Is the Bible outdated and irrelevant?
Asking if the bible is outdated or irrelevant is like asking if water or salt are irrelevant to the ocean. Furthermore, The Holy Bible can compete with other literary works on its technical merits but that is like defining a man by his shadow. Not only does The Holy Bible contain within it's pages the origins of man, but it also proclaims that we are sons and daughters of God. God the Heavenly Father made us in his image. This speaks to our divine potential and sets, for each of us, a standard and a pattern. Indeed, the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten son of our Heavenly Father. They testify of his life and ministry and reveal to us through this testimony the pattern of a perfect life. As we use our God protected agency and follow that pattern it will transform our hearts and allow us to see the infinite potential of every son or daughter of God. I testify that not only are the scriptures relevant today but they are more relevant than ever. With every day that passes the bar that is the requirement for human survival on this planet is raised. The only documents capable of offering us the inspiration, knowledge and wisdom to transcend that standard are the Holy Scriptures. The only further testimony I can offer you, if you have the intestinal fortitude to continue is the words of the scriptures themselves. So I humbly share with you several excerpts of the King James version of The Holy Bible and their meaning as I ask Are they relevant?
Many of you have heard and even memorized John 3:16 but have you ever read John 3:17 & 18. I testify that these words are true and relevant today and ever.
John Chapter 3 Verses 16-18
16 For God so loved the "world, that he gave his 'only begotten 'Son, that whosoever "believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through him might be "saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
Some other exciting, relevant and revealing verses in The New Testament are John 14:6 &15-17. Christ, speaking to his apostles, says:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the away, the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by rne. (John 14:6)
15 If ye "love me, "keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever ;
17 Even the Spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him : but ye know him ; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:15-17)
To offer us the pattern for a perfect life was an important part of Jesus Christ's mission. As we live our lives in accordance with the gospel and strive to follow the pattern of a perfect life set by Jesus Christ we can change the world in profound and beautiful ways. Indeed, he gave us tools so that we ourselves could help save the world as we follow his example. Also, as we keep his commandments and strive to change the world through a life of service, as Christ did, we will receive a comforter. That comforter is a messenger of truth and a Spirit of Truth otherwise known as the Holy Ghost. How is it irrelevant to have access to a messenger of truth that also brings comfort? Who among us, in these trying times, would say, I have no further need of knowledge or wisdom. I have no further need of guidance in knowing how to act and what to do. I have no need of comfort. I have enough.?
Let me offer you a few more examples of the important and relevant messages contained in the scriptures. This time I will explore The Old Testament. In Genesis 1:26-27 we read:
26 And God said, Let "us make 'man in our image, after our 'likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26-27)
In Psalm 1 we read:
P S A L M 1
1 BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so : but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous : but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
So I ask you what teen, as they go through that mighty struggle that is the genesis of their adult identity, has no need of knowing how valuable they are? What teen has no need of knowing of their infinite potential? As young people pick their friends and join their cliques and gangs and other groups, what relevance is there in having an authority of great credibility, other than their parents, to turn to. What need do they have of an authority that is divinely inspired and that has been guiding youth's decisions for thousands of years? An authority that would tell them that the consequences of hanging out with the drug addicts and gangbangers are that they are setting themselves up to be like the chaff which the wind driveth away. This same authority would also explain to them that those who delight in the knowledge and wisdom of the creator of the universe will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper(Psalms 1:3).
In a world filled with get rich schemes, how many young adults, teens or old people for that matter, would have no interest in being given advice, free of charge, that would make them successful in everything they do?
Of course the well that is the scriptures is deep and if you will indulge me for just a little longer I would like to dip into that well one more time and offer you a draught of that living water.
P S A L M 23
A Psalm of David.
1 THE LORD is my shepherd ; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul : he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil ; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalms 23)
John 4:11-14
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep : from whence then hast thou that living water ?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle ?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again :
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:11-14)
In this world of turmoil and trouble, is it not comforting to know that The Shepherd that knows each of us by name, even Jesus Christ, is ready to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death? We can fear no evil because he is the living water and his love for us defined him. In a world of finite commodities like a 12 oz can of soda, 18 oz bag of potato chips, a 1 pound bag of bread, or a 10 pound sack of potatoes that are there for a while and then are gone, is it not comforting to know that one thing will never need a refill? The living water that is Christ's love for us is unending. It does not have an expiration date, it is not perishable, it does not get rotten and it will never need a refill. So at the risk of sounding like a broken record I ask one last time, is any of this relevant or contemporary, or is it so 5 minutes ago? I leave you to decide.