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Secularism, atheism, and humanism are arrayed against the Bible as never before in our nation. These sinister philosophies and forces seek to stamp all Biblical influences from public life. There could hardly be a greater irony, given the general faith of the Founding Fathers and the Biblical influence present in our founding documents.
This campaign is very narrowly directed at Bible-related religion, not at Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or others. This is so because of the exceptional nature of the Bible and its incessant claim to be the one revelation from the only true, living God. Let us consider some of the incomparable facets of the “Book of Books.”
- Antiquity—Moses began writing its oldest portion in about 1500 B.C., and the apostle John completed its newest part in about A.D. 96. Its most recent document is almost 2,000 years old. Its records reach back to the oldest possible antiquity—the beginning.
- Modernity—In spite of its antiquity, it is up-to-date, ever new and fresh, speaking with vital meaning to every age and generation. All other books sooner or later become obsolete and need revision. Revision, in fact, corrupts the Bible.
- Unity—It is difficult for one man to write very long or much without contradicting himself. Yet the Bible, composed of 66 “books,” written over a span of about 16 centuries by 40 writers, possesses an unparalleled cohesiveness of message.
- Diversity—Remarkably, this trait does not mitigate its unity. Its literary types run the gamut of history, poetry, biography, short stories, letters, proverbs, and prophecies. Its subject matter is just as diverse (birth, death, war, racial conflict, marriage, politics, sorrow, joy, et al.). Truly, the Bible is more than a “book”; it is a self-contained library of spiritual and ethical principle.
- Theme—Complementing its unity, the Bible is relentless in its Someone theme: In the Old Testament, “Someone is coming.” In the Gospel accounts, “Someone has come.” In Acts through Revelation, “Someone is coming again.” The familiar words, “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16), summarize the Biblical theme throughout.
- Hope—Multiplied billions over the centuries have turned to its pages for hope, cheer, and strength in times of dismay, sadness, and weakness, common to all mankind. It takes those willing to heed its words beyond death, pain, and tears.
- Power—Its centuries-spanning influence on the world in art, literature, morals, and law are incalculable. Its spiritual power is greater still, able to free from sin—and save eternally— those who obey it (John 8:31–32; Rom. 1:16; 2 The. 1:8).
Its enemies will ever strive in vain to destroy it (Mat. 24:35).
[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, December 7, 2012.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator
