The B-I-B-L-E. So?
Apr 1st, 2008 by John
“For every one man who reads the Bible, one hundred men will read you and me.” D.L. Moody
Given the gender political incorrectness of Moody’s statement, he still makes a startling observation: Christians not only have a Bible; they are the Bible to many people. Where would old D. L. get a thought like that?
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
I’ve noticed two undeniable ways that the Bible is not given its rightful place in our lives and in the church at large. First, there are those who shout about inerrancy, authority, inspiration and they “battle for the Bible” in the public square. We must not remove the 10 Commandments from the courthouse lobby! What are the 10 Commandments? “Well, uh, uh, something about no other gods…uh, don’t kill…y’know.” Some claim to be all about protecting the Bible, but they hardly ever read it. Secondly, there are those who read it…diligently…so they can slice and dice it and so they can slice and dice anyone else who does not slice and dice the Bible the way they do. Oh, they know it all too well…as a weapon to blungeon those who disagree with them. “We have the BIBLICAL view of the end times.” “We have the BIBLICAL view of baptism.” “We have the BIBLICAL view of women in the church.” “We have the BIBLICAL view of the atonement.” And on it goes. The Bible is used to winnow out the chaff from the otherwise pure church (and usually the “pure church” is some little tiny theological ghetto of adherents). They are the contemporary version of the Essenes of Jesus’ day; God’s pets.
Another version of those who do read the Bible a lot is that group who read the Bible as a diversion from the Holy Spirit. It’s much easier to have a relationship with a book, than with a Person, especially the third Person of the Trinity. Some say in effect, “No thank you. The B-I-B-L-E that’s the book for me. Don’t talk to me about a growing, intimate relationship with God the Spirit. The Spirit freaks me out. I’m told the Spirit can sneak up on you like the wind. He comes and goes at his own will. No thank you. I need to stay in control. I prefer the book.”
Some have so divorced the Bible, the written Word, from Jesus Christ, the living Word, that some feel they have the right, even the duty to use the Bible in very unChristlike ways. And do they feel righteous when they do! They’re daring! They’re prophetic! They’re powerful! They don’t compromise! And every unbeliever in their sight runs for cover thinking, “If that is the kind of person the Bible produces, I’m outta here fast!”
One of the reasons I think Jesus made up and spun out compelling stories about the kingdom of God was that he was so sickened by the way the Bible was used in his day by the Bible experts and teachers of the Law. He saw how people were jaded by the oppressive use of Scripture. Scripture was turned into heavy weights to carry rather than a vital Story to live. So Jesus told stories about the big Story. The common people heard him gladly. They hung on his every word. It was the professional exegetes who really got snotty with farm-boy Jesus. Alas, there is nothing new under the sun.
By the way, John Wycliffe didn’t give his life so that we could read a page in “Our Daily Bread.” He died giving us for the first time in history the WHOLE Bible in the English language so we could read about and live the big Story. Wycliffe was so hated by many that after his death, his body was exhumed and burned because Wycliffe had been declared a heretic by those who wanted to keep the Bible in their control. I wonder if Wycliffe were alive today, would he think he had lived, labored and died in vain?
We not only have a Bible; we are the Bible. What are people reading?
Popularity: 4% [?]
wonderful post, John! As wrote on my blog…we are responsible for the Jesus we show and the Jesus the world sees; we are responsible for the Story we tell and the Story the world hears…
great thoughts!
-jeremy
Jeremy,
I agree with you…we are responsible for the Story we tell AND SHOW and for the Story the world hears.
John,
Well said.
I love the Word, but as Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of me.” (John 5:39)
The Pharisees and scribes were Bible scholars, but they missed the Messiah, the Author.
Although data and guidebooks and lists and scholarship have their place…
1. Relationship is more important than raw data.
2. A Guide is more important than a guidebook.
3. Life is more important than lists.
4. Spiritual understanding is more important than scholarship.
Would we rather be known as Jesus people, or Bible people?
Blessings,
Terry
Terry,
I like your comments very much. Thanks for stopping by.
God bless you.
John
John,
These comments are so insightful. I had an atheist professor who said he had decided years ago that any belief that did not effect the way those who believe it live, was not worth having.
Phil
Phil,
Thanks for commenting. There is another saying, “Show me how a person treats others and I will tell you what that person truly believes.”
John,
great post. i’ve grown so frustrated with being in an small, evangelical university and having to wade through the muck of spiritual words and “BIBLICAL” ways of doing things to find Truth and reality.
your comments helped to give clarity to my own thoughts.
adam.
also
terry.
great comment.
[...] And this is a good place to begin in Michael’s series on Brian McLaren’s book. 7. John Frye on “we are the Bible.” 8. Read Maria’s blog about small things with great love [...]
Several ways to misuse the B-I-B-L-E and miss the point…
John Frye has a great post up on how having or using the B-I-B-L-E makes little difference unless we actually are the Bible. Two ways he sees the Bible is not given its rightful place in our lives: Firstly, there are those who shout about inerrancy, au…
John,
Love this: “…that group who read the Bible as a diversion from the Holy Spirit.” Oh, man, is this such an entrenched and toxic mindset! Those same people make an idol out of the Bible…and don’t even see it. :^(
[...] 5, 2008 by TheWayofaPilgrim Here is some stuff I came across this week… 1. Be the B-I-B-L-E 2. David Aaronovitch calls out N.T. Wright 3. “There is no me without you” by – Melissa Fay [...]
Thank you for this post! I’ve been frustrated lately with some discussions I’ve had on the Pyromaniacs blog and this was a wonderful place to come and refresh myself with truth in love.
I must go off and link to this at my place.
[...] blog, “Jesus, the Radical Pastor.” Take a moment to enjoy John’s post “The B-I-B-L-E? So.” I wouldn’t mind your thoughts about what he has [...]
Ben (#10),
Thanks for the shout out. I appreciate it.
John
Peggy,
At one level I believe this avoidance of the Spirit and obsession with the Bible as a substitute is an amazing “scheme of the Enemy.”
Way of the Pilgrim,
Thanks, also, to you for the link. God bless!
John
Bryan Riley,
I am grateful that this post has been an encouragement to you. God bless you.
John
Charis Shalom,
Thanks so much for visiting *Jesus the Radical Pastor* and linking the post about the B-I-B-L-E. God bless!
Shalom Alekim,
John
Just so you know, Charis Shalom and Bryan Riley are one.
Bryan Riley/Charis Shalom,
Oops!
“Another version of those who do read the Bible a lot is that group who read the Bible as a diversion from the Holy Spirit. It’s much easier to have a relationship with a book, than with a Person, especially the third Person of the Trinity.” Very Good point…
In my cessasionist days, the Bible was the third person of the Triune God until I was discipled by Tim Cosby (in the Cornerstone days) who taught me what he was learning about the Holy Spirit.
Joel (#22),
Tim is one of the most astute, Spirit-led people I know. I loved serving with him when I was at Bella Vista Church. I like Jack Deere’s statement: “I found out that loving the Bible was not the same as loving God; and knowing the Bible was not the same as knowing God.” Powerful stuff.
John, love this post.
You wrote, “Jesus told stories about the big Story.” I am hoping that we do not miss the “big Story” of the whole Bible; that God loves us and wants us to not only be happy and live forever, but that He also wants us to really love others, in exactly the same way that He loves us.
Loving people like God loves us is kind of hard to do though. I’m glad it’s not up to us to get that kind of love. John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
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I am thankful that I was introduced to the Word of God and Jesus Christ as found in His Word – not man’s convoluted fabrication. The Holy Spirit along with the Word of God have helped me sniff out gimmicks.
I may not have had family members to instruct me with regards to the things of God, but the Word of God has not let me down. II Timothy 3:16
Man will fall (as those who were used by God in leading me to Jesus Christ some 32+ years ago). However, they did not direct me to themselves, but rather Jesus Christ as found in His Word.
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