Why Believe in the Bible?

Many today would question the Bible’s authority or relevance. But what has it been replaced with? Largely by a range of opinions and ideas plucked from here and there. Why believe the Bible? Well, in a short space here are three reasons I believe the Bible:
1. It provides both a description and explanation of reality as we experience it. The Bible explains why we as human beings feel special, have a need for love and community. It explains why we aspire to good things but often don’t, we get confused, conflicted or addicted. It tells us where our sense of moral value comes from, even if it is distorted. It tells us what our hearts and minds suspect – that we are not alone in this vast universe. And it reveals to us what we could otherwise not know – the Word who dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
2. It is grounded in history. The Bible is a history book. We can examine its movement, its claims, its impact on individual lives. We can look at historical evidence for Jesus, for his life, death and resurrection. It is not grounded in fable, myth or blind faith. It summons our thinking and reasoning capacities and lays the evidence before us. We are allowed to question it, to explore it, engage with it and wrestle with it.
3. It influences peoples’ lives for good. Critics love to point to the crusades or some expressions of Christianity that falls short. That’s not hard to do. My observation and experience is that those impacted by the Bible are more disposed to kindness and good deeds than otherwise, more disposed to feed the hungry and respond to the needs of the world. The Bible undergirds and fosters core concepts of unselfishness and regard for others.
There are three basic reasons why I believe the Bible. We do not worship the Bible, we worship the God who is revealed in the Bible, and in whom we place our hope. However, without the Bible we cannot build a knowledge or understanding of God.
In many respects, the Christian life is about the on-going process of building the truth of the Bible into our lives. We do this in the context of the cultural forces, ideologies and opinions, pressures and priorities that seek to shape us in other ways.
May we believe in the Bible, and know why we do. May it then shape who we are and who we are becoming. Phil