Lord, Teach Us To Pray! Part 23

Prayers of Confession continued...

And while we’re on the topic of the Bible, I’ve been getting some correspondence lately attempting to dispute the fact that the Bible is the word of God. Keep in mind these denials and repudiations of the Bible as being the divinely inspired word of God are not coming from atheists or agnostics, they are coming for professing Christians, who have somehow gotten it into their heads that they should no longer read their Bibles, or follow the precepts thereof.

From what I can gather, the entire argument revolves around an issue of semantics.

Yes, there is a difference between the Word, as described in the gospel according to John, and the Bible, what we often refer to as the word of God.

John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”

Since it is incumbent upon us to interpret scripture with scripture, we discover who the Word is, in the same chapter of the same gospel we just quoted.

John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

So the Word that was in the beginning, the Word that was with God, and the Word that was God, is none other than Christ Jesus our Lord. Yes, the Word became flesh, and He dwelt among us, and men beheld His glory full of grace and truth.

For some reason still unclear to me, some have taken to extrapolating this truth, and concluding that since Jesus is the Word, we have no need for Scripture, and reading the Bible is unprofitable to us as believers.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

All Scripture, is given by inspiration of God! All Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness! We have the Bible, we have Scripture, that the man of God may be complete, and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Enough of foolishness already!

We get into these arguments on semantics, about whether or not the word ‘word’ is capitalized or not, wasting time arguing our point of view, when it’s clear as day who the Word is, and what the word of God is. Have we nothing better to do than dream up new dogmatic irrelevancies that do nothing in the way of bringing us closer to God? Have we nothing better to do than argue over the capitalization of a certain word to the point of denouncing those who would disagree with us as heretics?

And so, to anyone that is thinking of forwarding me the ‘groundbreaking teaching’ on why the Bible is not the word of God, please refrain. I’ve already seen it, dismissed it, and plead the blood of Jesus on those who would disseminate it.

Instead of being warriors for Christ, we’re wasting our time being little kids arguing over whose dad can beat up whose dad, and whether or not we flinched playing hot hands, or slapsies.

Romans 1:22, “Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

Mark 9:42, “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

The Shepherd is protective of His flock, and we as His ambassadors and disciples must be equally protective of them. I’m sorry if I sound unloving or intolerant, but there are certain things for which we must stand resolute, certain things on which we cannot compromise, lest we too be counted among those for whom it would have been better if a millstone were hung around their necks, and thrown into the sea.

We have enough to deal with standing against the tide of darkness, corruption and deception that is descending upon the house of God, without having to defend the gospel to professing believers. Without the Bible, we would have no light to guide our footsteps, and we would have no compass to show us the way we must go.

If the days that are almost upon us find us squabbling, backbiting, and attempting to undermine the sovereignty of Scripture rather than praying, growing, and walking in the power of God, we will be trotted underfoot as readily as those who have Jesus on their lips but not in their hearts.

It is well past time we put childish things aside. It is well past time we began to earnestly desire the deeper things of God. It is well past time that we put in the time, and established a true and lasting intimacy with God the Father, for in the days to come it will be His strength that will carry us, His protection that will keep us, and His hand that will comfort us.

If we are caught unprepared, if we are caught unequipped, if we are caught lacking power and authority in Christ, it is not God’s fault it is ours for being distracted, for having the attention span of teenagers riddled with ADD, and for not valuing the season of freedom and peace we’ve been granted as we ought to have.

Yes, it is entirely our fault for being distracted by flash, and pomp and newness, rather than diligently following after Christ, and seeking the old paths of righteousness, holiness and sanctification.

Due to distraction, indifference, or lack of vigilance, many will soon find themselves on the outside looking in, wondering what happened, shell shocked by the reality that while they argued over which lamp to use, which wick burned brightest, and where one could find the cheapest oil, the Groom came in and shut the door behind Him.

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.