It’s called “The Good Book.” It’s influence on our English language is unprecedented. Many of our common phrases came right out of the Bible. Here are a few of the many examples:
- the apple of my eye - Psalm 17:8
- the salt of the earth - Matthew 5:13
- a little bird told me - Ecclesiastes 10:20
- eat, drink and be merry - Luke 12:19
- old wives' tales- 1Timothy 4:7
- wolf in sheep's clothing - Matthew 7:15
- a leopard can't change its spots - Jeremiah 13:23
The Old Testament is the Jewish sacred text, while as Christians we consider both the Old and New Testaments to be somehow God’s word. That much we might agree on, but how to read the Bible and what it’s message means and calls us to think, say, and do is a matter of endless controversy.
Although Paul was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures when he wrote to Timothy, we can apply them to the whole of the Bible: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Ah, but did you catch what I just did? I interpreted Paul’s views on the Old Testament Scriptures to also apply to the New Testament Scriptures, many of which had yet to be written and the twenty-seven books that eventually were included in the New Testament had not been agreed upon. To read is to interpret. Some argue they just read what The Bible plainly says and that’s the way it is, with no interpretation, but the fact is we’re always influenced by our context and presuppositions.
Just as Jesus was and is the incarnation of God, so the Bible is the incarnational Word of God. It is God’s message to us through the writings of real human beings. They expressed the truth of God through the events they experienced and the meaning God inspired them to attach to their experience of God in real time and space. We don’t worship the Bible, but as we read and digest the words recorded, the Holy Spirit points us in faith to Jesus, and through Jesus to God the Father. Paradox and mystery is an unavoidable part of our approach to the Bible, for while we speak of the Bible as the Word of God, it becomes the word of God as the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to the truth expressed. Nikita Khrushchev was famous for his ability to memorize entire books of the New Testament, yet it touched not his heart. On the other hand, some poor soul can be at the end of their rope, contemplating suicide in a lonely motel room and open a Gideon Bible, and find themselves deeply touched by same words, and experience the love of God in Jesus. Same words, completely difference results depending on the work of the Holy Spirit making the words of the Bible God’s word to us.
I am comforted by the Westminster Confession of Faith’s confidence that what we need to know is clearly expressed, while there remain mysteries and even controversies which constantly swirl around our reading and understanding of the Bible: All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. (Quoted from the first article of The Westminster Confession) That’s why we read our Bibles and keep on reading our Bibles as we strain to hear God’s word to us. The finite words of the Bible point to an infinite God. My grandfather Carrick was a student of the Bible whose list of questions he wanted to ask God when he got to heaven probably exceeded what he knew for sure from his decades of study. I’ve got my own list going.
So we pray before opening our Bibles, and having read a particular book, paragraph, or verse, hundreds of times, God suddenly opens our eyes to God’s word to us in this moment. There’s a collision of God’s truth and our lives. Now what do we do? We need to check it out with other trusted Christians to make sure we’re hearing God and not bending the word to fit what we want it to say. We then pray some more before acting. Remember, we don’t trust ourselves, but somehow we trust God working through us together. Like blind people reporting in on what they know of the object before them, it’s only in the contributions of others they know they’re describing an elephant. Then we act, for as James says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
But what happens when we come to a situation when God seems to be doing something we had not imagined and The Bible, as it’s been understood up to that point, seems to be at odds with “reality on the ground”? What then? That’s when we’re in for a bumpy ride as we use Scripture to interpret Scripture and try to feel our way along in faith, trusting that God will get us through the controversy.
Now…for the other stuff on my desk…
My thanks to the many volunteers who made our burger booth another success. We’re already putting a team together for next year’s event, so if you want to get in on the ground floor of the planning, email me and I’ll pass the message along. (rgantenbein@sbcglobal.net )
With that…you really do know what I know…
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