The Bible is the Word of God

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 competent, equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 3:16

My first post I think should be one that I see as foundational to all the preceding posts that I hope are to come. If you've ever picked up a book on systematic theology, you will notice that the first portion of the book is typically devoted to the place of Scripture in the life of Christians and the church. For a long time I wondered why that was. Why start with speaking of a book that we agree we do not worship? Why not start with God or the human condition or a Christian response to social injustice? 

The clear answer (which I found in reading Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology) is that the Bible is how we most clearly know who God is. It contains Truth. It is the basis by which we can all say that God is good or that He is Creator. I know many people who begin speaking about an experiential knowledge of God and use that as the basis for their faith or for their apologetic stance. While I don't necessarily disagree with this, experience is something that we have far too high an opinion of today. Experiences vary greatly. I remember a story told to me by my art teacher in elementary school about how she received a check in the mail for the exact amount of money that was due for her power bill the day before they were going to shut it off. Hallelujah! I also know that there are many people who do not get that check and lose their power or water or even their house. Does this mean that God is real to those who experience a divine intervention and that He is not real to those who go through hard times?

This is why the Bible is so crucial. I know that I go through very hard times and that God is still there. He is not on vacation or waiting for me to mess up so He can zap me. He cares for me. I also know why I act certain ways when I do not want to and why others act certain ways. It is called sin. 

Most importantly, I know who Christ is through the Bible. I know how the God-man made Himself nothing and died on the cross for the reconciliation of His people. I know that I can know this living God, who was crucified and dead, but rose again on the third day. I know.

And now, I hope...