John 20:30-31
Stop.
Get a copy of a Bible. It doesn’t matter whether it’s paper or digital. Just sit with it for a few minutes. Let your heart rest in the gift of God’s word.
Listen.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. – John 20:30-31
Reflect.
Attitudes about the Bible are all over the place. Some people consider the Bible just another collection of history and mythology. Others consider it fully the word of God without any errors or contradictions. Some think of it as beautiful, inspirational writing. And then there’s every opinion in between. Sometimes, it can feel hard to figure out what we’re supposed to think about the Bible.
Lutherans in the ELCA claim that the Bible is the “inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.” That means a few things. First, inspired isn’t the same as inerrant. It means we know that God was at work in the creation of the Bible but that doesn’t mean that humans didn’t mess some things up along the way. Second, since it is the source and norm for our proclamation, faith, and life, it means it most directly affects how we live as people of faith. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we would see it as a definitive source for history, geography, biology, or other parts of our lives.
Some feel that this perspective diminishes scripture. But even scripture itself says that it’s just part of the whole picture. In John’s gospel, the writer notes that Jesus did much more than what was written down, but that these parts are meant to help us trust in God’s work in our lives. We can trust that God works in many ways through many means and still show respect for the Bible. We walk a careful balance: too little care and the Bible becomes meaningless; too much care and we worship the Bible, not the God of the Bible.
When we hold the Bible close to know who God is, what God has done, and where God might be leading us, we are on the way to the “life in his name” that John’s gospel promises. In this Easter season, we rejoice in the gift of scripture that shows us God’s ongoing work for life in Jesus Christ.
Pray.
God, I thank you for the gift of your holy Word. Help me to honor and respect it. Help me also to engage with it in a way that is meaningful for my faith and life. Make it continue to live in my heart and in the world you love. Amen.
Carry On.
How often do you read the Bible? Why? Could you try setting aside a little bit of time each day to read the Bible? How might this help you feel more engaged and less intimidated by it?