A recent Gallup Poll indicates that three out of four people in the United States still think of the Bible as divinely inspired. According to 2014 research, 28% think of it as the Word of God— that should be taken literally. 47% think of the Scriptures as the word of God but don’t think that everything in them needs to be taken at face value. 21% regard the Bible as a humanly authored blend of fable and history.
On the other hand—on a different but related issue, earlier research has shown that, between the ages of 22-29, three out of four young adults are leaving the church.
So, while the latest Gallup findings about our views of the Bible may be encouraging, it probably wouldn’t be much of a stretch to expect that coming generations will be asking a lot of questions about the faith and spiritual practices of their parents and grandparents.
Since some of those questions are certain to be about the Bible, it seems like it might be important for us to think about some of the factors that help to explain our confidence in the Scriptures.
For example, (The following is to make a point about the “pull” and attraction of the Bible, so am not asking individual questions that need an answer).
What if the moral laws and principles of the Bible were written as lists of dos and don’ts without any accompanying storyline or history? Would the Bible have the same impact on us if we didn’t see how choices of past individuals, families, and social groups played out over time?
What if the Bible was not held together by themes of accountability, grace, forgiveness, faith, hope, and love? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if, from Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament didn’t look for a coming Savior, Messiah, Deliverer, and King? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the stated purpose for a chosen people was not to be for the benefit of all of the families of the world?) (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?
What if the New Testament didn’t show how all of the hopes of the past came together in Christ, in a way that human authors could not have anticipated or orchestrated? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if Christ didn’t give us reason to believe that to see and know him was to see and know our Father in heaven? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the Bible didn’t give each of us hope for discovering and experiencing for ourselves that God can confirm his presence and love for us in ways that we could not do on our own? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the Bible didn’t present a credible case for Christ as our Creator, Provider, Sacrifice, Savior, Teacher, Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, Example, Judge, and everlasting Life? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the Bible didn’t give us a hope that is grounded not just in the continuance of life as we know it, but in a God whose power, truth, and love can be seen and reasonably affirmed— but barely understood? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the Bible didn’t give us reason to believe that God loves us enough to hate everything that is not in our best interests——everything that that blinds our eyes to how good he is for us? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the Bible didn’t give us reason to believe that our natural inclinations are so flawed and damaged that we have every reason to put more trust in Christ than in ourselves? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
What if the Bible didn’t give us reason for believing that God is far better than we think, far more loving, more merciful, more compassionate, and more faithful than we ever dared imagine? (Would the Bible have the same influence and distribution that it has had?)
Without such factors, would the Bible have found its way into our hearts and minds? Would such a Book be worthy of our recommendation for all who follow?
(+17 rating, 18 votes)
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