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One of the chief values of The Bible is it gives insight into how sacred truth is discerned and life shaped in a Christlike way within the context of the historical ingredients of society and culture. This entails recognizing the human aspect of the Scripture and discerning within community the temporal truths from the timeless principles. Just grappling with the limited aspects of Scripture, due to the human interpretations and politics and, yes, prejudices of biblical writers and communities, can immensely help us in our wisely discerning in our present historical, societal, and cultural conditions. Such a sane approach to Scripture reminds us that we, too, though inspired by God, nevertheless, are not without error in our own claims to truth.
Starting with the Early Church and for many centuries afterward, Christians recognized the continuing Voice of God in the Church and world. The Word of God was not confined to Scripture, though the Church held in high esteem the Bible as an essential guide to discerning the Voice of God in the ongoing life of the Church and world.
The opening story points to the extremes with which persons can go in idolizing a holy book, even The Holy Bible. When we shut off the living Word still speaking in our communities and heart, and we do this in a slavish devotion to a holy book, then, we have idolized a book and placed it before the Spirit of God who speaks both from the wisdom teachings of the world and, also, who speaks in the Inner Sanctuary of the human heart.
Scripture is a wonderful gift to the Church, when it serves the Church for the good and harmony of all peoples. When a holy book, any holy book, plays such a role that it becomes our master and we its slaves, we are committing idolatry. We, then, have placed the words before the Word, truths before Truth, and finiteness before the Infinite.
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It is not my lack of respect for Scripture that leads me to such a position as stated in this writing. Rather, my friends, it is my love of Jesus Christ, the Living Word, that leads me to be able to write what I have about the error and dangers of a slavish devotion to written words, regardless of how holy we claim those words are for us.
I respect highly The Holy Bible. But I love much the Living Word, Christ. The Bible points me to Christ. The Bible is not and cannot be for me a final source of Word, for Christ Jesus is the Living, Inerrant Word of God. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the Word before, within, and after time. Amen.
Suggested Reflections
What in the writing today challenged your thinking? Did anything written make you angry? Uneasy? Confused?
How do you integrate in your life the written words of Holy Scripture, the living Word, Jesus Christ, and the inward and outward guidance of the Holy Spirit?
What are the means by which you have been guided by God in your life? Explain.
See next page for Invitation to writer's contemplative village, purpose of OneLife, data on ordering author's book and upcoming devotionals 2008, and material on citations.
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