"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
- Jesus -
The bible may not be for you.
The bald truth is, Christianity is an exclusive club. It's not for everyone.
The bible may not be for you.
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If you've followed my blog,
read my articles, or dialoged with me, you already know that I believe that Jesus is God.
You may thus find it puzzling that I would write an article like this.
"What's gotten into him?"
you may be thinking. "I thought he promoted the bible."
"I thought he promoted the bible."
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While I am a champion of the bible, I'm not going to "gloss over" the tough stuff. Here's one of the toughest things to realize:
Jesus never expected everyone to believe.
"There are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him."
- John 6:64-66
I'm not going to "gloss over" the tough stuff.
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In fact, the bible was written to hide the truth.
Jesus said this about that:
"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
- Matthew 13:13
There are two kinds of people in the world.
You could describe the difference between them as the difference between being either humble and being arrogant. The bible was not written for the proud.
"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”"
- James 4:6
There are two ways to approach the bible.
Are you reading it with a desire to learn? Or is it your agenda to discredit the bible?
Either way, you will find what you seek.
You see, the bible is no ordinary book.
The bible describes itself as being alive. While it doesn't brook arrogant skeptics, if you open it humbly, seeking truth, you will find it.
However, if you come to the bible expecting discrepancies, you will miss the truth and find contradictions instead. If you demand that God be your own imagined idea of God, you are certain to be disappointed.
I'm not saying anything new.
Listen to what the bible has to say about itself. Scripture after scripture plainly makes this point.
"For the Lord has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep,
and has closed your eyes (the prophets),
and covered your heads (the seers)."
- Isaiah 29:10
"Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"
- 1 Corinthians 1:20
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
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"They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
- Ephesians 4:18
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
- Romans 1:21
Perhaps you'd rather write your own bible?
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These scriptures are not complimentary, are they?
"Blind, sleeping, foolish, darkened, alienated, hard-hearted, futile in thought."
You can dish out your critique of the bible; can you take its critique of you?
Do you find the bible offensive?
Does it seem foolish to you? Perhaps you'd rather write your own version of the truth?
Maybe you think I'm being harsh, writing a post like this?
Paul once said (in Romans 11) that God is stirs up some by making them jealous. I hope this article might stir a bit of jealousy in some of you.
Could it be possible that you've been approaching the bible the wrong way? Might it be time to drop your agenda for a while, and maybe listen instead?
Can you open yourself up to the possibility that the bible could change you, if you allow it to?
If there really is a creator/god...
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Follow my logic for a minute.
If there really is a creator/god, what would that make you? An artifact?
Try, for a moment, to see yourself from that perspective:
"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"
- Romans 9:20-21
Being an artifact may be a scary thought, one you may be inclined to dismiss out of hand. But what if it is true? Can you see how ridiculous it would be to argue with your creator?
“Why have you made me like this?”
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What do you expect, really?
If Jesus/God is in truth the creator of the universe, what reason would you have to expect him to comply with your demands?
It seems rather silly to me to imagine that an all-powerful God could exist, but then to limit him to your personal agenda.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe."
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-21
Are you a seeker?
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Who, then, is the bible written for?
The bible is for humble, persistent seekers.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
- Hebrews 11:6
It is water for the thirsty. It is light for the blind. It is the door at which, if you persistenly knock, you will find entrance into an endless kingdom containing the boundless wealth of all the universe. It is the word that brings life.
God is preparing an eternal feast.
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What if you threw a party, and nobody came?
This is the classic question Jesus raised in a story he told at a dinner party. In the story, none of the invitees came. All gave excuses. The party host had his servants compel people to attend.
God is preparing a perpetual feast, unlike any ever seen. He has issued an open invitation.
"The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."
- Revelation 22:17
Don't say you weren't invited...
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