Does the Bible matter?
What is the Bible? Part 1
Facilitator Notes
Newsweek magazine published a controversial cover story about the Bible, contemporary
Christianity and the role scripture plays in modern society. The piece ignited controversy online,
opening up new rounds of dialogue about how we talk about the Bible—and what it really means
to follow it.
In an interesting (if unorganized) hodgepodge of bad news about the Good Book, Kurt
Eichenwald wrote a piece at Newsweek (January, 2015)declaring that the Bible is “so
misunderstood it’s a sin.”
Point Taken
He brings up so many examples of textual contradictions, variations and hot button proof-texts
that it’s impossible to discuss them all here. He accurately notes that many Christians are
unaware of what the Bible actually says, especially when it comes to its formation and
contradictions.
Others twist it in order to make it fit their own concept of what the Bible is, then judge those who
disagree. Worse yet, some use it as a weapon for their own political interests.
Let's Talk About the Bible
While Eichenwald clearly had political motivations for writing, some of his conclusions are
right. Many of us are more familiar with what our pastors have said about the Bible than with
what the Bible actually says. Many have a major Messiah complex when it comes to national
power, and we often twist the Bible to manipulate people.
But, don’t get sucked into “defending the Bible” from people with whom you disagree. The
Bible doesn’t need to be defended; it needs to be understood and discussed— by Christians, by
non-Christians, by you, by me. The Bible doesn’t need to be defended; it needs to be
understood and discussed.
It is only through accepting where the Bible comes from—and who put it together—that anyone
can comprehend what history’s most important book says and, just as important, what it does not
say.
The time is ripe for real conversations about what it is and what it says. We cannot have that
conversation if our intentions are to defeat rather than to understand—to gain power rather than
to serve. Perhaps the biggest lesson we can learn here is that political motives will always
destroy meaningful dialog about the Bible.
That leaves us with a very important question: Can we please just talk about the Bible?
The Bible Isn’t a Magic Book.
The Bible isn’t The Good Book. It isn’t really a book at all. It's a lot of books. It’s a library.
Its 66 individual books run the diverse gamut of writing styles, (poetry, history, biography,
church teachings, letters), and those books have dozens of authors; from shepherds, to prophets,
to doctors, to fishermen, to kings. These diverse writers each had very different target audiences,
disparate life circumstances and specific agendas for their work; so we don’t approach each book
the same way—for the same reason you wouldn’t read a poem about leaves the same way you
read a botany textbook. Some are for inspiration and some for information; we receive and see
them differently.
If we can see the Scriptures this way; as many diverse works telling one story in one collection,
Christians can free themselves from the confusion about what they mean when they say "literal."
We don't have to equate history with allegory with poetry, or read them in the same way. We can
also see the Bible as a record not just of God, but of God’s people, and we can find ourselves
within it.
The Bible Isn't as Clear as We'd Like It To Be.
Often, (especially when arguing), Christians like to begin with the phrase, “The Bible clearly
says…” followed by their Scripture sound bite of choice.
If we’re honest, the Bible contains a great deal of tension and a whole lot of gray on all types of
subjects. Those people aren't always taking the entire Bible into account.
If we’re honest, the Bible contains a great deal of tension and a whole lot of gray on all types of
subjects. For example, we can read the clear Old Testament commandment from God not to
murder, and later see Jesus telling His disciples that violence isn’t the path His people are to
take.
But we also see God telling the Israelites to destroy every living thing in enemy villages,
(women and children included), and we read of Moses murdering an Egyptian soldier without
recourse from God.
That’s why some Christians believe all violence is sinful, while others think shooting someone
in self-defense is OK. Some find war justifiable in some cases, while some believe all war is
inherently immoral.
Same Bible. One subject. Several perspectives.
That's not to say that truth is relative, that God doesn't have an opinion on violence or that He
hasn't given us His opinion in the Bible. It's just that the answer may not be as clear and
straightforward as we like to pretend it is. Many times, when Christians say the phrase “The
Bible clearly says…”, what they really mean is, “The way I interpret this one verse allows me to
feel justified in having this perspective.”
When you read and study this library in its totality, there are certainly themes and continuities
and things that connect exquisitely, but if we’re honest we can also admit there are ambiguities.
It doesn’t diminish the Scriptures to admit that they are complex. On the contrary, most great
works throughout history are.
Check in
Tip of the ice berg. What’s at the tip of the ice berg at the moment? What’s on the surface of
your life right now?
Our CLC today is not meant to ignore the realities of our life and the stresses that are here but to
simply be present. We realize that after this meeting we have to face these realities but right now
we’re here. The reason for being present is so that when we do leave we can face our realities
and stresses with more hope.
Opening Prayer
God, you know what is going on in us. You know what distracts us. Help us give you these
things so we might focus on your Word. Help us understand you and give us a hunger to know
you. Thank you for your love and for your scriptures that show us your love. Amen.
Focus Exercise
1. Is your relationship with the bible
a) It’s my girlfriend/boyfriend. I wake up thinking about it. I can’t wait to get to know
what’s in it and how it ticks.
b) It’s my mean elementary school teacher. All it wants to do is keep me in mind. It’s
old and it has bad breath and it’s irrelevant.
c) It’s my older sister’s friend. It’s alright and when I have to interact with it I don’t
mind but I’m not that interested in it.
d) It’s like Stephen Hawking. So brilliant and intimidating-I don’t know what to do with
it.
2. Teach through the New Testament House
a. Find the books game. Make a contest out of who can get to the NT book the
fastest….
3. The next few weeks we are going to spend time in the bible. Hopefully tonight’s activity
will help us be a little less intimidated with scriptures. When we remember WHO we are
and WHOSE we are, our journey is deeper.
4. Lastly, as a reminder of whose we are listen to what Scripture tells us in Romans (Have
group close their eyes as you read devotional)
Listening
1. What did you discover tonight?
2. What was hard about tonight?
Listening Deeper
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What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any
patterns or commonalities in our shared journey?
Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person share?
Is there anything you would like to return to in prayer later in the week?
Moving Forward
Books of the New Testament