the church is untrustworthy because they have come to a new understanding.
We evangelicals don't believe that the teachings of people are infallible, but that it's the Bible that is authoritative. Some people in history past (as well as in the present) have made interpretive mistakes, and, just like any other discipline (science; history, etc.), we should be allowed to recognize our own errors and adopt more accurate understandings.