06.13.06
The Point Of The Bible Is Not To Know The Bible
By Danny Sims
So what is the point? I’d say it is to know God. The scriptures tell God’s story and introduce us to Him. Knowing Him is the whole point of life.
By "knowing Him" I do not mean to say the Bible is just information (like you would know your college history text) or casual (like you know the guy three cubicles down and read the e-mails he forwards around). Really "knowing" the God of the Bible means He will shape your very soul.
I’m grieved by the culture that’s developed where knowing the Bible is about being right, passing judgement, defending a position, memorizing data, supporting a political party, or one of many other imposter functions.
I recall seeing a national newscast where a guy stood in a line of protestors at an abortion clinic. He was yelling while holding a sign with a huge Bible on it along with the words, "You’re going to HELL, the Bible tells me so."
"Know the scriptures in order to know God and He will bless you" would have been a much better pro-life message. John says “These things are written that you may believe and that by believing you might have life…â€
Jesus says, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.â€
Micah says the LORD requires us to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
If knowing the Bible doesn’t help you do that, what’s it for?
Dee O'Neil Andrews said,
June 19, 2006 at 11:43 am
I really like this post, Danny. I’m especially taken with your conclusion with the quote from Micah: “Micah says the LORD requires us to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. If knowing the Bible doesn’t help you do that, what’s it for?” Following those three things that Micah sets out will certainly lead to a Godly life and I, for one, need to heed them. Thanks.Brent said,
June 20, 2006 at 1:51 pm
A literal interpretation of the Bible and one that views it as 100% accurate and inspired has formed the ideas about God, reality, prophecy, spirituality, etc. You can’t deny the accuracy of the Bible and then still hold on to its ideas about these things. Many Christians are finally understanding that God didn’t create the world 4,010 years ago and that Noah’s flood might not have happened. Some are under the suspicion that God really didn’t tell the Joshua to kill all the inhabitants of Palestine. The list goes on and on. Instead of denying only the more obvious problems that are coming to light, maybe Christians need to re-evaluate their entire view of God and spirituality. I still consider myself a Christian by tradition but suspect that most of the conclusions we have drawn have been created in our own heads and not necessarily revealed by God. Brent