Thursday, August 12, 2010

"Nice Little Bible Stories"

It concerns me a little when I hear people talk about God's word as some little nice 'Bible Stories', doesn't it you? Maybe you don't give it much thought and maybe I'm a little over-sensitive but to declare the things written as a nice Bible story, is that really justice to what things are really about?
Are they history lessons? One might think that as they read but is that a good approach? It might lead one to saying, "What an interesting part of man's history!" It leads many to such a casual approach that God's word is not revered but seen as many other of the history books we find in the library.
Think of the incident of David and Goliath. I have heard people say, "That's a great little story for the kids Bible class!" That's how we approach it and yet that's so far from God's intention. If you were to ask David about this, would he say it was some little story found fascinating? God called a little shepherd boy, to face the biggest threat to the people and the outcome was going to determine the fate of a nation. Ask King Saul when he saw this scrawny little boy face the warrior among their enemies in the name of God's people. The hearts pounding, the sweat falling, the wringing of hands and the wondering of what in the world was happening. As David stooped to pick up stones, what must have gone through his mind. The complete dependency on God, trusting in the impossible under normal conditions. It was not an easy task and it was not what David did. It was what God did!!! The matter revealed the lack of man's power in the people and leaders and how God can accomplish His will no matter what. It was true faith, a saving faith the brought about the final result. It was God directing the stone, not David! It was God's intention to get His people to trust Him, believe Him and listen to Him!
Oh, this was not just a story to be told to little children because they are cute! It was God calling out to man in their most difficult time showing God is trustworthy and faithful to His word. When is the last time you heard this preached in the pulpit? Maybe that's why our faith is so puny at times because we approach His word as 'nice little Bible stories!'

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

When I read this I was reminded of the following verse:

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Bible is God. Man can not look on the face of God and live, as Moses was told, and God can not be in the presence of sin, which man has. The Bible is God as God can be before man.

Stories....I don't even care for the word when it is used in reference to the Bible. Maybe the lack of reverence for the holy word of God demostrates the conditiion of the heart and soul for those that share this view.

None of the books of man, regardless of what they say, can share with the reader the mind of God.