Beliefs regarding Scripture
One of the main things for our movement is that we rely on scripture as the main source for how we conduct matters within the church. Campbell believed that “the cause of division rested in human additions to the Bible in the form of interpretations (creeds) and practices (traditions)” (Webb, 2003, p. 79). “Scriptures final authority, Scriptures only” is a major statement and belief in the SCM, and it implies that the ultimate authority does not lie with man on human effort but instead by the word of God. This does not mean that humans cannot have a say in how to interpret scripture. In fact, Campbell believed that “the voice of people is the voice of God” (Webb, 2003, p. 84). This voice is a collective sense of interpretation throughout the years. One individual cannot simply generate a view and change theology, however, they can challenge it.
One of the main reasons for this strong adherence to scripture and scripture alone is because when this movement was started, it aimed to combat denominations that required its congregants to adhere to creeds (man-made doctrinal statements). “Who, then, would not be the first among us to give up human inventions in the worship of God, and to cease from imposing his private opinions upon his brethren.” (Webb, 2003, p. 79). The goal of SCM is that the Bible be the only source that we need for understanding what God wants his people to do.
The SCM values all of scripture but does not consider the Old Testament law to be a requirement. Reading and study can aid our understanding of God, but we also acknowledge that the Old Testament was written to the Jewish nation and therefore it must be interrupted inside those margins. The New Testament is what we believe God has provided, through the Holy Spirit, for Christians to follow.