What Can You Learn From the Bible?

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What Can You Learn From the Bible?

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David Plotz has read the Bible and made some interesting connections. In this article from Slate.com he gives his view of the stories, people and lessons of the Book.

Plotz mentions much that has already been known about the most people’s illiteracy when it comes to the Bible. It seems his biggest surprise is to learn so many common expressions heard all his life had their origin in the Bible. While this illustrates his own illiteracy it testifies to the longevity of God’s word.

There is one comment he makes I find interesting:

The Bible has brought me no closer to God, if that means either believing in a deity acting in the world or experiencing the transcendent. But perhaps I’m closer to God in the sense that the Bible has put me on high alert. I came to the Bible hoping to be inspired and awed. I have been, sometimes. But mostly I’ve ended up in a yearlong argument with God. Why would He kill the innocent Egyptian children? And why would He delight in it? What wrong did we do Him that He should send the flood? Which of His Ten Commandments do we actually need? Yet the argument itself represents a kind of belief, because it commits me to engage with God.

It “commits me to engage with God.” For an agnostic that is not a bad postion to be in. It at least brings him to the same position of that of a believer. You see, we also are committed to an engagement with God. We too wonder “why”? We argue with God and yes, even sometimes raise our voice in the anquish of trials and difficult moments. That is part of the intimate relationship you build with God in this life.

God, I think, expects His children to approach Him like Abraham and David did on occasion. Sometimes questioing His decisions and at others pleading with Him for understanding and deliverance. God said that Abraham was a “friend” and David a “man after His own heart”. To reach that level of relationship takes a full range of emotional engagement. It is worth the effort.

I would skip reading this, another book about the Bible. Go straight to the book and begin reading for yourself. There is treasure waiting for you in every page. It will change your life.