The Only Living Book
For many years now, I’ve been violating my “read each book only once” policy, by repeatedly examining just one book, the Holy Bible, otherwise referred to as The Word. My nature is to question, challenge and prove (to myself), the validity of anything written, presented or touched by human hands. This example made me wonder how 2.5 billion people could readily accept and in many cases rely on, a text that had centuries ago apparently been arguably inspired, selectively assembled, universally translated, repeatedly rewritten (versions) and yet still be considered reliable while overflowing with mystery, innuendo and hidden messages. One stumbling block for me was presuming that The Word referred to “the word or words” written between the margins as in every other book. In schools teachers use selected textbooks and steer students to the parts they hope that they’ll learn from. Pastors, priests and ministers simulate this action by steering congregations, members and searchers alike, around this complex, ancient holy book. The critical difference is this, these dedicated individuals aren’t the only teachers we get, in fact they are merely grad students who’ve learned to turn a more willing ear or heart toward the final authority of all the world’s important lessons.
What I came to understand is that Holy Bible is not a book like any other book. The wisdom it contains isn’t intended to be freely and easily understood or in some cases even accessible. It is not simply an object that contains the writings, letters and songs of mortals past, to be used as a reference tool for subsequent generations. The Holy Bible, for students with faith, is the Living Word. The Word is how God speaks to His students but absent the acceptance of one gifted interpreter (the Holy Spirit), the lessons can often fall short of the mark. The condition of any student’s heart is the critical conduit which allows the real Teacher’s endless flow of personal application lessons and life counsel to arrive virtually unaltered. Although the messages are universal and consistent, God delivers each one individually, tutor to students, as needed, 24/7. The Word (God) speaks inaudibly, yet directly to the hearts and minds of His believers and children. The critical element of teacher trust comes only with hearing and recognizing God’s inaudible voice. A voice which is alive, contemporary and loving, which speaks unfiltered wisdom and there-in lives the totally unique, constantly renewed and perfectly accurate “Word,” the truly original edition. For no matter how many times you read it, yet another valuable lesson will be revealed at precisely that moment when you most need to learn it.
JC Calkins with (thanks, praise and) COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
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