Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God: Its Culturally Transforming Effect
One of the more ironic (if not almost humorous, because it is so patently false) charges made against Christianity is that it leads to oppression, injustice, ignorance, and numerous other social evils. The guilt of all that's wrong with human society--from slavery to the oppression of the poor to the denigration of women to suppression of science and knowledge--has been laid at the feet of Christians and the Bible for centuries. Are these charges true? Space does not allow a full answer, or anything like it. But I would assert that the charges are not only not true, they are anti-true. That is, they are actually the opposite of the truth. The truth is that wherever the Christian biblical ethic has taken root in any society for any period of time, there has been a marked:
--increase of care for the poor
--elevation of the dignity and honor afforded to women
--increase of commitment to scientific and creative endeavors
--correction of racial and social prejudice
--development of medical care
--improvement of judicial processes
--improvement of economic systems
In short, wherever the Bible goes and takes root, the care of the poor, the elevation of women, the progress of science, the advancement of knowledge and medicine, and the defeat of prejudice are sure to follow.
Wherever the Bible goes, in time, hospitals get built, women achieve new rights and freedoms, the poor gain new dignity and opportunity, the oppressed are set free, institutions of learning are created, society achieves unprecedented new heights of justice and opportunity for all. Wherever the Bible has not taken root, the opposite happens.
Here's one more reason why I believe the Bible is God's Word: it has an unmatched transforming effect on human society. Plant its teachings in the soil of any culture and that culture will soon harvest abounding fruits of justice, knowledge, and opportunity.
In contrast nothing has done more to foster oppression, poverty, and ignorance, and to obliterate common decency, honesty, and respect for human life than when cultures have been ignorant of or have purposefully rejected the Law of God.
Why do I believe in the Bible as God's Word? Because it doesn't just work for isolated individuals; it changes the course of history and society. It works for the world.
Labels: Apologetics, Bible, ethics, The Word of God
posted by Tim Shorey at
7:55 AM
4 Comments:
Tim, thank you for this post. I am thanking you because you have presented a challenge to your readers including myself.
You stated, "Space does not allow a full answer, or anything like it. But I would assert that the charges are not only not true, they are anti-true."
I agree with your assertions. I could probably even be able to give a few examples. But I see my weaknesses and would not be confidently conversant in defending the various areas you mentioned.
So again I say thank you for the challenge to not only search the Scriptures but to search history and see how "His Story" has changed the world.
Tim, excellent point. Why wouldn't we expect a God who loves his creation to give us only that which would improve our condition. His Word, understood and applied, is a powerful antidote to sin-- and it is sin that creates the kind of injustice and prejudice, etc., that blights peoples and cultures. It is as you say, and history CLEARLY bears out this truth.
I am annoyed and outraged when folks propogate the "anti-truths" about Christianity and Scripture that you mention. Only a willful ignorance and blindness can so misread history and society-- and yet, people accept the lie, because they don't want the truth either.
"Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
Good reflections Peter.Tim's post and yours reminded me of my own journey.
"Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
I remember being confronted with the gospel and the truth that Jesus is the only way to salvation. I responded with, what about Buddha?, what about Mohamed? This was a smoke screen. I knew nothing of either of them. But I had to resist in some way. And this is the way I chose. So out of ignorance I raised an objection.
I believe the same is true of the people who point to various objections to Christianity and the Bible. Most,I would say, do it in sheer ignorance of both.
But I also believe that sometimes their observations are not always off the mark. But their conclusions about what they are observing are.
What are some of the objections? The Crusades? Slavery, by those who claim to be Christians? Neglect of the poor, by those who seem to "walk on the other side"?
All of these are smoke screens and each one if searched out would hold complex answers. But the ones raising the objections are not concerned with the truth. They are concerned about how to maintain the life they want to live.
Some of the objections may actually be true. And can be a point of common ground. If actually true it could be pointed out that what they are observing is sin in action.
Some of the objections may be false. If so historical evidence could easily show that.
The bottom line for us, and these posts are just a tip of the apologetic iceberg, is for us to be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us!
Keep the posts coming Tim! And may I suggest that because "Space does not allow a full answer, or anything like it.", that you consider a medium in which you could cover more ground.
I know that there are many books out there that share this information, but how you and the others on the team may personally be of more benefit. Just something to consider.
Ernie,
You're right that another means of communicating more info might be good, but at the moment I'm not sure where or how or when!
Reading relevant works Mcdowell's certainly helps. We've got several helpful books at the TFC bookstore too.
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