The bible is NOT the word of God!

It’s time to strike the root of the tree.  Each time I think of teaching on a new topic I realize until the bible is seen in it’s correct light my teachings are veiled by the doctrines of our various beliefs. I’ve attempted the start to a number of teachings on the topic of the bible. I’ve considered getting books to help me better explain its history, its origin its purpose. I’ve considered sharing for the purpose of understanding who wrote what to whom, why and what was being communicated etc. Yet, each time I sense I haven’t touched the core of what needs to be communicated and therefore understood. So I’m going to start at what I consider the beginning of my awareness and thereby liberty concerning the bible.

Several years ago one of my daughters was dating a very bright young man  that came over for dinner. She expressed that he didn’t believe like she was raised to believe and she wanted me to enlighten him of his error.  As they sat to eat we talked. He said that to him the bible was just  written by some men. He also alluded to the bible not being the word of God because it was written by men. This young man considered himself to be a christian and attended church regularly. I chuckled in what I thought wisdom at the time. I saw his youth and what I determined ignorance. I responded to him that yes indeed the bible was written by men, but by men that were moved by the Holy Spirit as He gave them utterance. That was the end of the conversation. In my mind regardless of what He thought I had spoken truth to him. However, what I had not said is what is most important to share with you. I did not say that I believed those utterances were the words of God. I could quote them verbatim. I could rehearse any story in detail and each of them meant everything to me. Because I believed those words in and of the bible were the words and word of God. Those words were the rock on which I stood. Any circumstances in my life I could and would immediately recall those words to address my situations. Like a sword or a shield of protection for my every thing I quoted the words of the bible. Because that is what I was taught. That is what I believed. I believed the bible was everything God had to say. In its entirety. In truth I believed that the bible and God were one in the same. It after all was the word of God in my mind. Therefore I clung to it and learned of it with wholehearted eagerness and sincerity. Whether I encountered situations or people I used the bible for my benefit. And I was good in my usage of it. I used it to dissect something  with precision like a sharp scalpel or to heal and cover a bleeding wound like medicated ointment. I used to it judge, examine and analyze. Everything needed to be inline with it. My marriage, my work my walk with God. All the while believing that was the bible's purpose and God’s gift to His people.  In hindsight I realize I also believed and preached that only those that were His could even understand the bible. That it was veiled to the unbeliever and His promises were not for all, but for His people. Those beliefs allowed me to feel protected, privileged, above and not beneath, a royal priesthood a holy nation, God’s own. I personalized what I considered the bible to be, God’s words, as if they were written to me. Afterall I believed He was my personal savior and I took it personally. Sadly I realize now how prideful this attitude was, how truly far I was from truth and how my beliefs were my righteousness. But I must add all these beliefs were considered faith not foolish, confirmed week after week by every teaching and message I heard. All because I inaccurately understood the bible and it’s purpose.  Sin lived in me. I continuously missed the mark because I continuously missed truth.

Possibly one of the most profound things I have learned is that revelation and understanding is progressive. That I must evolve in all things as with my understanding of the bible. One morning a couple of years ago while gathering and sharing with other christians I shared my struggle to reconcile the words of John regarding the word of God being with God and yet God. I questioned my thoughts about what I believed was the word of God, the bible. My dearest friend held up her bible and said, “this is not the word of God.” I told her that the Holy Spirit had revealed that to me, over and over but that I was afraid to say it out loud. The bible is NOT the word of God!

These writings regarding the bible will challenge you to think and to change as I have been challenged to realize once again that God is true. I now find myself asking how did we stray so far from the truth. I don’t have simple answers or even perhaps accurate answers to that question. But what I do have is truth. The bible is NOT the word of God.  I pray that this truth enlighten you and that through these writings you too find the liberty Christ Jesus gave His life that we would have.

These writings will continue on this topic: The bible is NOT the word of God!

Thoughts to consider regrding prayer

PRAYER, noun In a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness (sincere and intense conviction).

The word prayer has evolved to now mostly only being associated with God or religion. However originally that was not the case. As with most things this evolution has caused an erosion of understanding regarding actual effective prayer and it’s purpose.    

For example I am sure mostly everyone has heard of the sad condition of Lamar Odom. Since considering prayer let me share some of my thoughts regarding the requests for prayer for him. First let’s be honest, people say my prayers are with you yet truly won’t utter a word. Perhaps what is meant is that they have thoughts and feelings about the situation. Perhaps that’s just something people say now to console themselves and others, a way of unifying or signifying we all desire that the situation were different. But is that prayer?

 

 

It seems that the premise is ask as many people as possible to pray.  Is it just something that we say or is it that we are somehow comforted by the knowledge that many are praying? Is it that we really think that God will be moved by the number of people making the same request? If we are even making the same request at all. Consider that people may have various request.  One may pray that he no longer suffer and pass, another that he recover, still another for a miracle, some may just want him to survive, all and all God’s will be done.  Yet, I continue to wonder why if you pray it is needful for me to pray as well. Does God hear because of the multitude of those speaking? Is God withholding whatever (the answer to prayers) until He determines that enough people have petitioned Him? Is this even the purpose of prayer, to get our desired outcome?

 

The more I consider our behaviors the more I think our practices of “prayer” are mostly about us and what makes us look and feel good and less about the true purpose of prayer. For God is true and in light of who God is our antics regarding prayer seem foolish.