Christian: God is Love (2015)

Chapter 5: The Bible was written by religious fanatics

The Bible is a book of fairy tales

Definition of a fairy tale: A book of spirits, elves, fairies and leprechauns, to amuse children. Strangely enough the bible doesn’t mention any of the above fabled creatures. The Bible certainly wasn’t written for children specifically. It records human history over the last several thousand years. The books of the bible are directed toward all ages of humanity. Certainly it was not written to amuse children or anyone for that matter. Yes there are humorous parts in the bible but it wasn’t written to amuse.

The bible has transformed millions of lives over the course of history and it remains the world’s No.1 bestseller. Estimates are there have been over 5 billion copies published. (No not 5million but 5 billion!) No other “fairy tale” book can claim any number near that in publication. The bible has been accurately confirmed through Archaeology, Astronomy and Geology. The bible has supported natural scientific hypothesis not argued against them. The bible has this to say about itself:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." Second Timothy 3:16-17

The bible has at least 48 prophecies that have come true about one person Jesus Christ. Probability experts say the odds of this happening are astronomical. Something like one in ten to the 157th power. Only God could breathe that kind of knowledge into history ahead of time. The bible predicted the crucifixion of Christ hundreds of years before it occurred. There is a manuscript connected to one of the books of John that was written within the same generation. 24, 000 manuscripts confirm the Bible is authentic. No other book of antiquity has that many manuscripts confirming its reliability.

No other book has transformed lives or influenced nations like the Bible. Drug addicts have been set free and homosexuals healed from their wrong sexual addictions. This book has changed the nature of untold millions of people over the ages. No fairy tale book has ever had this kind of influence on its readers. The bible is the living Word of God that transforms any person who opens their heart to it.

Nobody reads the bible anymore

Today people think the bible isn’t relevant to our culture. Many people own bibles here in America but few read it.80% of churchgoers don’t read their Bibles regularly. Many people say they just don’t have time to read the bible. There seems to be a moral decline in America according to some sectors. The reason for this is people don’t read the bible like they used to. Another perception is the bible has less influence in America than it used to. Why? There are less people reading their bibles in a serious manner anymore. People read the bible a few verses here and a few verses there. People don’t sit down anymore and read whole books of the bible.

Bible literacy seems to be on the decline over the last couple of years. Sadly this problem also exists in graduate schools where people are studying to be ministers. One graduate student was surprised to learn, John the Baptist, wore strange clothes. Bible facts that people are unaware of are just simple basic truths. They are not complex theological issues.

The Bible has an enduring impact whether people read it or not.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." Isaiah 40:8

God’s Word (The Bible) endures forever. It has been here before time began and it will carry on when time ends. People who want to learn about Christianity need to read the bible. It’s the instruction manual for life. It shows the way to eternal life found in Jesus Christ. The bible is the infinite and enduring wisdom of God. Christians need to read the bible to answer many complex issues they face in life today. Non-Christians need to read the bible so they can find out what Christianity is really about. The bible will give any seeking heart an unbiased view of what Christianity really means. The bible is too critical for anyone to ignore reading.

The Bible is for weak people who need a crutch

People have a wide misconception that Christianity is for the weak. Hebrews says quite the contrary:

They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated… Hebrews 11:37

Hebrews records people were stoned to death, sawed in two and beheaded…These were human beings who were put to death for the Bible. Only strong natured people could endure these types of deaths. People have been killed just for owning a bible in some places. To say Christianity is a crutch for the weak is not a true statement.

People who have experienced Christianity for the first time have become much stronger. They were weak being filled with fear. They met Jesus of the bible and He healed them from all their fears. He infused them with His supernatural strength which helps them overcome anything life hurdles at them.

People survive beatings, having limbs removed or are slowly tortured until they die. How do they make it through these extremely difficult circumstances? By the supernatural strength God will give to anyone who will accept Christianity as their source of strength. The Bible is not for the weak. It strengthens people and causes them to stand stronger like they never have before.

Christians read the bible for strength not to become weak. Classic examples of people becoming strong from the bible’s influence. The Apostles of Jesus Christ were so afraid of the religious leaders of their day they hid in a room. Jesus told them the Holy Spirit would come upon them in about 120 days. Jesus sent His Spirit to the Apostles as He promised. The Holy Spirit came to dwell in the Apostles on the day of Pentecost.

The Apostles from that day forward became bold Bible believers. Formerly they were afraid to go out in public and talk about the Bible. Now they openly went into the public squares and talked about Jesus and the Bible. Peter (An Apostle of Jesus Christ) had denied Jesus 3 times just months prior. Now, he was talking to thousands of people unashamedly about Jesus and the Bible.

The religious leaders arrested John and Peter throwing them in jail overnight. The next day they threatened them and said don’t talk about the bible anymore; the leaders noted the boldness of John and Peter. The Apostles ignored the threats and went right on talking about the Bible! People who read the bible do so to become strong not weak! So the assertion that the Bible is only for the weak is simply not true.

The Bible is full of Lies

This is a common theme among people who don’t know who wrote the bible. God through ancient believers breathed His words into these authors. God cannot lie:

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19

The truth is truth if it is based in reality. Is the Bible true because it’s based in reality? Yes because Archelogy has extensively proven the people, places and artifacts mentioned in the bible are true. Noah’s Ark found in Genesis has been discovered. The Shroud Jesus died in has been uncovered. Translation of manuscripts over thousands of years have remained consistent and accurate. The biblical thread of history from Genesis to Revelation is coherent, fluid and follows a consistent historical pattern accurately.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called a harmony of Jesus Chris’s life. The details and events given in the four books are accurate and reliable throughout the gospel narratives. The Old Testament in many books predicted the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus died in the New Testament. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 predict the death of Jesus hundreds of years before the event ever transpired. These books were written thousands of years before our time. Manuscripts translated from antiquated manuscripts kept the integrity of the death of Jesus for hundreds of years before He died. Jesus died as the earlier biblical books said He would. One reference in the bible talks of people casting lots for Jesus clothes. The actual day Jesus died the Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothes. The bible has been proven true in the physical realm as well. Many discoveries of ancient manuscripts, events and people’s articles have been confirmed by history. Click on http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/article7.htm archeological evidence for the validity of the bible.

I don’t believe In the Bible because I don’t believe in God

The earth displays evidence of God’s wisdom and existence. Here are a few examples: The earth’s size holds a thin layer of mostly oxygen and nitrogen gases. This atmosphere is 50 miles above the earth’s surface. If the earth were smaller it couldn’t contain an atmosphere like Mercury has no atmosphere. If it was larger than there would be free hydrogen in the atmosphere like Jupiter which cannot contain human life. The earth’s atmosphere has just the right mixture of gases to sustain human life. The earth is the only planet in our solar system to sustain life. The earth is just the right distance from the sun. If the earth was any closer to the sun then we would burn up and if we were any further from the sun we would freeze. The earth rotates on its axis so it is warmed and cooled properly every day.

The moon is a perfect size and distance from the earth for its gravitational pull. The moon causes important ocean tide waves and movement of the ocean waters. These cause the waters not to stagnate. The massive oceans never spill over the continents of the earth.

The bible gives clear evidence for the existence of God. Genesis records God creating the universe, earth and man. Prophets (People who served God) predicted the death of Jesus Christ hundreds of years before His actual death took place.

Psalm 14:1 says ”For the director of music. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” This verse predicts the arguments brought against God today thousands of years before they took place. Only God would have the foreknowledge to write, through human instruments, these types of facts that have come true.

The bible clearly states that all scripture is inspired from God,” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16. The bible has been verified through countless archeological discoveries (See http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a008.html) for further discussion of these discoveries. The above mentioned examples of archeological, natural and biblical evidence undoubtedly justify the existence of God. The existence of God has been proven therefore the Bible is plausible as well.