tommyTALK
Leaving Your Bible

There’s a lot of Bible talk that happens in an ordaining council. When a young man, like Matt McMains, is ordained, the ordination service magnifies and affirms above all things his Christian belief system against the truth of Scripture. I think most of us would say that the Bible is not an optional tool in the life of a minister, but the essential tool for directing the vision of his ministry, outlining the course of his daily living, and defining the values of his ministry. Thus, we thought it humorous when Matt began to walk off from the ordaining council, leaving his Bible in his seat. Even more humorous and ironic was the moment during the ordination service when I, myself, “El Pastor,” misplaced my Bible on the second pew and commenced to cast condemnation, blame, scorn and shame on my dear friend, Terry Howard, for allegedly taking my Bible from me as a prank. He took it well, and even though he was innocent!
Funny how little moments like that remind us of the big lessons we so easily forget and we so seriously need to remember. The Bible is a powerful book, and the proclamation of its message is central to Christian ministry. To minimize it’s authority weakens the witness of the Church in today’s culture awash in relativism, postmodernism, and as some have called it, benign whateverism. As Jesus-followers, we must not leave the Bible lying around. We must penetrate in this darkened city with its light. We need the Word in us and our lives need to vibrantly display its glory through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When we leave the Bible behind, in all of its authority, inspiration, and relevance, then we are communicating this simple, yet sad, message to those we are called to reach—“You can just go to hell.” The Bible is God’s Word, and it’s message from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is that the glorious God of the universe has sent His Son Jesus Christ to save you from your sins.
Thomas Howard wrote in Chance or the Dance?, “The myth sovereign in the old age was that everything means everything. The myth sovereign in the new is that nothing means anything.” That is a cutting observation on culture in regards to how people determine truth. More than ever, we need men of God, called by God, unashamedly in love with Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to relevantly, powerfully, and clearly communicate the Good News of Jesus out of the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is not a man-made book of myths; it is God’s book about God’s revelation of redemption to all mankind through the person of Jesus Christ. It is the only book in the whole world that has the power to literally revolutionize not only your life, but your heart. John Stott wrote, “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.”
The Psalmist wrote, “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89 NIV). McDonald’s may change the name of their hamburgers, but God’s Word will not change. Clothing fads will change, but God’s Word will not change. Government officials will change, but God’s Word will not change.

Category : Tommy Talk