The B-I-B-L-E

Yes, that’s the book for me.

I stand alone one the Word of God.

The B-I-B-L-E.

This is an anonymous children’s song that first appeared in the 1920s.  The author is unknown, usually listed as anonymous.

Sept 8 is Rally Day!  On Rally Day we begin the new church year and have a celebrations of Christian Education!  As Baptists, the Bible, God’s Word, is the basis of our Christian faith and practice.  We use the Bible regularly for teaching and preaching.

I approach the Bible with fear and trembling.  We are called to follow God’s Word and it’s a big responsibility to interpret and apply the Bible in a correct manner.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy, “Do you best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  Understanding the Bible is a big responsibility.

Humans have a history of misinterpretation of the Bible.  There were times in history when you could hear biblical based sermons and teachings on things we understand differently today.  In the past the Bible was used to defend a flat earth, Slavery, Arianism (denying the deity of Christ), Ayrianism (white supremacy), that women should not vote nor have equal rights, alcohol prohibition, anti-science, anti-evolution, segregation, mixed marriages, contraception, and marriage equality, just to name a few.  It has been said that just about anything can be proven by the Bible.  Understanding the Bible is a big responsibility.  It doesn’t mean that we give up…. we are called to read, study and learn.  We pray for wisdom.  Rally Day can be a time to re-commit our quest to understand and apply God’s Word in our modern context.

“We need to approach the Bible each day with a spirit of deep humility, recognizing that our understanding of spiritual truth is at best incomplete and to some extent inaccurate… we should approach the Scriptures in humility and expect the Spirit to humble us even further as we continue being taught by Him from His Word.” (Jerry Bridges, Holiness Day by Day:  Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey)

Psalm 119 reminds that the Bible is our guide and defense against sin.  “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (verse 11).  “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (verse 105).

Spend some time with God’s Word!

 

Pastor Steve