All Scripture is breathed out by God.
-- 2 Timothy 3:16, ESV
Our church is in the process of remodeling. We are expanding our bathrooms and adding new seats, if you will. It reminds me of a funny story I heard years ago.
A sweet lady was planning a campground vacation for her family and wanted to make sure the destination had the necessary facilities. She thought it vulgar to use words like toilet or bathroom commode, so she sent an email using the abbreviation BC. "Do you have a BC in or near the campground," was her question. Imagine her shock when she read the reply from the campground manager, who thought her request was concerning a Baptist Church:
"There is a BC 10 miles from the campground. It can seat over 100 people at one time. It is full of friendly folks who arrive early and stay late. It pains me to admit that I haven't been able to go regularly. The last time I went it was so crowded I had to stand up the whole time. But if you come to our campground, my wife and I promise to go and sit with you."
All churches affirm that the Bible is "the word of God." But what do they mean by that? You would be surprised by the diversity of interpretations.
Some mean that the Bible is only inspired by God in spots, and they are inspired to spot the spots. Teachings on love, grace, forgiveness, and Heaven are accepted as truly from God. Other teachings on sin, sexuality, judgment, and Hell are deemed mythical, outdated, and explained away.
Some cover all the Bible with the cloak of inspiration, but insist that everyone is free to wear it in his or her own way. In this scenario, the Bible can mean anything you want it to mean. Up can be down, men can be women, truth can be false, right can be wrong. But please remember a text without a context is a pretext, and throughout history people have used the Scriptures to support every kind of heresy, perversity, and evil inflicted upon the planet.
Then there are those who hold the Bible to be the literal word of God. Not all passages should be taken literally, for Scripture contains ample metaphor and many parables. When Jesus said, "I Am the door," it does not mean He is a 4-by-6 piece of wood. But, all the words of the Bible should be taken seriously.
When I say the Bible is the word of God, I mean to say that God the Holy Spirit is the primary author of Holy Scripture. He worked in and through the various persons and personalities who authored each book of the Bible, some 40-plus people who penned 66 books. God inspired them, perfectly kept them from error, and what is written in those original autographs is infallible to serve and accomplish God's sovereign purpose.
Our sacred duty as Christian ministers and members of Christian churches is to read, study, preach, and receive the words of the Bible as God's word. Each passage should be taken in its historical and grammatical context and interpreted according to the Author's and the author's original intent, then applied to contemporary life.
Such a view leads to robust Christianity and strong churches built on the five pillars of the Great Reformation: Scripture Alone, which reveals that salvation is by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone, and is accomplished for the Glory of God alone. It also prevents Baptist churches from becoming bathroom commodes.
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church in Hot Springs. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Arkansas and Georgia and preached the gospel across the United States and other countries. Email him at [email protected].