The Bible is not an Almanac

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but I've had the chance to speak with a few people like the ones mentioned my last post, and often times half the argument involves quoting from the Bible.

My favorite part of one argument was when someone brought up a verse from one of the books in the New Testament, I think Timothy, that says something like "All Scripture is true and good for instruction," to refute my assertion that not all scripture should be interpreted the way that they were telling me it should be interpreted.

So then I said, Well you can't just take a piece of paper and write on it: "Everything I write on this piece of paper is true" and then write whatever you want. And have it be true. I can't remember how the rest of the conversation went, but don't worry, I didn't "win."

Anyway, this is not to say that the Bible isn't true. Because really, what does it mean for something to be true? An almanac is true in one way: along with many other facts, it tells you when the sun will come up and go down every day of the year. Very nice.

But the Bible isn't an almanac. I like to think of it as being more like a good historical novel with lots of other tidbits thrown in. There's drama, passion, sinning, and redemption. There are wise sayings, quirky stories, suffering and joy. And then--I admit--a whole lot of really boring lists of family trees. (Of course, if you or someone you know is researching their ancestry, you know that family trees are not boring to the people who belong to them)

I think of the Bible as being true in two particular ways:

1. It's true the way great literature is true because it speaks to the human experience on a very real level.

So when Peter sees his beloved teacher Jesus being led away to jail, torture and death, he's scared and unsure and he pretends he doesn't know him, in spite of bold words only days before. How human! He says one thing, and then gets embarrassed and denies it, and then feels ashamed about the betrayal. Who hasn't hurt a friend, or betrayed a cause at least once in their lives?

2. It's true because sometimes God gets involved when we read it.

Here's the part that you may just have to keep your mind open for but not necessarily have to buy into just yet. The spiritual part: God talks to humans, sometimes. And one way God uses is through these stories and maxims and rules. Not always--God's not an almanac either--but sometimes, when our hearts and our souls are open and listening, and when the words are just the ones we need to hear. Maybe just once in our whole life--or maybe a hundred times--if we're humble and patient, those words can be words from God to us, somehow, mysteriously, amazingly.

That is the truth I mean.