The Holy Bible is the primary guidebook for millions of spiritual followers around the world. It’s touted as still the best-selling book ever. The fact that it has been expanded from the King James Version to more modern translations and paraphrases is likely what has kept its ranking in book sales. Add to that the many study Bibles (for men, women, teens, depressed people, workaholics, charismatics, etc.), and you can see why it remains popular. But is it really God’s word?
One of the best dialogues I have heard recently was on the Neal Boortz talk radio show (I’m recreating it as best I can from memory.), when a caller remarked that God didn’t like such and such, to which Boortz replied, “How do you know that God doesn’t like it?” Caller: Because God said so. Boortz: How do you know God said so? Caller: Because it’s in the Bible. Boortz: And who wrote the Bible, sir? Caller: God wrote the Bible. Boortz: How do you know that God wrote it? Caller: (beginning to get a little frustrated) Because it’s in the Bible. Boortz: Do you mean to say that God actually put pen to paper and wrote the book that you’re reading? Caller: No, God spoke to men, who then wrote it down. Boortz: OK, what you’re talking about is faith. I will defend any day your right to have faith. But don’t tell me that God wrote the Bible, because you have no proof. In fact, men wrote the Bible.
Can a Supreme Being dictate to a mortal things to write down, copy and pass on to others? Absolutely. Can that same Being inspire a mortal to write great thoughts, using his own words (and possible opinions)? Sure. Is what we call the Bible the complete, inerrant representation of what God dictated to men or inspired them to write over a period of about 1,500 years? Not so sure.
I will allow that God could inspire or dictate in just the way that the many Biblical scholars assert, even though they differ on many things — especially interpretation. However, I have questions, and I really don’t believe that God is offended at me for asking them. I like the Bible. Through it I have been able to conjure up an image of God (albeit somewhat obscure), was introduced to Jesus Christ and learned some great moral lessons.
But what requires me to accept every word of it at face value? As I said, I have questions? What if God didn’t inspire, dictate or otherwise assure the complete accuracy of every word in the Bible and confirm that it all came from him? If so, what if he chose not to obliterate it, but instead let us muddle through our own feeble interpretations and complicated doctrines.
Other questions. Why did he decide to pick just one nation (actually a man, Abram) and restrict all of his communication to his descendants? If the Christian message today is to love our enemies, why did he tell the Israelites to go across the border and kill every man, woman, child and animal in a country that he promised to give to them (also because the people living there were pagan)?
Why would he make a big deal about killing an animal and sprinkling its blood around in order to “turn his anger away” from their bad behavior? Why couldn’t he just say, “Be good, or you’re getting a spanking.”? Why did he require “his people” to build him a huge house, when even King Solomon admitted that it couldn’t contain him. Don’t stop me. I’m on a roll.
When Jesus quoted a little bit of the Old Testament (the exclusive Jewish writings), was he really confirming that all of the OT was indeed God’s word? And if he was to be the ultimate sacrifice, shedding his blood for our sins, so that we wouldn’t have to burn forever, wouldn’t you think that this was his one shot to make this whole plan of salvation thing a lot clearer? I actually had someone tell me that you must read the Epistles first, so that you can understand the Gospels. So we can’t take God’s Son at his word without needing some mortals to explain it to us first?
Here’s a thought: test of reasonableness. This can be applied to the Bible (any version), spiritual help books, teachers, preachers and anyone who wants to discuss it with you. This gift that God gave us puts us significantly higher than any other living thing that he created. He’s not intimidated by us asking questions. I personally believe that it’s okay to put some things on the back burner, let them simmer, and don’t digest them until they pass a test of reasonableness.
Many portions of the Bible have become clearer to me when I began to apply this test. Perhaps it was a specific teaching of the Holy Spirit (also promised by Jesus) when I became open to wait patiently for the right answer. And there are plenty of encouraging words and admonitions in that holy book to keep me busy in my daily walk. I want to be like my heavenly Father. I want him to be proud of me. I want to shake off the things that bind me and bring me down.
I want to be obedient and loving. Sure, I could have learned from him without ever opening the Scriptures, but I’m sure glad that he told some folks who had the sense to write it down.
December 7th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Yes, I wonder about the character of God as portrayed in the Old Testament. Many people say that the God of the Old Testament seems different than the God of the New Testament. Did God change? I don’t think so. Jesus was a mirror representation of God, his Father, while he walked the earth. Would he have instructed the Israelites to annilate a society?
December 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I have always been taught that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. But, I know that God did a lot of things that I don’t understand and others that I know don’t really understand. I recall the passages when God tells the Israelites to kill men, women, children, and lifestock–to burn everything and take no spoils. When I have asked why, then the typical response is that God does not want the Israelites to be polluted by pagan societies. I always accepted this answer, because they assured me that God was a just God, and this was part of his justice. Personally, I don’t know the answer. But, since Jesus is the mirror representation of God while he lived on earth, then I wonder why Jesus seemed so merciful and loving to the Samaritan woman, in John 4. Jesus was representing God as being merciful to the pagans. Not only merciful, but offering eternal life through the living water he offered the woman. I don’t have answers, but I have been having a few questions
December 6th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Some of the truer Biblical scholars try to remain neutral, giving the literal translation combined with secular terminology of the time. They also will quote the interpretations of early church fathers. But many scholars will stop short of askng the WHY question. I think it’s because they are afraid to address the fact that there are anomalies that might make the Bible not so genuine. They would prefer to chalk it up to the “mystery of God.”
I have no reason to deny the events of the Old Testament. I believe in miracles, giants, pillars of fire and all that. I do, however, challenge some of the acts and sayings attributed to God, because they are inconsistent with what I believe he is teaching me about my life. Why would he expect his child to be something different than himself?
Regarding the Law or the Prophets, many scholars say that Jesus is confirming and approving the entire OT by saying that he hascome “to fulfill them.” But if you read it in context he’s referring to the commandments that lead to righteousness, primarily the Big Ten. There are a few other difficult teachings of Christ that I can’t make any sense of. I honestly don’t know if he really said them, or if they were translated incorrectly. But I cannot accept them until I understand them. I believe his Holy Spirit teaches me that.
December 5th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I have always found in the Bible something beyond my own understanding. I may not believe that every translation is right, or that our interpretation of those translations are, but I do believe that it was inspired by God. I don’t think God is threatened by honest questions, but I seriously think most of the best Bible scholars use a similiar test of reasonableness – they just have different minds, experiences and powers of reasoning.
Do you believe the Old Testament is a fabrication? Or a series of nice stories or myths? What about the New Testament? What did Jesus mean when he said “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”? Do you believe the New Testament accurately relates the words of Jesus?