The Bible

The Bible. No book has ever generated so much adoration, turmoil, study and discussion. Heralded as the foundation of our culture; banned as subversive rhetoric. People have died for the privilege of reading the Bible in their own language; people still die for attempting to read the Bible in their own language. The first book ever printed. The most widely read book in the world.

Nations have fought, churches have splintered, laws have been made and revoked, and people imprisoned or exiled based on what this book says. Or more accurately, the different ways people have perceived what this book says and who gets to make that decision.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Matthew 10:34-36.

Just the word “Bible” generates adoration in some and abhorrence in others.

If you read and study it, you know it can be confusing, contradictory, unclear and open to multiple interpretations. The same verse can vary in meaning in each translation.

A person can find justification for almost any behavior in the Bible if they choose to approach it looking for self-justification. Perhaps God did not intend for us to approach it that way. Perhaps anytime I approach the Bible with a personal agenda, even a worthy one, I risk misusing the Word of God.

When I was in my late 20’s, my mother was struggling with ALS, a debilitating and deadly disease. I highlighted every mention of God’s healing hand in my Bible. I underlined every time people prayed for and received healing. When my mother died, I was sure it was because my prayers and my faith were not sincere enough or strong enough or “enough,” because the Bible clearly states that God can heal all diseases. I must have been the problem. Satan made sure I heard that message.

It can be risky approaching the Word of God with a personal agenda. But when we open our hearts and minds to what the Holy Spirit will teach us about God and ourselves through scripture, what a difference!

Because the Bible is a reliable witness to God. The Bible is the written word, which when joined with the Living Word, Jesus, is the best way to learn about our creator, our savior, our Lord.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Too often, we in the west take our Bibles for granted, allowing them to gather dust on our bookcases. What a gift they are! What an amazing feat that pre-literate peoples carried these stories verbally for centuries. God spoke to these people thousands of years ago, and His message to them still resonates with us, teaching us about God. God’s love letters to us.

Can you imagine not having access to the Bible? Many people still don’t. If someone confiscated all the Bibles and outlawed their use, would I know enough of it to continue telling the story? I am not very good at memorizing scripture, especially since I read several translations. Is there enough there for the Holy Spirit to use?

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. John 14:25

I thank God for the Bible, in all its confusing and contradictory grandeur. I thank God for the privilege of reading it and studying it; for the privilege of talking about it and writing about it. Open my eyes and ears, my heart and mind, Lord, to learn more about You.

Betsy