SOME THOUGHTS ON REDISCOVERING THE BIBLE

I recently read about the incredible resurgence of faith among college students and young adults. One reason has been their rediscovery of the Bible as a source of objective truth. They've abandoned the skepticism of previous generations, stopped using the Bible to answer questions it wasn't meant to answer, and embraced it as the source of answers to life's most important questions: Who am I? Why am I here?

As they’ve stripped away skepticism and embraced the Bible as authoritative for faith and practice, they’ve encountered the God who created them, are being drawn to him, and changed.

Many observers are surprised by what they see. I’m not. This always happens when people rediscover the scripture and approach it with expectation. As the Apostle Paul wrote:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 16-17)

God’s word is timeless and timely, and history is replete with stories of people who discover or rediscover the Bible and have a life-changing encounter with God.

One of the first times we see the power of rediscovering the Bible is in 2 Kings 22, where we read:

“Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.’” (2 Kings 22:8)

Here’s the context: God’s word had been missing for years, but no one seemed to notice. The priesthood was operating with all kinds of religious activity, but there was no Bible. They rediscovered the Bible while the temple was being repaired.

The same thing happens today. Many church leaders are busy doing everything but teaching God’s word. As a result, many people don’t know the Bible, and live contrary to its teaching.

The Apostles offer a better example. Facing requests to do other things—even good things—they replied,

“We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4)

This is the first duty of Christian leaders. It’s time for God’s people to rediscover the Bible because whenever God’s people seek the Lord in scripture, they encounter him!

Seek the Lord by rediscovering the Bible, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway