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Doctrine
What we believe
At the Institute for Biblical & Scientific Studies we have a number of different interpretations of the Bible. Some believe in a Gap Theory, while others do not.
We believe that each Christian should study for himself and be persuaded in his own mind what is right in controversial issues as the days of creation, the age of the earth, and Noah's flood. We have differing opinions on this in our institute and we welcome other opinions.
We all believe II Timothy 3:16 which states, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
The Bible was not meant to be a science book. II Timothy 3:16 clearly states that the Bible is inspired by God so that it is profitable for instruction in righteousness not instruction in science. Much of the Bible is poetry. To take a poem and make it into a scientific text is wrong. One must understand the different genres of the Bible. One must understand the historical context and the meaning of the original language that the Bible was written in.
I see it as wrong to try to draw out scientific data about the creation of the universe from Genesis one. Both young-earth creationists and old-earth creationists are guilty of pouring modern scientific terms back into Genesis (as well as theistic evolutionists). God could have written in scientific terms like E=MC2 , but He did not. I believe God had to accommodate himself to our limited knowledge, and limited language to communicate with us. God did not choose to use technical scientific terms to communicate with us. God used the common language, and familiar phrases of their day. God could have told us that the sun does not rise nor set, but that the earth is spinning around the sun. God instead used the common language of sunrise and sunset which was literal to the writers back then, but which modern concordists excuse as phenomenal language that we still use today. God is trying to communicate absolute spiritual truths, not shifting scientific theories. God’s purpose of inspiration is clearly stated in II Timothy 3:16 which says that the Bible is inspired by God so that it is profitable for instruction in righteousness not instruction in science. To take a poem and use it as a scientific text is wrong. It is like trying to use a hammer as a screwdriver. It does not work.
-Stephen Meyers