Is the Bible Relevant?

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Devotion:

            Today, the place of the Holy Bible in our culture is being seriously challenged by some. These challenges come from those who wish to see all religion particularly the Christian religion simply disappear. They claim that the scriptures are archaic stories from another age and are not relevant to our modern world. The opponents of the Bible claim that it is largely false and cannot be trusted as a guide to living in a world that has “grown” beyond needing such stories. These criticisms of the Bible are not really new but have become louder and louder in our materialistic culture.

            How do we as Christian counter these attacks on the Bible? First of all, we need to know our Bibles better than the critics. When our detractors mention alleged contradictions and issues within the Bible, we need to be able to answer them lovingly but firmly. Knowing your Bible is not something that is only for “religious professionals.” We all must be diligent to study the word as much as we can. Not only so we can answer the critics but also so we can gain assurance that the Bible really is the inspired word of God.

            The scripture I have chosen for today gives the Bible’s opinion of itself. The scripture claims to be inspired by God himself. What Paul had in mind when he wrote these words was what we call our Old Testament. We, however, can apply it to mean both the Old and the New Testament. It is important to know what the text means when it says God-breathed. It does not mean that the words of scripture were dictated to each author by the Holy Spirit. It does mean that the Holy Spirit guided the writers of scripture into what the Spirit wanted to say through their own individual personalities.

            Paul then lists four legitimate uses for scripture. Teaching is first on the list. Now not all teaching that is done is proper teaching. Scripture says elsewhere that there will be false teachers and teachings. In fact, there have been false teachers of all religions forever. We must always be on the alert to what teaching we are listening to. That means we must know the Bible backward and forward. You cannot teach what you do not know. Remember even Satan used scripture to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. So false teachers today will use the scriptures in this way.

            Rebuking and correcting are next on the list they are close in meaning. These flow from teaching. If we are truly teaching the word, we will be doing these two things in the course of our teaching. Therefore, we must truly know our scriptures so that we can do these things honestly and in a spirit of love and respect. Training in righteousness likewise flows from teaching. It is the proper result of all teaching and learning in the Christian life. It helps us live out what we believe. So, we can give an answer for those you seek to demean the Bible and the Christian religion.

Prayer:

            Lord, help us. The assaults on your word and your character are too much for us to bear alone. We need your help. Please Lord fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may have the words to say to defend against attacks on the faith. May you find us faithful and diligent to handle your word in ways that honor you. Help us to worship you in spirit and in truth. Glory be to your Holy Name. Amen.