I want to close this series with some thoughts on “the Bible.” We’ve already pointed out that prior to the early 300s, there was no “the Bible.” There were people proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead.

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4.33, NKJV)

Given that we have a Bible today, does one have to believe all of it to become a Jesus-follower? Or, as a friend of mine puts it, “Have we made the Bible the fourth member of the Trinity?” Do you have to believe in Jesus AND the Bible?

People have written books on this sort of thing including John Lennox, whom I mentioned a few days ago. I highly recommend his book Seven Days that Divide the World, especially if you’re wondering if someone strongly committed to the authority of scripture can avoid getting caught up in debates about particulars of how, for example, God created the universe. Some would say that if you don’t believe in creation in six 24-hour days, you don’t believe the Bible, but John would argue otherwise.

As I wrote yesterday, Billy Graham chose to stake his faith on the authority of scripture, to “believe his beliefs and doubt his doubts.” The power of his ministry is unquestioned. On the other hand, I have worked with a lot of people over the years, trying to help them grow in their faith and help others do the same. I have found that those who approach the scripture with a skeptical or questioning attitude don’t do as well as those who choose to believe and submit.

I told my friend, “When you have figured out how to disciple someone without the Bible, let me know.” I have just not seen a lot of fruit from teaching that stems from a weak view of scripture. People have tried, for example, to extract the teachings of Jesus from accounts that include his miracles. Among these is the so-called Jefferson Bible by Thomas Jefferson:

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as the Jefferson Bible, is one of two religious works constructed by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson compiled the manuscripts but never published them. The first, The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth, was completed in 1804, but no copies exist today. The second, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, was completed in 1820 by cutting and pasting with a razor and glue numerous sections from the New Testament as extractions of the doctrine of Jesus. Jefferson’s condensed composition excludes all miracles by Jesus and most mentions of the supernatural, including sections of the four gospels that contain the resurrection and most other miracles, and passages that portray Jesus as divine. – Wikipedia

I’m reading Matthew right now, and if you took out the miracles you wouldn’t have much left. The Sermon on the Mount does take up chapters 5 – 7, but many chapters are nothing but one miracle after another. (See, for example, Matthew 8 and 9.) I choose to believe the Bible even, as Billy Graham said, there are parts I find difficult to make sense of.

That said, our faith should not be in “the Bible” but in the God of the Bible who raised Jesus from the dead. Our “daily time with God,” which certainly should include Bible reading, should be fellowship with God. My friend and Navigator mentor Skip Gray used to say that some people fellowship with a habit – not with God.

But circling back around, those of you who know me and read this blog regularly know that I operate from the presumption that the Bible is true and ought to be believed and followed. That’s why I close each blog with at least one Bible passage.

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4.4, NKJV)

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15.16, NKJV)

The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119.130, NKJV)