Where do I start? I’m sure you have asked that question somewhere along the line.
You want/need to get both cars in the garage but know its current state won’t allow it. Where do I start?
You are faced with tearing up and rebuilding your kitchen sink and plumbing. Where do I start?
You look at your junk room knowing it needs to be put in order. Where do I start?
One of the easier answers to that question is when you face a new building or adding-on project. Where do I start? Besides the required permits…
YOU START WITH THE BLUEPRINTS!!
I’m not a builder. I most definitely would have to hire someone to do any building or adding-on. My idea of reading a blueprint is “Yep that’s blue ink. And that looks like what we want to do. H-E-L-P!!!” No builder would consider doing a project of any kind without some type of blueprints. They need something to follow.
The follower of Christ finds himself in the same boat. Christianity is so much more than a written list of rules of dos and don’ts. Many try to pare it down to that. Rule #1: Don’t do this. Rule #21: Don’t do this. Rule #201: Don’t do this either. So, lest I be taken wrongly: the Christian life cannot be wrapped up into a neat little box.
BUT
we simply cannot discount the importance of the blueprints…the Bible. I am not talking about a rulebook approach. That only muddies the water. However, I am talking about using the Bible as our guide. Just as a builder would use a blueprint to guide his steps, the Christ-follower uses the Bible as a “step-guide.” I know the knocks against the Bible:
It is too difficult to understand. Only highly trained theologians can understand it. (Have you noticed how many of those highly trained minds actually confuse the issue?)
It is boring. True, there are spots that test a person’s patience and steadfastness. But the spots that excite and keep me wanting to read outnumber them.
This Sunday during my series “Beliefs Under Construction,” I will begin building a house that will take the next seven weeks. The start-up point, as you can gather, are the blueprints. I will be taking a look at this passage. I will affirm my belief in the Bible as God’s Written Word, inspired, inerrant, without mistakes. I know I may sound irrelevant and even narrow-minded, but I believe that is a non-negotiable. Would you please pray for me and the church this weekend? Stay tuned for Monday’s post. I’m going to tell a story about Billy Graham and the Bible.
What are your thoughts about the Bible? How strongly do you hold to it?
It’s the word of God. It’s His revelation of what He wants us to know about Him. I try to interpret my life by it….and so much more.
Totally agree with you Larry.
Your questions made me really think tonight. I have studied the Bible in depth and breadth from stem to stern multiple times. I have never thought of it as something to “hold to”. I have read the Bible as I have to better understand this “religion” and what it is all about, to learn about who God is and who this “son” was and is. When I was curious, it was a book to learn more. In my maturity, it was a way to deepen and grow a relationship. But I have never looked upon the Bible as a law book or a book to guide me when I am lost or a book to provide comfort. I think that I need to ponder on your questions a bit longer.
I’m glad my questions can cause questions Daniel. I have no problem seeing the Bible as a way to better understand things, to grow and mature. I also see it as a way to know how to live. May you find answers to your questions.
Sounds like a series my pastor gave called what you believe….
If you go up to the “average christian” and what is their core belief….they dont know….they dont say…Jesus God incarnate took our sins to the cross and died for us and on the 3rd day he rose from the grave. Basic beliefs that make us christians.
Sounds like its gonna be really good series…God speed!
Call it whatever…the idea is the same. I admit it. 🙂 And I affirm those basic beliefs. Praying it is a good series.
I don’t believe the Bible is inspired by God or God’s final word on how we should live and interact with one another. I think morality and right and wrong has evolved for the better through reason and knowledge.I don’t hold to it at all but do find it worthwhile from a strictly literary value.
You know I have to disagree with you on most of what you have said Jeff. I do believe it was inspired and do believe it is the final authority. I also have to disagree that morality has evolved for the better.
You would be in the wrong business if you agreed with me. The Muslim’s and Jews don’t agree with me either. Nothing wrong with diversity.
I’ve been reading Proverbs over the last little bit and it’s been giving me a new outlook on scripture. Proverbs speaks so much about wisdom and its value. More precious than almost anything else. And of course we get that through his word.
Just spoke with someone today about Proverbs 1:7. Good point Loren.
It led me to Him, it keeps me in Him, if I obey its principals I will mature and it will take me to heaven where I will see Him face to face. The WHOLE BIBLE is about Him. You can destroy my physical Bible but if I hide it in my heart no one can steal it. We will never know all the Bible contains but will meet the author face to face someday and all will be revealed.
So true what you say betty. Also true that hiding God’s Word in our heart is so important.
God’s word is life. It is the beginning and the end. Every human being is betting their soul on something. It may be their intellect or just chance, but all of us are betting our souls on what it is we put our faith in.
A document that has stood the test of time without failure, even under the attacks of the self titled “enlightened,” is evidence of His supremacy over His creation.
Remember when the secular world said that King David was a myth? Then they found proof of his life and reign in Israel.
How about the fact that all of the prophecies of the life and death of Jesus Christ added together and calculated mathematically proves beyond scientific reasoning that God’s word is true, even beyond our faith!
And yet the lost world is going to bet on something other than proof and truth?
I know Whom and have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.
The word of God is life… I can physically feel it when I hold it against my chest…
Praying for you and your people for this Sunday and everyday.
I can’t do it physically but I will give you a virtual stamp of approval Floyd on all you have said. Thanks so much for your prayers.
“For some years now, I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant.”
– Martin Luther
Thanks for the quote Steve.
I’m so glad that you are starting with this . .our blueprint . .. the Bible. 🙂 I have to have His Word in me, have to keep reading it, keep learning and leaning on Him through it. He is so faithful to help us understand what we need to, when we need to, if we just keep reading and asking Him to. God bless you and praying for your Sunday message. It’s going to be great!
Psalm 119 backs up your thought about have His Word in us. Thanks for your prayers Deb.
It’s often hard for me to read the Bible. My problem is that I love to read and so I find myself wanting to read the entire story… But with Bible, one cannot simply read the stories as a whole. So my problem is I either read a lot and then I am overwhelmed by all the information and thoughts and treasures… or I read one verse and I don’t go any further because my mind already stopped there and I get caught up on just that verse… It takes conscious effort to read and to comprehend what I am reading IN FULL, without skipping through the parts I’ve heard before. It helps to read different versions of the Bible in English because since it’s a different language it helps to focus the attention, and still…
But yes, I do believe that Bible is the Word of God, His letter to us.
Don’t you just hate it when the Bible is exciting and interesting? 🙂 (Tongue-in-cheek comment). Thanks for the affirmation Zee.
Yeah!!! 😀
Just catching up so I pray your words from this past week are still resounding in the spirits of those who heard it. I too bet it all on this being God’s inerrant Word.