A lot of people claim to be Christians, but many aren’t really sure how accurate or how meaningful the Bible is for their lives today. Few read it or know much about it, and fewer still discover the wisdom and practical help found in its ancient passages. Where can you start?
Who was Joan of Arc? One of 10 U.S. citizens thinks she was Noah's wife. (You know, the guy in the Flood with the floating ark and all the animals. Joan of Arc lived only about 4,000 years later in France and was burned at the stake before she turned 20.)
What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Half of U.S. high school seniors think "they" were married. (They were actually evil cities God wiped out.)
Surveys show most Americans, even religious Americans, don't know much about the Bible. Results like these sparked the cover of the April 2, 2007, issue of Time magazine: "Why We Should Teach the Bible in Public School (but Very, Very Carefully)."
But even if Bible facts and literary allusions were added back into the curriculum of modern public education, would it really address the deeper issues? Unlikely. The accuracy of the Bible has been under attack for decades, and few today would think of looking to this ancient book for advice.
Relevant: The book about relationships and real-life issues
Is the Bible relevant to your life today? Though written thousands of years ago, its wisdom and advice is amazingly up-to-date. Consider what it says about these modern issues:
Dadlessness: Forty percent of American young people live in homes without their father. God says we can come to Him—He is a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and He encourages the Church to be a supportive family to the fatherless and widows (James 1:27).
Peer pressure: In a recent poll on the drug habits of British young people, 22 percent said they tried drugs because of peer pressure (www.teachernet.gov.uk ). The Bible has advice about choosing friends carefully, the effects of controlled substances and not following the mistakes of others (Proverbs 4:14-15; 12:26; 14:7; 20:1; 23:20-21, 29-35; 27:12).
Sex: The vast majority of teenagers who have had sex, 72 percent of girls and 55 percent of boys, admit regret over early sexual activity. The Bible teaches the blessings of saving sex for marriage and warns of the allure of illicit sex (Song of Solomon 2:7; Proverbs 4:23; 5:3-23; 6:24-35; Hebrews 13:4).
Big decisions: Facing choices of college and career? How can you achieve success? Consider these verses: Proverbs 3:5-6; 15:22; 18:17; 21:5; 22:29.
Stress: One third of U.S. teens say they feel stressed out on a daily basis, reports Reuters Health. What can you do when the worries and pressures are mounting? Check out Matthew 6:25-34, 11:28-30, Hebrews 13:5-6 and 1 Peter 5:6-7.
These few verses are only a starting point. To find more on these and other subjects, do a search on the VerticalThought.org Web site. Also, the book of Proverbs is full of relevant advice. You can find a subject index for Proverbs at www.ucg.org/brp/pdf/brp0611.pdf .
A reliable book
Many today question the accuracy of the Bible. But consider a few facts and quotes about this amazing book:
"Altogether about forty persons, in all stations of life, were engaged in the writing of these oracles, the work of which was spread over a period of about 1,600 years" (Sidney Collett, All About the Bible, 20th edition, p. 11).
In spite of all those authors and all that time, the Bible "is found to contain in itself a well-considered plan throughout, showing that each part belongs to, and contributes towards the beauty and perfection of, the whole" (p. 159). This we see as a tribute to God's inspiration.
Gleason Archer, a scholar of biblical studies, also wrote about the trustworthiness of the Bible: "As I have dealt with one apparent discrepancy after another and have studied the alleged contradictions between the biblical record and the evidence of linguistics, archaeology, or science, my confidence in the trustworthiness of Scripture has been repeatedly verified and strengthened by the discovery that almost every problem in Scripture that has ever been discovered by man, from ancient times until now, has been dealt with in a completely satisfactory manner by the biblical text itself—or else by objective archaeological information" ( Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, 1982, p. 12).
The Bible claims to be true and inspired by God (see John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16), and millions of people through history have embraced that claim.
Sir Isaac Newton said, "There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history."
George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
Napoleon said, "The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it" (quoted in Halley's Bible Handbook, 1965, pp. 18-19).
In spite of many attempts to destroy it through history, today the Bible is the most widely published and widely translated book in the world. For more evidence of the Bible's validity, see "Events That Happened Just as God Foretold" and download or request Is the Bible True? . GN
