Am trying to use a series of posts to think with you about the multi-sided realism of the Bible that is so important to its credibility. In that light I’m taking another shot at the first two points before moving on.
The Bible is full of its own people’s dirty laundry. Both testaments describe the weaknesses and failures of the people whose story they tell.
The prophets of Israel did not flatter their own nation. Ezekiel, for one, describes Jerusalem as being so unfaithful that she made others look good by comparison (Ezek 16:48-52).
Then there’s the New Testament story of Christ’s disciples. On the night prior to the greatest expression of love the world has ever seen, his best friends were arguing among themselves about which of them would be greatest in Jesus’ coming kingdom. One of them, named Peter, apparently thought that he was in the running. But within a few hours he was repeatedly denying that he had ever known the Teacher from Nazareth.
Why would the nation of Israel, or an international Church, treasure records that document their own failures if the Bible is just another example of history written by winners?
Such details are important to the Bible’s credibility. Historians view potentially embarrassing reports of ones own group as an indicator of authenticity.
Jerusalem Western Wall Ritual Washing
2. The Bible is a tough read. Many have heard that the world’s best seller is also the greatest story ever told. But how easy of a read is it? Just ask someone who’s tried to go from cover to cover. Such persons know what it’s like to find themselves slogging through an ancient collection of history, ritual sacrifice, national case law, subplots, genealogies, songs, poems, and prophecy.
Such persons may find that they had unrealistic expectations of a Book that was written, one scroll at a time, by at least 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years.
Yet what some find difficult others discover worth the effort. Many have found that all of the Bible comes alive once we learn from Jesus himself to connect the dots between him and all of the Scriptures that were written before and after his life, death, and resurrection (Luke 24:10: Luke 24:27).
This is why I’m increasingly fascinated with the New Testament essay to the Hebrews. Together with Jesus’ own words, the letter to the Hebrews shows what happens when we read the Bible as a story fulfilled in Christ.
Without Jesus, the Living Word of God, the Genesis account of an almighty Creator of the universe would seem far too great to relate to personally. Without Jesus, the history of a chosen nation for the sake of all would seem like an utter failure. Without Jesus a code of moral and spiritual law would make us little more than lawbreakers and/or hypocrites. Without him, all the promises of a great deliverer would sound like myth. Without a real crucified and resurrected Jesus, the Scriptures written to honor him would be lies. Without him, we’d all be lost and without hope.
No matter how tough the read, once we see the realism of the Bible it does become the Book of books and greatest story ever told. By the time it’s done, every courageous, and true, good, redemptive person, act, or idea ends up being fulfilled in Jesus. Every rotten, twisted, self-centered, exploitive act helps to tell the story of why he so lovingly died for us.
(+29 rating, 30 votes)
Loading...