The Bible is not a ___ textbook

As I was reading through a book recently, I ran across a familiar argument, but applied to a different topic or context. I searched online and found the same claim, “The Bible is not an economics textbook.” I’ve seen this claim before, but mostly applied to science and the creation-evolution controversy.

When applied to science, the arguments usually cover some basic thoughts such as,

• no, but wherever the Bible touches on science or history it is trustworthy
• no, I’m glad, because science textbooks get out of date and have to be changed

There is usually a good demonstration of how the Bible is accurate, how science has had to change and contradict previous claims of truth. There are good, solid organizations dedicated to upholding the Bible such as www.answersingenesis.org, www.creation.com, www.icr.org, and www.biblearchaeology.org.

When I saw the same question applied to a different area than science, it got me to thinking to a broader application. Let’s take a new look at it, how would you define a textbook? Here are a few found online:

1. a book used for instructional purposes, especially in schools and colleges
2. A book used in schools or colleges for the formal study of a subject
3. A manual of instruction or a standard book in any branch of study. They are produced according to the demand of educational institutions

If we look at those definitions, we could say that the Bible is a textbook, as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of /God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Let me offer up another definition, in terms of contrasting between the Bible and a textbook on science or economics. A textbook is a collection of human knowledge, used to organize and teach others about a subject.

The Bible claims to be much more than that, in 2 Peter 1:16-21 we read, “we have the word of the prophets made more certain” and “prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” In both scriptures we see that the Bible is not from man, but from God. We have the owner’s manual, from the Creator himself, not just something from men who did not create it but seek to explain it from a black-box perspective.

Do we think God can tell us reliably about himself and religion, and not tell us reliably about ourselves and His other creations, which He rules and sustains?

When others scoff, “The Bible is not an economics textbook” or any other area of study, we can answer them by saying, “thankfully not, it provides a more reliable source as a foundation for all of our knowledge.

-Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Scripture: Free will or God's will?

In the debate over man's free will and God's sovereignty, people often claim the verse that says "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" as teaching that man has free will since we have to "work out our salvation". That seems to imply we have free will and we make the choice to "work" our salvation.

This understanding is taking things out of context. In fact, this is only part of a sentence, which doesn't end with that verse. This verse is found in Philippians 2:12. Let me first quote the whole sentence which continues in verse 13.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Note that the rest of the sentence seems to contradict how may apply the previous phrase. It represents a thought that plagues the debate, asserting that God's will and man's will are mutually exclusive (i.e. if God has a will, he imposes it on man, who becomes a mere robot or puppet), thus creating a false dilema. Jonah had a will and ran from God's plan for him, but God brought him back through a number of means into His will, and he went to preach to Ninevah.

So what does "work out your salvation" mean then? I would suggest that it means to reflect the grace you have received for your salvation through faith. God gave you salvation through faith as a free gift, not by works. Therefore, you should respond by continuing to grow in your sanctification through obedience to show your gratitude for God's incredible gift to you. As we work this out and grow, we reflect God's grace even more, and serve as witnesses to glorify God.

Simple Defense of the Trinity

Often when discussing your faith with others, they will question your belief in the Trinity. had Muslims question this in terms of "it doesn't make sense, you worship three gods", and even questioning the historical basis of the Trinity, saying "first you believed Jesus was two-in-one, then later came three-in-one, and even four-in-one, Christians are confused!"

So, what is the basic defense of the Trinity? First you must re-inforce the belief in the Bible (see 2 Peter 1:16-31). Second, you can take it on directly by showing that the Bible teaches that God is one and that each person of the Trinity is the same, and that each is also different. In other words, it may not seem reasonable according to what we've experienced in the material world, but it is clearly taught by Scripture, which is revealed to us by God Himself.

You will need to approach these examples uniquely to how you can most comfortably understand and communicate it. You can point to scriptures such as where Jesus says "I and the Father are One", or John 1 which says in the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word Was God. (with Jesus being "the Word" and present at creation, in the beginning). You can likewise point to scriptures that indicate they are different. You can use the example from John the Baptist, where he baptizes Jesus in the Jordan, you have a single instance where you have all three present and separate at the same time. Jesus is in the Jordan being baptized, God speaks from heaven ("This is my Son...") and the Spirit comes in the form of a dove.

"Be Still" in Prayer

A scripture verse that is often quoted in support of contemplative or centering prayer is Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God". But, is that passage really about prayer? Should we use it in support of prayer?

My short answer is: "no". That doesn't mean we shouldn't listen for God or the Holy Spirit's leading to answer our prayers, but never in contrast to God's revealed Word in scripture. Let's look at the use of that phrase, "be still", in this scripture passage and others throughout the Bible.

Psalm 46 is a short chapter, you should read the whole chapter to understand the context of that one phrase. It starts with verse 1 to set the overall context, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." It talks mostly of the nations in uproar, about wars, the mountains quake, etc... These are all physical things, and the message is that God is our fortress, we should be still (i.e. rest) in the comfort that God is all powerful and will be our help and fortress, we shouldn't worry or try to take things into our own hands.

This phrase, "be still" is found in six other passages throughout the Bible:

• Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
• Nehemiah 8:11, "The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."" (they had been weeping and grieving as they hear the law read, they were told to enjoy food and drink, for the joy of the Lord is their strength)
• Psalm 37:7, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." (again, don't worry, rest in God, everything is in His hands)
• Jeremiah 47:6, "'Ah, sword of the LORD,' you cry, 'how long till you rest? Return to your scabbard; cease and be still.'" (the first verse sets the context, "This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza")
• Zecharaih 2:13, "Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling." (prophecy)
• Mark 4:39, "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."

If we use this passage in relation to prayer, or as an example of prayer we are practicing eisigesis (reading our own ideas into the text), rather than exegesis (shaping our ideas based on the text) of scripture. When we read our own ideas into scriptue, we can make it say anything we want, thus it becomes meaningless text and useless to us.

It should be as God tells us in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." If we read our own ideas into it, how can it judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart?

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

I recently read through Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by JI. Packer. It can be found on Amazon. It is a small book, and worth the quick read, but a little difficult to follow the way it is written at times. The last paragraph in the book sums it up pretty well: [my addition]

"What, then, are we to say about the suggestion that a hearty faith in the absolute sovereignty of God is inimical to evangelism? We are bound to say that anyone who makes this suggestion thereby shows that he has simiply failed to understand what the doctrin of divine sovereignty means. Not only does it undergird evangelism, and uphold the evangelist, by creating a hope of success that could not otherwise be entertained [God ensures His word comes to fruition]; it also teaches us to bind together preaching and prayer; and as it makes us bold and confident before men, so it makes us humble and importunate before God. Isn't this as it should be? We would not wish to say that man cannot evangelize at all without coming to terms with this doctrine; but we venture to think that, other things being equal, he will be able to evangelize better for believing it."

He also talks some about the antinomy (apparent conflict, but equally valid) of God's will and man's free will. It is not a continuum as I initially thought about it, such that the reality lies somewhere on the continuum between God's will on the one end, and man's will on the other. It seems to be more that man has free will, but God's will is stronger. That's not a perfect analogy or comparison, but is as close as I get to simple statement. The antinomy is still part of the mystery of faith, just as the Trinity is a mystery as it is near impossible for us to grasp because we don't have anything in the natural world that represents it perfectly.

God commands us to pray, even though He knows better what we need than we do. Likewise, God commands us to evangelize. I have come to think of it somewhat like the example in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." God wants us to plant the seed or water it; if He wants to grow a plant, and we don't plant the seed or water it, He will use someone else for those tasks. Don't we all want to be used by God in building His Kingdom in some way?