Copyright 2011 by Randy Meulman
The bible is an extraordinary collection of works dating back thousands of years. Never has there been a book so exalted on the one hand and so maligned on the other. But my question is this: What has been the real impact of this book concerning those who study its pages? In the Book of Matthew and again in Luke we have two different authors telling the account of Jesus when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. When confronted by Satan, Jesus quoted from the scriptures. Ironically, the devil did the same. Word for word, they both quote from the scriptures.
In the New Testament we find a man called Saul of Tarsus (later named Paul) who was a religious leader of his day. Paul was an Israelite and a very devout man by his own account. He actually made the claim that there was no one in all of Israel who was more committed to his religion - he had no peer in regards to his religious zeal. Paul literally spent hundreds of hours learning the scriptures and oral traditions passed down for generations, and from his perspective, he kept the commandments like no other man of his day. In spite of his zeal for God, Paul had a thorn in his side and became deeply troubled by a particular sect of people who followed a man called Jesus. Paul correctly understood that these people were a threat to the very foundation of what he believed. He perceived these Christians as the enemy of all he embraced, all he stood for, his very existence, and so he set out to take action against them, to stamp out these people in the name of God. On one particular mission while heading to Damascus, Paul was struck down by a blinding light and I believe Paul knew this light was the Shekinah Glory of God. Paul knew he was in the presence of God Almighty. While blinded and on his knees he cried out, "Lord who are you?" And a heavenly voice came back to him and said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:5 RSV) Paul’s world as he knew it came to an end.
Jesus was born at a point in history when Jewish religion was at a fever pitch. His birth took place in humble surroundings and unannounced for the most part, except for a bright star that led three wise men to Him. Yet He was, in fact, the promised Messiah; the very Messiah that had been prophesied for more than a thousand years by men whose words were found in the Old Testament. The religious community of Jesus' day had a hierarchy ranging from the chief priests to the Jewish elders and the Sanhedrin. Scattered through this hierarchy were Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees, many of whom were devout in the practice of their religion. This group of religious people represented literally thousands of man-years, not man-hours but man-years, worth of study in regard to the written scripture and oral traditions. They faithfully studied and memorized the scriptures and their lives were governed by religion, often to the point of fanaticism. The man Jesus, who performed all sorts of miracles from changing water into wine to raising the dead, was hated by many in the religious community. Jesus knew that for all of their zeal and self-righteous knowledge, the scriptures actually told an entirely different story. In the end, it was this rigidly committed religious community that was a catalyst for Jesus’ crucifixion. And, ironically, the religious community used the scriptures to condemn Him. Even Jesus' own disciples, Peter in particular, fled from Him completely disillusioned while Jesus was led to the cross. Was there no one who could see who He was? At one of the greatest moments in human history was there no one to speak on Jesus' behalf? Dogmatic study and interpretation of scripture actually blinded religious leaders to the truth and experience of Jesus’ existence. Equally ironic, one person who did step forward to speak the truth about this Man was Pontius Pilate's wife who said to her husband, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." (Matthew 27:19 RSV) Now let me make this point abundantly clear: This Roman woman had learned more in one dream than most of the biblical scholars of Jesus' day had learned in a lifetime. After a thousand years of dedicated studying, these scholars did not recognize the One to whom their prophets and scriptures pointed. Jesus himself summarized it best when He said to the religious people of His day "You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to Me; yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life." (John 5:39 KJV)
I have experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of the bible being used as an instrument of bondage and death rather than life. More than 40 years ago, after becoming a born again Christian, I bought into the lie that God Himself expected me to study and memorize the bible. My zealous pursuit of the book as the source of my life stifled the gentle, loving voice of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me. I spent literally hundreds of hours studying and memorizing verses, passages and chapters from both the Old and New Testaments. The same religious spirit of Jesus' day caught hold of me and, like Paul the Pharisee, I determined to be the most committed follower of God alive. All the study and memorization I did while under the influence of that religious spirit did absolutely nothing in regards to the life-giving relationship I now have with the Living God. I was driven to the point of despair and suicide as I desperately tried to please God and perform for Him. One night, God in his loving kindness, awakened me and revealed to me that everything I was trying to do was already accomplished by Jesus. Like Paul the Pharisee, I knew I had heard the truth and my life as I knew it came to an end.
Spirit of Life or Spirit of Death
The bible communicates God’s presence, interest and participation in the lives of humanity. The bible gives us an historical perspective and revelation from creation to Christ’s ultimate return. Within its pages we can also clearly see how the bible has been misused. Satan quoted and twisted the scripture for his own evil purposes. Paul immersed himself in the scripture but misunderstood its meaning and used his misguided beliefs to harm God’s people. And history repeats itself, as we often fall prey to the same religious spirit that keeps us focused on the words rather than the Author of Life. The question becomes how can we be sure that we are using the bible for life and not for death? Jesus said that it would be to our advantage that He go away because He would send the Holy Spirit who would reside in us. And after the greatest event in human history, the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus Christ, He did exactly that. The Holy Spirit is our constant source of life - our counselor and friend. In the book of Galatians Paul writes, "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23 RSV) That describes exactly who I have come to see God to be as the Holy Spirit has revealed Him to me. The point is this: If you are not discovering the fruits of the Spirit in your current religious pursuit – whether that is in the form of bible study, devoted church attendance, volunteer activities through the church, sacrificial giving, and so forth, you are missing out on the essence of what it means to truly be a follower of Christ.
If you believe the bible is the actual word of God, then in its essence, the bible becomes God which is idolatry. In that spirit of bondage you will believe that the bible is the rule book and in order to be a “good Christian” you have to obey every rule and command, as you perceive them. Such a life is impossible and you will either be living with a great deal of guilt or in a state of denial. We know the Ten Commandments were given to increase sin and demonstrate our need for a Savior as stated in the book of Romans (Rom 5:20 RSV). God knew we couldn’t keep the commandments. It was man in his pride who thought he could. Paul addressed the issue of law in the book of Galatians, when he said, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law”’ (Gal 3:10 RSV). He goes on to say “A little leaven leavens the entire lump.” (Galatians 5:9 RSV) Not only can we not keep the Ten Commandments, try keeping all of the commandments and teachings of the New Testament as you perceive them. Jesus himself said, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28 RSV) Then He says, "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48 RSV) If, my friend, you believe you can be perfect, you are delusional.
Many have made the teaching and studying of the bible synonymous with having a daily, personal, life-giving relationship with the Living God through the Person of the Holy Spirit. In essence it becomes a process of behavior modification – the same principle of law practiced by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. It did not work for them. It did not work for Paul. It did not work for me. It never works because behavior modification is based on our own efforts and our own efforts are based on the lie. As any parent knows, behavior modification works on children until they realize they are their own persons. Then the trouble begins. Satan promised, "And you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5 RSV) Good and evil separated from God are one and the same.
Jesus did not come to earth so that we would have to struggle trying to imitate Him. He did not experience death on a cross and glorious resurrection so that we would have to scour the bible for rules about how to live our lives. Knowing Jesus has nothing to do with mustering up the will power to be good or behavior modification. Jesus said "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30 RSV) Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, all of them, and that includes yours and mine. This is about a relationship with the living God who loves us and has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to heal and grow. God has made us this immutable promise; "I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33 RSV) This is about the new creation. We don't have to pretend anymore. We can talk to Him about anything - and I mean anything - and he will understand and not condemn us for our failures. He wants wholeness and life for us and we can work out our lives with Him knowing that we are completely loved. We don't have to hide behind our fig leaves any longer. If you do not know this is true all you have to do is get to know Him.
We are all unique, each one of us, and the way the Lord works in our lives is as different and unique as each individual. When I spend time with the Lord, I personally would never think of studying the bible. Why should I? I speak directly to the Lord and the Lord speaks to me. Why study the menu when I can have the meal? He is always present with me, so I simply speak to Him.
The New Creation is about a loving relationship with the One who loves us, the One who has set us free. And when we know we are loved it touches every fiber of our being. Paul wrote, “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 RSV) That is God! God is the only source of true love and His love flows through us as we get to know Him. King David said, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for Thou art with me.” (Psalms 23:4 RSV) And Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25 RSV) When we know who we are in Christ, we are free. Free because we really are free. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14 RSV)
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