As a Bible believer, I make my decisions based on God’s Word. I believe the Bible is completely true and free from error. The Bible is inspired, it is living and active, it is profitable, and it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
Because of this biblical worldview, the Bible is the place to start when making decisions or when telling someone about the Lord. But some object to this on the grounds that, since unbelievers don’t believe the Bible, then we should use other sources to convince them when we are talking about God. I understand that sentiment, but I reject it.
I realize that it might sound like circular logic to tell someone that Jesus is the Son of God “because the Bible says so,” and they should believe the Bible because “the Bible says it is God’s Word.” But here are two things to consider. First, when making a defense of what we believe, we always start with that which holds the most authority. If you start with personal experience, common sense, scientific data, quotes from philosophers, or anything else, that becomes your authority. Starting with the Bible communicates to the other person how much weight the Bible holds in your life. If the Bible is the third or fourth source you cite, you are showing that it isn’t that important to you.
I like how Michael Vlach once put it: “But if another source [besides the Bible] becomes the standard for determining whether the Bible is true, then the battle is lost at step one…The unbeliever is called to obey the Word of the Creator, not sit in judgment over it.”
But the second reason I believe in using the Bible to reach unbelievers is that it is exactly what Paul did. In the city of Lystra the people tried to worship Paul and Barnabas, believing the missionaries were incarnations of their gods. In Acts 14 we read, “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them (v.14-15).’”
Paul’s first instinct was to appeal to the living as God, who was the creator of heaven and earth, an obvious reference to Genesis 1:1. These pagans were not familiar with the Old Testament scrolls, yet that is where Paul began his defense. For the record, I am a firm believer in apologetics. Things mentioned above—science, philosophy, common sense, and even personal experience—can all be used to defend what we believe, but I urge you to always begin with the Scriptures, which should be our highest authority.
It is not philosophy that is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword. That is the Bible (Hebrews 4:12).
It is not science that is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction. That is the Bible (II Timothy 3:16).
It is not personal experience that is “God-breathed.” That is the Bible (II Timothy 3:16).
It is not common sense that is the power of God that brings salvation. That, too, is the Bible (Romans 1:16).
It was never more simple than when as children we sang,
The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!
Comments