Many people today want to throw the Bible out completely. They try to discredit God’s people by saying we’re intolerant and mean-spirited when we call for a biblical standard. Attempting to destroy God’s Word is nothing new, but God will preserve it and one day judge those who try to destroy it just as He did in Jeremiah’s time.
While we can rejoice that God will deal with evil men who reject His Word, we may need to examine our own attitudes toward Scripture, as well. How do you view the Bible? As a cafeteria line where you can pick and choose what you like? Do you cut and paste it at will? Do you view it as merely a book of nice suggestions for living or do you view it as God’s Word and allow it to direct every area of your life?
Today’s Readings:
Jeremiah 35 & 36
Psalm 119.65-72
Proverbs 27.22
1 Timothy 4.1-16
Do You “Cut & Paste” the Bible?
Jeremiah 35 & 36:
Cutting the Scroll
Jeremiah had been prophesying to the nation of Judah, warning them that if the people didn’t repent, God’s judgment was imminent. But not only were the people unrepentant, so were their leaders.
God had instructed Jeremiah to record His warnings on a scroll. It had been read to the people and was now brought to the king.
Chapter 36.22-26 says this:
22 Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. 23 And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. 25 Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.
The king was sitting in his house, warm and comfortable, and—with a complete disregard for the Word of God! As it was read to him, he simply cut off each portion of the scroll and threw it into the fire!
Cutting & Pasting the Bible
Today people continue to cut off the parts of Scripture they don’t like or want to accept. I once heard about a liberal theologian who literally cut the first few chapters of Genesis out of his Bible. Others throw out the whole Bible as being the work of men. Still, others, claim they are followers of Christ, but pick and choose what they want to believe.
Some talk about how Jesus loves everyone but forget that He ordered the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some claim to love God but don’t do what He says, forgetting His words, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14.15). And others say it’s a book of principles alone. They deny its truthfulness in the area of history and science and eliminate the whole creation account.
Then there are those who cut and paste the Bible with other religious ideas. They take what they like from Christianity, add a little Eastern religion, and toss in some mysticism. Or they say they’re Christians but add other books or some so-called higher knowledge. Others deny the Deity of Christ, the virgin birth, or the reality of the Trinity.
Not a Cafeteria
But the Bible is not a cafeteria where we can pick and choose the parts we like or cut out the ones we don’t. 2 Timothy 3.16 says:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
That word inspiration means “God breathed it out.” All Scripture was breathed out by God, not just the parts we like or choose to believe.
God is a God of mercy and grace, but He is also a God of justice. Jeremiah 36 goes on:
27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch had written at the instruction of Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 28 “Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29 And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and cause man and beast to cease from here?’” 30 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. 31 I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the doom that I have pronounced against them; but they did not heed.”’”
God Will Preserve His Word
Though men may try to destroy or discredit it, God will preserve His Word (v. 28) and, one day, judge those who try.
And we who call ourselves His, need to be sure that we’re not cutting out the parts we don’t like or don’t care to obey. We need to be sure we’re not justifying sin in the name of grace or looking the other way for fear of taking a stand. And that we’re not replacing truth with political correctness.
We need to remember that all Scripture is inspired by God. His Word is truth (Jn. 17.17) and His Word alone can bring eternal life (Jn. 6.68).
If you’d like to know more about how some are cutting and pasting the Bible today, check out the trailer for this documentary American Gospel: Christ Crucified:
The gospel message of “Christ crucified” has always been offensive. In our culture it is common for preachers to soften the offense of the cross, and the attributes of God that are displayed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. “American Gospel: Christ Crucified” explores how the paths of post-modernism and progressive Christianity lead to a different gospel, and a god created in our own image.
“But we preach Christ Crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness…” (1 Cor. 1:23)
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 119.65-72:
He is Good
Verses 67-68:
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
Notice verse 67 is followed by the psalmist’s declaration in verse 68, “You are good, and You do good.” Another verse says, “It was good that I was afflicted.” When God allows a test or trial in our lives it is not for our hurt, but for our good, no matter how it looks to us at the time!
Proverbs 27.22:
Tribulation and Distress
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
Proverbs 13.15 (KJV) tells us, “The way of the transgressor is hard!” And Romans 2 in the New American Standard Bible says:
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Tribulation and distress include depression, anxiety, fear, and worry. While not all negative emotions are the direct result of sin in our lives, when we are experiencing them, we should examine ourselves in light of God’s Word to be sure there isn’t an area where we are failing to trust God or live obediently.
If so, we need to repent and ask God for His forgiveness and help.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1.9).
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy (Prov. 28.13).
1 Timothy 4.1-16:
Watch Out for False Teachers
This chapter warns us to watch out for false teachers, those who would draw us away from biblical truth. While it’s important that we don’t reject any part of God’s Word, it’s also important that we don’t add to it. Chapter 4.3-5 instructs us to reject any teaching that adds legalistic requirements.
So, how will we recognize false teaching and false teachers? By reading, studying, and seeking to understand God’s Word for ourselves and by living it out in our lives:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5).
Your Thoughts:
How has God spoken to you today? Perhaps you saw a passage in a new light or an area where you need to grow and change. Did you find a promise to hold on to? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about whether our faith is genuine, widows, laziness, the link between guilt and paranoia, and more.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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