Hi David, again I find Andrews theology to be lacking and his view immature in this particular area.

I think the problem in part is that he is trying to make short statements, on large matters, which need to be " fleshed out " better to expose the nuances. They also need to take into consideration the weight of all scripture, not just a few verses that in " splendid isolation" seem to support his position.

This statement " God's Word does not need to be supplemented with problems to accomplish its work " denies a great many scriptures.  

The truth is that our faith is dead without actions (James 2:26), no matter how much " head knowledge " we have, it is useless and dead without existential expression. Our actions play a role in the perfecting of our characters. We build character as we react to tests, trials, opportunities, challenges, and " exercise " our faith.

 
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever...

 
In this verse is it the word that produces the glory in us, or is it our present troubles (existential, sufferings).

Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings , because we know that suffering produces perseverance ; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

In this scripture is it the Word that produces the perseverance, or is it the suffering?

I could go on and on with dozens of verses that completely contradict Andrew's theology, but that is sufficient. It is not that he is wrong, it's that his theology is incomplete - allow me to illustrate. 

Suppose we have a row boat with two oars. One is the Word and the other is deeds. By deeds I mean a framework of existentialism - life experience with trials, tests, challenges, overcoming, sufferings, victories, failures, etc. (Humor me for a moment - I know this is usually presented as faith and works).

Andrew completely throws out one oar (existential experience) and can only go in circles, with a dead faith that has "he ad knowledge " only. No deeds, no trials, no tests to refine and prove it's mettle.

On the other hand, a transcendentalist like Ralph Waldo Emerson makes the opposite mistake and throws out the other oar - the Word. Deprived of " special revelation " and " objective truth ", he is lost on a sea of subjective thought, going in circles of the opposite direction.

In actual fact, both oars together will allow one to row swiftly in a straight course to a personal relationship with God that is tried, tested, and true. 

Consider Romans 2 - Even someone who has no knowledge of the Word is without excuse because there is " natural revelation " and what God requires is written on men's hearts - it's " innate ". The " special revelation " of the word is not the only way God reaches out to men.

Existential experience within the boundaries GOD has set, with the innate moral compass planted within, with the striving of his Spirit, is still limited without the guidance of the Word - that's true . It is best to have both working in unison. The Word and the merits of rationalism should not be ignored, downplayed, or rejected.

The opposite is also true. Without existential expression and internal witness, the Word does not produce a crop. As in the parable of the seed that fell on rocky soil, or shallow soil, only under certain conditions will the Word produce a crop.

Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop Hmmmm.... Where have we heard this word persevering before? What produces it?

Andrew is completely right to uplift the Word but a word based faith is dead, untried, untested, without actions to exercise and purify it within an existential framework. A " head knowledge " religion won't " cut it" .

On the other hand, faith that is tried and tested in the furnace of affliction is like pure gold. That doesn't come by the Word alone,  it comes by persevering through sufferings born of existential experience.

Jeremiah 9:7 Th erefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: "See, I will refine and test
them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?

Who is speaking here? It is the LORD Almighty who is doing the refining and testing!!! Why didn't he just give them more of " the Word " if Andrew is right, why did he decide to refine and test them instead? The fact is they already had the Scripture, yet he added refining and testing to purge them of their sin and purify their faith.

 
Isaiah 48:10 I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in
the furnace of suffering .

Andrews statement is without merit - " If problems were what perfected us, then most Christians would have been perfected long ago and those who experienced the greatest problems would be the greatest Christians".

I could use the same logic and say that is the Word alone perfected us, God would have left us in the garden of Eden with a Bible, and we would all be perfect. He didn't, he kicked us out to learn some hard " life lessons ". Besides this " natural revelation " he gave us his prophets and apostles, his Son, his Spirit, and the written Word. God works on multiple fronts, in various ways - not just the written Word.

One can be a Bible scholar, in fact a professor of theology with the Word " coming out of your ears " but not " know " God, or have any perfection of character. There are many examples.
 

Bishop Raymond John Lahey  had a Bachelor of Theology, a Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (magna cum laude)  but he was still caught lying to protect the pedophile Priests in his charge, and was himself caught importing child pornography of the most graphic, horrendous, and torturous kind. Something more is required than having the Word, one must live the Word.

 
James 1:2-15 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials  of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. .. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial , because when he has stood the test , he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

For more study here is another article along these lines - http://www.globalchristians.org/articles/messiah/sufferjc.htm

without reading Ken's reply I would like to comment .... If this is totally of Mr. Womack I would be suspect of its content.. He is only looking at the Carnal and has forsaken the Spiritual. You must always know the  Heart of the Scriptures" ask yourslf why or what for was this particular scripture written. For What purpose is it to serve. I would have to disagree with this content.  If there are portions that are of Mr. McMillen then I say that you need to do your own study and say what you Believe is to be true and not the word of another. The Lord said, "YOU must eat my flesh and drink my blood" I would not treat you as a lamb for I suspect that you know what that means. We need to drink in the scriptures with our own eyes and heart in order to understand what the Lord is intending with a particular scripture or scriptures. By posting another's "Word" or Article you are saying I vouch for this person and rendering. Blessings to you Mr. McMillen...