That's in the Bible....?

I was talking with some friends recently debating faith issues in a non-attacking way. One guy said something that didn't sound quite right and said, "and that's in the Bible." It may have been in the Bible, but I'm not confident of it. There are a lot of saying that sound like the Bible, but really aren't there. It is important to be able to see what is cultural or from tradition and what is really from the Bible.

I don't have the entire Bible memorized by any stretch of the imagination, but I have been studying it for years-on my own, in church, and through formal higher education. Lately in my discussions about faith issues I have been trying to reference the book that I am quoting (or paraphrasing). I think it adds credibility to what I am saying and gives a point of reference for further questioning-which I think is very healthy.

The Bible is an amazing book. It was written over a period of more than 2,000 years with over 30 different authors and it doesn't contradict itself. I look for ways that it appears to contradict and I continue to find that the Bible is completely trustworthy. A book like that is nothing short of an incredible miracle of divine intervention. It's not a rule book in the way that a lot of people think. I see the Bible as God's love letter to humanity and as our road map for life. It is often easy to say, "oh I've heard that before" and to think that we know all we need to know. I would encourage everyone (myself included) to try to look at the Bible with a fresh pair of eyes. It is not like other books. It is worth reading through carefully, praying through, exploring further, striving to understand better, and trusting. It is so rich with truth. I recommend that we all give the Bible a chance as we hang out with God and let God pour the rich truths of this awesome book into our lives.