In Christian circles The Holy Bible is regarded as a sacred book – one that is inspired by God. The amount of credit given to men for the Bible ranges from none to very little typically.

Recently a professor at a very conservative theological school was dismissed for saying that men had something to do with the writing of the Bible. That was my understanding from the news article I read.

My question is “How in the world can any sane, logical thinking human being think that some men were not somehow involved in the writing of the Bible?”

I mean even if it is the inspired word of God, who actually wrote the words down? Most theologians think that men like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew, Peter, Paul, among others wrote books in the Bible. Scholars also enjoy arguing about which individual wrote which book.

But here we are in our modern times arguing for The Bible being an inspired book with no human involvement.

I think the Bible gets way too much attention. I read it. I believe it’s a living book. I believe it offers inspiration to the reader. I even believe it’s inspired by God.

I still think it gets way too much attention.

There are folks who think that it’s absolutely necessary to analyze The Bible – study it, read it daily, meditate on it – some even go so far as to learn Hebrew and Greek so they can read the original texts.

The outcome of all this Bible study and analyzing?

There are over 34,000 Christian groups worldwide!

That number shocked me. I performed a Google search to find that number. I expected less than a thousand. I’m stunned. All based on the Bible. Amazing!

The folks who counted must have drawn lines at some pretty small differences but regardless it’s mind-boggling to consider the sheer number of religious groups that have sprung from the biblical record of the life, teachings and death of one man!

So if the book is inspired by God, apparently our interpretations are not.

I mean if all Christians really understood what Jesus was really about then wouldn’t we have the equivalent of what we read in the Bible where Jesus walked with his disciples teaching and preaching?

What I’m suggesting is that there would be one group called Christians – end of story. No one outside that one group would believe in Jesus. There would be unity and agreement on the interpretation of scripture.

But there’s not. Why?

Enter individual ideas and beliefs about God and mans’ relation to God. Enter ego and human needs to be right. Enter judgment about who’s wrong and who’s right. Enter desires for power over groups of people.

Combine all that stuff with an inspired book and you get confusion! All because people are trying to find a way to find God – to have a relationship with God.

Reminds me of the Tower of Babel.

So I offer a better way.

Read your Bible. Enjoy it. If you don’t understand parts of it just sit with it and wait! Don’t worry about it. Ask for help if you are moved to do so and accept what is given without judgment and with an open mind.

After that what do you have? An understanding of the Bible.

Is it the “right” one? Who knows?

Do you like it? Does it bring you peace? Does it enrich your relationship with God and your fellow man?

Are these the right questions?

You decide.

Communicating With God

Tagged as: Bible Scholars, Bible Study, Christian Groups, Holy Bible, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Moses, Religious Groups, Sacred Book, The Bible, Theologians, Understanding The Bible, What The Bible Really Means, Word Of God