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Pastor's Blog October 8, 2020
"What To Do With Doubt I"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
Most Christians maintain the Bible is "the word of God," which is a good and orthodox position to hold. But what many Christians tend to mean by that position is: 1) the Bible is filled with correct information about God and reality and 2) we must adhere to that information because the Bible is true. The problem with this view of the Bible is that it approaches this inspired book as a document about information rather than as God's self-witness so he can have a relationship with us. Infact, the vast majority of Christians tend to approach the Bible as merely a Christian encyclopedia - a compendium of all information that you should know.
Our friend Ellen, however, helps us understand the real purpose, use, and goal of the Bible: getting to know God, the one who authored it. In "Steps to Christ," Ellen says, "God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we are not to doubt His word because we cannot understand all the mysteries of His providence" (75; 1977 edition). It is tempting to think that what she is referencing is the inspired nature of the information or the religious teachings contained in the Bible. But Ellen's own words correct this misunderstanding. When discussing what the Bible directs us to believe, Ellen specifically mentions God's "existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word" (74).
When describing what the Bible is all about, Ellen refrains from mentioning its informational elements and instead focuses on its divine Author: "It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character of the works of the Infinite One. To the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind, that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery" (74).
It is only after talking about the character of the God who has revealed himself in the Bible, a God who deals with us with "boundless love and mercy united to infinite power," that Ellen even suggests that the Bible might also contain propositional information about science or salvation - information that might be as difficult to fully comprehend as are the ways of our Creator (75).
Friends, the Bible is God's self-revelation to you; seeing the Bible merely or primarily as a book of facts and figures will only lead to further biblical misunderstandings and confusion.
(*) Steps to Christ, Chapter 12— What to Do with Doubt, 1977 edition
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
