Trust the Bible
Jesus spoke of himself when he said, "A greater than the temple is here." He mentioned king Solomon and Jonah the prophet and said he was greater than them. He could have said the same about the church and the New Testament apostles. He could have said the same thing about the Bible. "A greater than the Bible is here." So when I'd urge someone who's pretty much a beginner to trust the Bible I don't mean she or he should worship the Bible or let it get between her or him and the Christ.
Christ knew very well that there were people who studied the Bible and missed God (and missed the Christ too--John 5:39-40). But that didn't keep him from learning it, using it to shape people, relying on it for truth and personal guidance when he was under trial in the wilderness. He knew the Bible could be misused but when someone asked him how he was to gain eternal life Christ pointed him to what the scriptures said and told him to do it (Luke 10:25-28). Paul knew very well how he and many others had missed the point of scriptures but he still insisted that God's word was able to build people up and give them an inheritance along with God's covenant people (Acts 20:32). And it wasn't for nothing that Peter urged his fellow-Christians to desire the pure word of God when he wanted them to outgrow envy and malice and the like (1 Peter 2:1-2).
People who impatiently dismiss deep and patient study of the scriptures didn't learn to do this from the scriptures themselves. You only have to read Psalm 119 to know that those who were devoted to God found his word to be the source of strength, joy, boldness, patience and intimacy with him. Be wary of anyone who in any way makes light of the Bible, and especially when they quote the Bible to make their point. Be wary of those who speak of Bible knowledge as "simply head knowledge" as opposed to "heart knowledge". It's possible of course to be able to quote verses and be a reprobate but that has nothing to do with the scriptures. That has to do with the person.
A member of the British parliament is quoted as blundering in response to an opponents critique of some policy or other, "What my honourable friend says is quite true but I don't hold with it." Be wary of anyone who admits what the Bible says about a given subject is true but then goes his own way in the matter.
During his trial in the wilderness (see Matthew 4) Christ quotes texts that came from Moses more than a thousand years earlier and still felt bound by them in his service to God. And these were texts that were addressed to people other than himself. I think this says a lot about how we lesser mortals should view scripture. Christ didn't see the Old Testament Bible as merely parchments and ink--he saw them as the living word of the living God. And he trusted them because he trusted the Spirit of God who wrote them.
I confess it irks me a bit to hear TV talk show people forbid some of their audience to quote scripture (and I have seen it happen) and then turn to some psychologist who quotes Freud or Adler or some other (by now) virtually dismissed by their own fraternity. Whatever else we are to say about the Hebrew-Christian Bible it's been around for millennia and nations have nourished themselves, their families and their justice system on it. To dismiss that and allow the doubtful and disputed opinions of sociologists and psychologists is more than a bit of impertinence. It's sheer ignorance. Even if you don't believe the scriptures are inspired of God they're nation shaping and have been doing it generation after generation for half of forever.
I know this is more advice that is more complex than I've made it appear but the central thrust of what I've said is true and no more complex than any other great truths. Finally, when we trust the Bible we are in fact calling on its Author to reveal himself in it rather than simply to give us "a correct understanding of what it says."
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
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