10 Things the Bible Is NOT
Last night, I had a very interesting exchange with a new friend on Twitter and we ended up in a friendly debate over the Word of God. He had several opinions about the Word I presented the Word to back up my own stances.
What I find hilarious is that many people consider themselves experts of the Word yet do not know God for themselves and attempt to discredit His Word which is proof that they do not know Him or It. So with that in mind, here is what the Bible is NOT.
1) The Bible is NOT a Feel-Good Book.
This is not to say that the Bible will never make you feel good (it surely will from time to time!), but it was not written for the purpose of giving your warm fuzzies.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
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. (II Timothy 3:16, 17)
2) The Bible is NOT a Buffet.
This isn’t Golden Corral where you can pick what you want and walk back to your seat. Nope, you take it all or not. You start cherry-picking and that’s where you get trouble.
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18, 19)
Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God… (Deuteronomy 28:1, 2)
3) The Bible is NOT Open to Interpretation.
Just as you cannot walk away from reading one of my books and wholly understanding them without having a personal relationship with me and knowing my spirit, heart, and intentions, neither can we interpret God’s Word without His Spirit illuminating and revealing the truth of it to us.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things… (John 14:26)
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-15)
4) The Bible is NOT Man-Made.
The prophets and apostles did not sit down of their own accord and decide to compose letters and books that would form the most popular and time-withstanding piece of literature in the world. They were tools to record the inspiration of God by His Spirit. Man’s finite abilities could not accomplish the creation of the Word of God.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God… (II Timothy 3:16, 17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…. 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. (John 1:1, 2, 14 emphasis mine)
5) The Bible is NOT Changeable.
God’s Word is as changeable as He is. And guess what? Since God isn’t changeable, neither is His Word.
For I am the Lord, I do not change. (Malachi 3:6)
…The word of God…lives and abides forever… (I Peter 1:23)
6) The Bible is NOT Contradictory.
To the young or immature believer—and most certainly to the unbeliever, the Bible may very well appear to be contradictory. But if you know God, and truly know His Word, then you understand that it is not in any way contradictory.
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10)
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13, 14)
7) The Bible is NOT Bigoted.
This is a modern accusation that is wholly without foundation. This is what people say when they don’t like what the Bible has to say about a “pet” subject of theirs (i.e. homosexuality, any other sexual immorality, etc.). God’s Word is for ALL people.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
…God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3, 4)
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:27-29)
8) The Bible is NOT Irrelevant.
People think the Bible is irrelevant because of its age, stances, affiliation, and more. There are also those who think that if a specific situation such as dating or stem cell research isn’t’ listed in it, then it doesn’t have an opinion. Not so. Not only does the letter of the Word speak, but the Spirit does as well and they do not contradict each other.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” (Luke 4:4)
9) The Bible is NOT False.
Since the Word is God and God is not false, then the Word is not false. And to those who believe God is false, that’s unfortunate because mere opinion won’t change the unwavering truth that He was, is, and will always be alive.
…Let God be true but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)
10) The Bible is NOT Optional.
We cannot live without the Word of God. Period.
But [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him… (Hebrews 11:6)
