Let me start this article by stating that I believe in the infallibility of the Word of God and as it says in IITim 3:16,17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The Bible is like a soldier’s handbook or manual. Of course, the Bible is not just a manual. It is God communicating to man about Life. Apart from the Holy Spirit it is just a manual about life. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the truth.
No soldier or general has ever defeated his enemy purely by the book.
To fight purely by the book is to invite defeat. Remember, your enemy has a copy of your manual and he has every intention of using it against you. On the other hand, you are not much of a soldier or general if you do not know the basics, which you get from studying the manual. There are aspects of warfare that remain the same throughout history. These basics of warfare have been captured by other soldiers and leaders in the Army and Service of the One from whence came our manual. In this case the manual (the Bible) was inspired by the very one they served.
Since our enemy has a copy of our manual should we change it? The answer is no. The manual is no less valuable just because it is in the hands of the enemy. In fact the enemy can use the manual but he cannot really grasp its’ true meaning. Our manual is coded and requires an interpreter. Every aspect of it has meaning. None of this meaning or intent is revealed to anyone who does not posses the manual’s interpreter – The Holy Spirit. It is commitment to the One who leads us that makes the manual have real purpose and effectiveness.
We must not pick and choose what we want to go along with. A good soldier does not pick and choose what he wants to learn and practice from the manual.
The Word (not a book) is God. He (not the book) was in the beginning with God. Do not worship the Book. Do not assume the Book is the source of ALL truth. It is Jesus who is the source of truth, not some book. The Bible without the Holy Spirit is not truth in and of itself. Even your enemy makes use of the book, apart from the Holy Spirit. Jesus (not the book) is He who reveals the Father to us. Yes, the Bible is God communicating to man and it never deviates from the truth. But it is not truth in and of itself. It is not all of the truth. That is reserved not for a book but for a person. Do you depend on a book or a person?
God has given us a manual for life and warfare. The Bible (the book) is not life. The Bible (the book) is not truth. The Bible is not the way. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life.
NEWS FLASH! The Bible is NOT God. This is very important to grasp.
If this statement makes your heart jump back or you cringe when you read it then you have a serious personal problem. You may be following a book (or manual), instead of the General, into battle. I prefer to follow the person on the White horse with the Sword in His hand. Call the Bible what it is: A weapon against the Enemy. It is a Sword in the hand of God; a call to arms; a manual for the basics and for battle; a guide for life and liberty and much more, but it is NOT God.
If the Bible is the focus of your church services and or your life, then you are focusing on something and not someone – period. If this is true of you or your church then yours is indeed a sad plight. If this were so, I am confident I could come to your church and I would not see Life. Does your church seem dead even though the pews (or chairs) are filled with believers? If so, then something is missing and your focus is very wrong. It is possible to know all about God, from the Book, but never KNOW HIM. He is alive and He still speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit. His instructions to us will never contradict the written manual – the Bible – but they may challenge our own understanding and application of it!
Our commander wrote the manual. Know and practice what is taught in the manual, but follow and serve the Commander.
That is why we must not pick and choose what we want to go along with, we must know the whole counsel of God and ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our understanding. He is the Living God who wants a close personal relationship with us that goes beyond mere words on a page. Trust in Him (note the personal pronoun) and He (again the personal pronoun) will lead you into all truth.
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