The B-I-B-L-E · Something Good Radio

No book is more cherished and revered in the hearts of some and more damned and despised in the minds of others than the Holy Bible.

Perhaps you grew up in the church and from an early age learned a lyric that goes like this: "The B-I-B-L-E; yes, that’s the book for me; I stand alone on the word of God; the B-I-B-L-E.” Do you remember that tune? Can you still sing it today?

Maybe you’ve learned to live comfortably by the motto, “If God said it, I believe it, and that’s good enough for me!” You’ve settled the matter in your heart that the Bible is God’s word to modern people. It is God’s word to you!

A popular preacher in Houston, Texas begins each of his sermons by having everyone in the congregation raise their Bible high in the air and repeat, “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the word of God.” Tens of thousands of people who attend this church make this bold declaration each week.

But for some it’s not so easy. They have questions about the Bible. What about you?

The Bible (from the Greek word biblia, meaning “books” or “scrolls”) is the best-selling book of all time, written over 1500 years by 40 different authors using three different languages. It is really collection of sixty-six books that share an amazing, some say miraculous, continuity. Having roots in cultures found on three different continents, the Bible claims to be the complete revelation of God and His inspired word. It has lasted the test of time and changed millions of lives.

The Bible has been described as “the Magna Charta of the human spirit.” George Washington said, “It is impossible to righteously govern the world without God and the Bible.” Ronald Reagan, the thirty-ninth president of the United States, said, “Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems that face us today – if only we would read and believe.”

It shouldn’t surprise us that with millions of books in libraries all around the world, American presidents still place their hand on the Bible when they take the oath of office and say, “So help me God.”

The Bible is the book of all books and simply known as “The Book.” But is the Bible the word of God? Is it God’s word to modern people? Can we trust it? Should we believe it? Do we take it literally? Furthermore, does it have the authority to tell us how to live? It’s one thing to have great respect for the Bible; it’s another thing to do what it says even if that means you’re swimming up the cultural stream.

The Bible is the most attacked and maligned book ever. Like a champion heavyweight fighter, it has taken punch after punch, round after vicious round, and yet remains standing at the end of the fight.

For example, in the eighteenth century, a French philosopher and atheist named Voltaire boastfully declared the demise of the Bible. “Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth!” he predicted. How ironic that Voltaire’s house was later used as the headquarters of the International Bible Society, an organization that prints and distributes millions of Bibles around the world.

What do you say about the B-I-B-L-E? I’d like to hear from you.

Comments

rgeel says:

Ron - thanks for your great expository teaching on the Bible. I was brought up in a church where the Bible was thought of as a good historical document but you didn't actually read it or digest it. You could just decide for yourself what parts of it were relevant to you and skip the rest. Unfortunately, this church is in turmoil and decline. I can't help but think that it is because they neglected God's word. However, under excellent teaching by men who are faithful to God's word as truth to live by, I have learned that His word can be trusted and used successfully in this crazy and often upside down world. As my wife and I counsel couples using God's word as the foundation of their marriage, we have seen firsthand how God changes lives. I appreciate the lesson in apologetics so that I am better able to be ready with an answer to those who would denigrate God's word. In His Service, Rich Geel

ISA4031 says:

This is a very timely series. I hope that you will address how we make sense of the different voices that all use the Bible as their justification. What about liberation theology? What about the prosperity gospel? How do we choose a translation? All of this may be simple for a learned bibilical scholar but it is very confusing for the lay person. How do we protect ourselves with the Word of God from those who would deceive us using the very same book?

yalesrl says:

What is truth? As you pointed out in your message Sunday, the predominant philosophy of our time is moral relativism. In an oversimplified manner, what this approach says is: “truth is whatever is true for me and that may not be the same for you.” On that basis, we are then encouraged to respect each other’s truth as being equally valid. While it may make some people feel comfortable, this epistemological position sets us adrift in a world absent moral or spiritual certainty. Your teaching us about the Bible, reminds us that there are moral absolutes. God both is and has defined for us truth and moral certainty. He has given this to us in His Word, the Bible. Especially in these times, it is imperative that we not lose our moral compass and that we do not surrender the authority of our Creator to the to the individual whims and interpretations of His created beings. Tolerance is a wonderful thing at times but not if it causes us to forsake the sovereignty of God and His changeless truth. Thank God and you for your reminder to us that the Bible is God’s word for all ages. Truth does not adapt to modernity but all change and advancement remains subject to the power and truth of God.

Trammell says:

Dear Ron, I am looking forward to your series on the Bible and I also want to thank you for starting your blog. I have never commented on a blog before, but I felt moved to do so thinking that this may help me in my own walk with God. So here is my question. We have all heard each other talk about being in God’s Word and the positive experiences it brings, but have you ever had a negative experience? One experience that still disturbs me is when I read about Jephthah’s tragic and foolish vow in the book of Judges for the first time. I had not heard the story before and I must admit that I was expecting God to intervene. However a chill ran down my spine and I broke out in a cold sweat as I read how the story ended. So I am hoping that you spend some time on what we do with the harder parts of the Bible. I am also hoping that your blog brings some heart felt and honest discussion where people can share and be open about their faith and walk in Christ. Scott Trammell

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