As a kid I remember listening to a sermon when the pastor made a controversial point. He sensed that people in the congregation might not agree, so he held his Bible high and said, “If you disagree, take it up with God. God said it; I believe it; and that settles it for me.”
Now, I liked church, for the most part. I did get in trouble sometimes. One time, my brother and I even made a gasoline bomb and set it off in the church parking lot. But you’ll have to read the rest of that story in the book.
But back to our topic. When I heard people say something like “God said it; I believe it; that settles it for me” it didn’t seem that they wanted to go deeper into God’s truths. It’s that they seemed to treat the Bible mainly as a rule book. “Stop thinking about it; just follow the rules.”
Rule books are important. The Bible has rules in it that show us how to live a good life. But rule books don’t inspire us. You don’t see people curling up with a cup of coffee and studying their car’s
maintenance manual. Some people might find that interesting. But most of us want to know, “How do I live wisely today? Does my life have purpose? How can I share the truth in a way that others will listen?”
Here’s another way we might think about the Bible. A compass. When my children and I were testing for our advanced diving certification, we had to descend 40 feet below the surface and swim in a square, 100 feet in each direction, until we made it back to the group. Visibility was pretty low and within just a few kicks, I couldn’t see our group at all. I needed my compass to guide me through the gloom and back to safety.
Throughout history, the Bible has done that for billions of people. 66 books, written over the course of 1,500 years by 40 authors from different cultures and all different walks of life. And yet the Bible
conveys one central message, the story of how God created everything, how we humans fell into sin, and how God has offered redemption and is restoring all things.
The Bible’s truths have been verified through history and archaeology. Its words have been accurately transmitted through time. And the Bible doesn’t ask you to just take it at its word. Unlike any other influential religious book, the Bible invites the reader to examine its truth.
The Bible has been picked apart, banned, and mocked. It has been confiscated and destroyed. Its wisdom changes the world for the good, and that is a threat to those who hold the reins of power and
benefit from lies and oppression.
The Bible records many mysteries, but it does not shroud in secrecy the most important revelation in all the world: there is a God who speaks to everyone everywhere about everything.
Seems to me that this is a lot deeper than saying “God said it; I believe it; that settles it for me.” I wonder if you agree?
