GQ Magazine published an article recently: 21 Books You Don’t Have To Read. The list included many classics. The editors said these books were racist, or sexist, or just boring and provided alternatives. The Bible made the list. Here’s the reason:
The Holy Bible is rated very highly by all the people who supposedly live by it but who in actuality have not read it. Those who have read it know there are some good parts, but overall it is certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced. It is repetitive, self-contradictory, sententious, (to folks like me who didn’t know what sententious means; it is “given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner), foolish, and even at times ill-intentioned.
If I wrote a book that made it to this list, I think I would be proud. It’s GQ. The Bible’s place on the list is really more a slam at Christians and less a critique of the collection of books. (The Bible isn’t a book; it’s a book collection, but I wouldn’t expect the editors of GQ to know that.)
Right off the editors go after those who “supposedly live by it” that would be us Christians, but who in actuality have not read it. I guess that’s, in part, a valid criticism. I admit I haven’t read every word. There are some parts of Deuteronomy, for example, I barely skimmed over and I can’t quote much of the minor prophets.
I think we Christians are part of the problem. We have chosen our battles and haven’t chosen well. Christianity is all about Jesus. The Bible is THE book about Jesus. We have chosen to battle about The Bible; when we should focus on Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe that The Bible is the inspired word of God. My concern is that we are too much like lawyers, fighting about the law; instead of focusing on Justice.
Even as the inspired word of God, the Bible presents challenges. Parts are influenced by the age and social context in which they were written. Parts are made to be taken literally and some not. There are “hard” parts. Some are “hard” because they contradict human reason. Some are “hard” because we don’t like them. Some are “hard” because sometimes we think we are smarter than God. Some are “hard” because they only have meaning to those who are new creations.
We need to stop thinking that our primary task as Christians is to convince the world that the Bible is all that we believe it to be. Our task is to introduce folks to Jesus. In some cases, The Bible can be very helpful. In others, it’s only useful once a relationship with Jesus is established.
Our response to GQ and the millions whose opinion of scripture is similar, should not be anger or frustration. It should be “Let me tell you about Jesus.” Words can be debated, ignored, twisted or confused. Personal testimony is what it is.
We like to say that Christianity is different because it’s about relationship. It’s nice to be able to read about someone, but relationship doesn’t begin until we MEET someone. We want to meet someone when someone we trust is excited about, can’t stop talking about, life’s been changed by that someone; that Jesus.
That’s the way we make The Bible a living work you don’t have to read; but you can’t put down.
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