For the longest time, a verse from Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessaloniki has kept coming to mind. It is the verse that reads “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”1 It finally occurred to me that the Holy Spirit was trying to impress upon me that this verse holds the key to having an abiding faith in God. It is easy to believe that the Bible was written by men of faith, harder though to accept that it was written by God through men of faith. Perhaps this is why so many who attempt a scientific study of how the Bible came to be, often end up losing their faith in their pursuit of knowledge and, in the end, are left with neither faith nor knowledge. I recently confessed to having the deepest and most abiding faith in Jesus and the prophets of the Old Testament. Jonah, Job, Noah… these were problematic for me. More problematic was that Jesus cited them in His teaching.
I realize that I have been like a shopper in a health food store. In quest of a better quality of life, I wander the aisles looking for this supplement, that compound, that will make my body perform more effectively. With choices guided by the most recent article I’ve seen, or the recommendations of friends, I selectively pick and choose from the shelves and walk away with a full basket and empty wallet. So I have been with the Bible, strolling among the books and picking out that which I’ll accept as truth and leaving behind that which I doubt. Although this has not threatened my salvation (I accept and claim Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for my sins and have eternal life through God’s gift of His Son), it has hindered my witness. Do I recommend the Bible as the Mostly Good Book? How do I answer the questions of unbelievers? Do I say “Well, I don’t believe that either”. In my pride, do I disavow books or teachings because I don’t want to seem ignorant? Because I know that doing any of those things would be wrong, it inhibits me from sharing, except with fellow believers. If you suggest to non-believers that the Bible is to be taken with a grain of salt, they will never be able to accept it as the word of God, rather than the work of men. “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”2
I came to a conclusion about the health food store. I no longer read about what’s new and wonderful but rather now limit myself to a multivitamin that has more ingredients than I know or understand, but I trust the brand. I’ve reached the same conclusion regarding the Bible. Like a multivitamin I open wide and swallow it whole. Although I will continue to study the Bible, it is with the sure and certain knowledge that I will never on this plane of existence have a complete understanding. Is it all true? I trust the brand. When an unbeliever raises questions I feel confident in citing the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy that all scripture is inspired and is useful for instruction 3. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”4 My incomplete knowledge now will be replaced by a complete understanding then. I look forward to that revelation.
1 1 Thessalonians 2:13
2 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NAS)
3 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
4 1 Corinthians 13:12
In a dry and thirsty land 