If a person wanted to add meaning to their life one logical place of reference to start would be the Bible.
People have heard about it since they were young and are taught certain things. (The Gospels are accepted, the Ten Commandments preached, etc).
But what WAS the Bible written for?
We have been told it is a collection of books from over 60 authors and covering a span of nearly 1,500 years. It might be easier to begin by saying what the Bible is NOT.
- It is NOT a science book
- It is NOT a history book
- It is NOT primarily a set of rules for you to follow or go to hell.
It seems the Bible is regularly interpreted using these lines of thought.
One of the most common misconceptions of Christianity is that it is primarily composed of a set of rules to follow. It is seen as a list of things to do and not to do (such as the Ten Commandments). However, Christianity is actually primarily about getting you in the right kind of relationship with your Creator, which should result in the right relationships with other humans.
What Is The Bible?
If that is what the Bible is not, then what is the Bible?
- Divinely inspired
- Designed to show you the nature of the God who created the heavens and the earth using people for you to follow.
- A guide for showing you how to have the right relationship with your Creator.
It is about a personal relationship with God.
The Bible is about relating to YOU and showing you people to follow to be in the right relationship to the God who created the heavens and the earth
The Value Of Following God's Word
What does that mean? For one thing it mean to put the principles of Jesus in the Bible before your own principles. It means not putting things such as money or possessions before God in your life.
In the Garden Of Eden the sensual pleasure of the forbidden fruit was put before what God had instructed, leading to the fall of humankind.
It took the mercy and the action of the Almighty God to reverse this. The Bible tells us that putting our own desires before God's word leads to problems and it is not for our good in the long term.. This should not be difficult to see in modern times.
The right relationship with God not only benefits you in eternity, but it can benefit you in this world. Jesus said in the Gospels,
- Gospel Of Matthew 11:30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
This should tell us that following God's word is not only better for us in the long term, but that it is a "lighter yoke", or easier. It might not seem like it at the time to a human mind, but that is one reason God revealed his word to humans.
The Bible is not meant to be primarily a set of rules, but rather a guide to help put you in the right relationship with God, which benefits you in eternity and in this world.
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And They Said Christianity Was Boring
The Purpose And Authority Of The Bible
Author: Albert Wagner