Recently I watched an atheistic talk-show host question a pastor about his beliefs in the Word of God. He asked the pastor, “Do you really believe the God of the Old Testament. I mean the God that enjoyed killing innocent women and children? Or that Jonah was a real man actually swallowed by a real fish for three days? Or that God actually created the universe in six literal days?”

The pastor responded, “You need to understand the message of the Bible is love. That’s the general theme. Some of those stories are just there in an allegorical manner.”

The talk show host then said, “Yeah but the Bible itself declares that all of it is true. Therefore, if it’s not all true then the Bible is not truthful in what it says. That’s why I don’t believe the Bible.”

For the next 10 minutes, the atheistic talk show host crushed the pastor in the debate. Sickened by the interaction I was watching, I realized the reason most Christians don’t view the Bible as authoritative is that even the pastors that are preaching to them don’t believe it either.

We have taught our congregations to pick and choose that which is true and that which is suggestive. This flies in the face of what scripture teaches.

ALL scripture is inspired by God. That means when a person opens up a copy of God’s word anywhere from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, God has spoken authoritatively and His Word can be trusted.

If you have the reading skills of a sixth grader you can read the Bible and simply trust that everything you read is God speaking directly to you. This is why people were amazed at Jesus because He taught as one with authority.

We have lost our trust in the authority of God’s Word and need to repent and ask God to bring us back under His Word. Ask me:

• “Do I believe in a literal six-day creation of the universe?”

• “Do I believe that Jonah was a real profit swallowed by a real fish and was in its belly for three days?”

• “Do I believe that God caused the sun to stand still in the sky when Joshua prayed?”

• “Do I believe that God destroyed nations that were wicked and rebelled against Him?”

• “Do I believe that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him?”

• “Do I believe Jesus Christ is coming soon in all of His glory to judge the righteous and the unrighteous?”

The answer to ALL of these questions is a resounding YES!!! Why? Because that’s exactly what the Bible teaches.

The reason people do not trust the authority of the Bible is that they have not humbled themselves enough to realize that Jesus Christ is indeed Lord and that every word of the scriptures is true. This Word teaches the believer, reproves the believer, and trains the believer for every good work. Scripture is authoritative, true, and sufficient for everything that we need to honor God.

How about you? Do you believe the Word? All of it? Why not humble yourself today and recognize that Jesus Christ and His Word are living and active. By trusting His Word, God can live His life in and through you.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus. I confess I have questioned your Word rather than believing. Please forgive me and provide me the faith to believe that every part of your Word is true. Give me a growing hunger and desire for your Word. Amen.