You Need to Know – Do You Believe the Bible?
Recently, I read a Gallup Poll Article – Record Few Americans Believe Bible Is Literal Word of God
“Fewer than one in four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is “the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word,” similar to the 26% who view it as “a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.”
In December of 2015, Gallup reported that 75% of Americans identified themselves as Christians. (I was unable to find more recent statistics.)
Based on those two numbers, we could conclude that although 3/4 of all Americans say they are Christians, only 1/3 of self-identifying Christians believe that the Bible is the Inspired (literal) Word of God.
And then this week, I read the following article … GQ Says the Bible is Overrated. Here’s What They Got Right. by David Rupert
It appears people are talking about the Bible and I told you we are going to search for the answers to hard questions, so here goes…
Is the Bible the Inspired (Infallible) Word of God
You need to know!
Why?
If the Bible is God telling man about Himself, and if God is who He says He is … then the Bible is the MOST IMPORTANT book ever written.
Eternal futures are at stake.
If you watch the news you know that people are wound up about the future of our nation. They’re worried about their relationships, their finances, and how people perceive them on Facebook.
The Bible says all those things we worry about are temporary.
Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise. Psalm 90:12
But the living out of our days often seems long and difficult. Which is one of the reasons we need the Bible … it gives us perspective as well as teaching us wisdom. It gives us the information we need to live today but even more importantly it tells us what we need when our “short lives” are over.
That’s a big deal!
Believe the Bible – my personal story.
The Bible has always been in my life but I haven’t always loved it the way I do now.
Most of my life the Bible was used as an instruction manual of dos and don’ts. Bible lessons for life were part of every day both home and at school. I knew about the commandments … the thou shalts and the thou shalt nots.
Oh, I knew Jesus and I trusted in Him as my Savior but somehow my head told me that the message of the Bible for today was mostly about obedience and “right” living.
I hadn’t read the Bible thoroughly for myself, relying instead on learning about its message through religion classes, sermons, and Bible studies.
Then a life-event dumped me in a pit of grief. I cried out for God’s help and grabbed my Bible. For the first time, I read it from Genesis to Revelation and I did it in just 3 months.
It was unputdownable! (Yes, that’s a word!)
That was 13 years ago, and I’ve read through the whole Bible at least once a year since.
By His grace and through His words in the Bible, God…
lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
Psalm 40:2
God didn’t change my circumstances — He changed me! And every day I continue to learn something new about God’s love and how it applies to my life.
That’s my story – but maybe you’re more of a facts and detail person…
Believe the Bible – a look at some facts.
In the book, The Insanity of Unbelief: A Journalist’s Journey from Belief to Skepticism to Deep Faith, Max Davis wrote:
Look at the unbelievable unity of the Bible. It was penned by forty authors from diverse backgrounds living on three continents stretched out over a period of sixteen centuries. A variety of kings, peasants, warriors, and priests wrote in a variety of languages—Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
Without any collaboration what they produced was sixty-six books with 1189 chapters that reveal in harmonious unity the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. How is this possible without supernatural guidance?
And then he added…
After centuries and thousands of discoveries, not one single time has an archeological finding ever disproved the Bible.
I love where Davis asks…
Why? Why is the Bible so popular? Why is it so polarizing? Why do some hate it so much that they’d burn it along with its readers while others love it so much they’d willingly die to protect it? Could it be that the Bible itself is God’s Word?
Believe the Bible – what it says about itself.
The Bible is Truth.
Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.
Do not add to His words,
or He may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
Proverbs 30:5–6
The Bible is Inspired.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16
What do you believe about the Bible?
Is it the inspired Word of God?
Is the Bible – God’s Truth?
If truth is relative. Then it really doesn’t matter whether the Bible is Truth or not.
But…
If truth is absolute. Then you and I need to have a source of truth. It must come from someone or something.
I believe the Bible, God’s Word, is that source of truth!
The Psalmist wrote…
The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever. Psalm 119:160
Jesus said…
Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth. John 17:17
Peter wrote…
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20–21
Believe the Bible – read it!
Earlier, I mentioned the article … GQ Says the Bible is Overrated. Here’s What They Got Right.
It begins – “GQ Magazine recently ran an article called, “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read.”
So, I went over to the GQ article and found the following narrative to go with their selection of The Bible #12 on the list of books you don’t have to read…
The Holy Bible is rated very highly by all the people who supposedly live by it but who in actuality have not read it. Those who have read it know there are some good parts, but overall it is certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced. It is repetitive, self-contradictory, sententious, foolish, and even at times ill-intentioned.
GQ is wrong in their synopsis of the Bible, wouldn’t it be awesome if we proved them wrong about people not reading it, too?
I’m reading the New Living Translation – Life Application Bible and I’ve made it a goal to not only read the Bible text but to read the notes as well.
It’s my favorite! This combination daily draws me in and fills me up.
But if you need one more bit of encouragement, think about this…
God wants you and me to know and love Him personally and intimately so much so that He used 40 writers, over 1600 years, on 3 continents to tell His message. Kings, peasants, warriors, priests and prophets wrote details of His amazing grace, His love … His truth!
I believe…
The Bible is God’s declaratory revelation to man containing the great truths about God, about man, about history, about salvation, and about prophecy that God wanted us to know. The Bible could be trusted just as much as if God had taken the pen and written the words Himself. ~John F. Walvoord, theologian, pastor, and president of Dallas Theological Seminary
What do you believe about the Bible?
Please join me on Friday, when I’ll share additional thoughts about Rupert’s article and the conversations it started.
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and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
I LOVE hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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“Unputdownable!”
Yes!
Spell check doesn’t like it, but I love it!
Don’t you love it, Michele! I looked it up to make sure! It may be one of my new favorites! <3
Amen!
I’m so thankful for the Bible and the impact it is has had on my life and on the lives of family members and friends.
Thank you for this reminder about why it matters that we believe it!
Sure am thankful for you~
Me too, Melanie! It blesses me every day! I am so blessed by you! Hugs!
All scripture is God-breathed and useful… Statistics can be scary but they’re also useful… The real question for me is, am I living out the Word I so fervently believe?
Blessings to you! Great post!
Marie
Hey Marie! I agree … that is my belief as well. Unfortunately, there are so many sources who refute and disparage the truth of the Bible and that discourages people from reading it. My prayer is that will change. Thanks and blessings!
Wow! I read that article earlier this week and was appalled. Thanks for answering back!
Thank you, Rachel! I just keep praying that God will move in hearts and give people a curiosity/desire to actually read the Bible for themselves. Thanks so much for stopping to say “hi.”
I do find The Bible difficult to read and understand. Therefore I look forward to New living translation- Life Applications Bible. I know it will be just what I am looking for for my journey in understanding and application of God’s word.
Like my father would say, “If I was thirsty, and had water to drink, so now I’m no longer thirsty, I don’t need anybody’s validation to prove I’m no longer thirsty. And their unbelief does not take away from the truth”. I say the proof of the pudding is in the eating! And the Bible says “Taste and see….” I pray those sincerely seeking Truth would find Jesus and know that His Word is the truth. Thanks for sharing, Deb. Blessings to you.
This is wonderful and want to share with my sister. I also want to pin to save but it won’t let me. I will copy and save to my computer. Blessings!
For a few weeks now I have been pondering John 14:6 where Jesus says He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Why truth? Out of all God’s attributes, why truth? Jesus didn’t say He is love or the savior, or our redeemer. I have not fully explored this yet but I found your posting very interesting. Thanks, Deb
The Bible has so much to learn in it outside of the “dos” and “donts” as you say. I’m so grateful for a Book that teaches us how to live and shows us how fights as the “sword.”
Love love love!! I posted something similar today about this topic. Great post Deb and I will share to Facebook. This is so very important for us to keep promoting. My story is similar in that I use to read out of duty and didn’t really enjoy the Word. Then I began praying for a passion for God and His Word and boy did He answer that. I have been hooked on the Word ever since.
Hi Deb,
That is honestly a shocking statistic. The Bible is THE most scrutinized and verified book that exist! Thank you for encouraging your readers to take a stand for truth.
Blessings,
Teresa
http://www.vikingandamish.com
I believe that the original texts of the Bible are both the inspired Word from & of God…different translations over the eons though have diluted some texts. So… I keep both the Hebrew & Greek texts handy when studying the Word 😉
There is a real global movement going on in the rewriting of history since secularism came in!!
Including a repackaging of God’s Word as merely a history book, this has attempted to dilute its relevancy & the message! And in this there is a normalization of sin in society where untold issues that are directly against God’s character & principles for us, & our spiritual wellbeing are being widely accepted! !
Thought provoking post Deb!
Jennifer
Love this (Like always :-)) and sharing it♥