Question, out of curiosity. Without agenda. Seriously wondering.
If you do, why do you believe what the Bible says? Or, why do you believe what the Bible says is true?
I've been thinking about scriptural authority, and how we use the Bible. I took a whole course, taught by the excellent Dr. Wesley Ariarajah, on 'The Authority of Scripture' in seminary, and it is a fascinating study. Today someone commented anonymously on my previous post about "in joy disbelieving," by saying only "james 1:2-8," which is a passage about joy and doubt and ends with "for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord."
Without any help from the commenter, I'm not sure what to think of the passage in the context of my post. But it did get me thinking about the nature of scripture. Thus, my question: why do you believe what the Bible says?
If you do, why do you believe what the Bible says? Or, why do you believe what the Bible says is true?
I've been thinking about scriptural authority, and how we use the Bible. I took a whole course, taught by the excellent Dr. Wesley Ariarajah, on 'The Authority of Scripture' in seminary, and it is a fascinating study. Today someone commented anonymously on my previous post about "in joy disbelieving," by saying only "james 1:2-8," which is a passage about joy and doubt and ends with "for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord."
Without any help from the commenter, I'm not sure what to think of the passage in the context of my post. But it did get me thinking about the nature of scripture. Thus, my question: why do you believe what the Bible says?
Comments
Somewhere along the line, every person has to decide where they will find authority for their life. Many people choose themselves or human experience as that authority, thus the rise in moral relativism. I choose the Holy Scriptures as the authority over my life and submit myself to their teaching because "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." John 20:31
It is the stories of Jesus that set the Bible apart from all other sacred writings of all other religions and which give it its ultimate authority.
Yet taken as a whole, in a canonical context, the bible speaks to my deepest longings and assures me that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Christ personifies this love, and the Spirit mysteriously communicates this love to me. There is a ring of truth about the canon as a whole, a truth that something deep within recognizes and embraces.
The teacher replied, "As much as you can."
So my faith has led me to believe what's in this book to be the Word of God. I don't disbelieve any of it. I do think that we misinterpret a lot of it though.
1 Jn says we have seen, touched and know that it's true. The evidence of eye witnesses. I like that - it's as important as the oft quoted Heb 11 about faith being what we do not see
I am not a fan of the Bible is all that I need ... because for me the relationship with God is as important, and that includes meeting Him through other people.
But the Bible helps us know His character and if we allow it for us toget a little of his perspective.
Good stuff :)