The Bible an Idol? How serious can one be?

I would state to him that:

1) The bible does not just "contain" the words of God, but the Bible IS the Word of God. (John 1:1)

2) The Word of God created all things and by the word all things exist. ( Heb 1:3, 2 Peter 3:5)

3) The Word of God became flesh (Christ) (John 1:14)

4) Worshiping Christ (the Word) is not a violations of the first commandment, but is actually necessary. (Psalm 119:11)

5) A warning about hot holding the Word in esteem is found in the proverbs where it says, "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded." (Pr 13:13)

 

Perhaps his question results from numerous fights about the KJV. It's sad to say some participants will accuse others of turning their version into an idol. An object, that's being worshiped. I cringe every time I encounter that charge, regardless which side accuses the other.

Perhaps this is just an excuse being put forth to avoid your suggested study for some unexplained reason. Without knowing the youth leader, this is pure speculation on my part. He doesn't want to go down your suggested path as he may know it will challenge something within his own beliefs.

Using myself as the example, a few years ago I was a staunch believer in evolution. Thought I'd figured out how God had used evolution. A few weak oppositions led me to think there was no point in wasting my time reading more of the same. I knew better.

That is until I was challenged in a way that forced me to search for the truth. At that moment in time I had a choice. Either do the search or find some excuse to avoid what it would take to undo 50+ years of "brain washing". It wasn't easy making that 180 degree turn.

Perhaps you are challenging your friend in the same way I was challenged and he's looking for a way out rather than facing what he knows may lie ahead. ????

 

There is a large subgroup in fundamentalism today that has done just that. Most of them would call themselves KJVO. When we put the translation or the copy above the message it contains then we are making an idol out of the Bible itself.

I remember listening to a KJVO preacher a few years ago, he held up his Bible and said something along the lines of:

“I believe this book is inspired”
And I agreed with him
“I believe every word is inspired”
And I agreed with him
“I believe the punctuation is inspired”
And I said “huh”
“I believe the index in the back is inspired”
And I said, “is he serious?”
“I believe the maps are inspired”
And I began looking around to see nodding heads
“I believe it was printed with inspired ink on paper made from an inspired tree and bound with leather tanned from an inspired cow”
And I was surprised I was the only one laughing

It is certainly possible to make an idol out of our church, our denomination, or even our translation if we put it ahead of God.

 

I always use this as a rule when I'm reading the Bible

When the Bible speaks---God speaks!!!

The Bible is God's voice on printed page!!

 

That is a possibility, but then the bible can be an idol in all aspects. Do we stop using the bible now?

 

He needs to elaborate on where out of what you've said he feared making the Bible an idol. Some persons are attempting to sound pious "Jesus is all you need" but if their "Jesus" doesn't match the Jesus of the Bible then there are some serious problems.

To me, this youth leader sounds like he might be of this sort, and more into an "experiential" religion than into a Biblical walk, and a walk in truth. This of course lends toward one being able to adlib along in their "teaching" never really having to study much, and in so doing using the Bible as a proof-text to back up their experiences, not the other way around as it should be, or, allowing the Bible to guide their walk.

I doubt what he says would be pretty if it is brought up again, and to bring it up again might get ugly, maybe, so I'd be cautious, but I wouldn't avoid it. I also don't like the "feel" I'm getting from this youth director in what you are saying here to us.

I'd pray for the opportunity to come up again by Gods doing, and pray for His grace in that hour to answer.

I want to ask this, can you elaborate on what you said about the Bibles esteem in the church community to this man? What type of Church is this that he is in? Is he an "entertainment" type of youth leader, or a Bible teacher (or does he simply think he's a Bible teacher)?

I think this youth leader may not be up to parr concerning apologetics, and may have been intimidated by such a suggestion. How much Bible does this leader use or even know? It sounds as if this leader knows little Bible and has marginal respect for the Word of God. Also, a comment like his, being a youth leader, puts up a lot of red flags, but I think though that more context is also necessary here to see what the real problem here is.

God bless you as you pray about these things.

- Peace

 

Fifty some years ago the "in thing" was to have the youth leader from nearby SBC school.

There were a great many who had zero idea what they were doing, what they stood for (both morally and spiritually) and the only reason they were there was 1) it gave them an outside income source, 2) it looked good on a job resume', and 3) the church thought that they had to have someone "young" to so the "young" would be able to identify with them and more "young" would come.

It was amazing how many "young" ladies would come, but not for anything Spirit minded.

 

As Long as it does NOT involve dealing with KJVO only groups, as they do practice a form of Bible idol worship!

Sometimes, also think that we forget that the ultimate sense of the biblcal revelation is jesus Himself, as he is the fullest revelation of God to us!

 

.I am not sure what he means that the bible could become an idol, but if he is not doing what David did in regards to the word of God then I would not seek him for any advice. Also to study it line upon line and precept upon precept
Psalm 1:2
63:6
119:15
119:48

 

think that sometimes in our zeal to make sure the Bible is honored as the revelation of God to us in written form, lose sight that Jesus is THE WORD of God to us in human form, and the authority of the scriptures in a real sense is derived from jesus , the incarnate Word subscibing his authority to the written form of God!

 

Why DaChaser 1, you old time Baptist, you!

JESUS is God's final word to us, and the Scriptures bear witness TO HIM.

Some folks, usually in the fundamentalist camp, seem to dispense with JESUS altogether in their pursuit of the study of the Word.

Jesus told a group of folks just like that they were searching the Scriptures to find eternal life, and that it was found IN HIM.

So I would say we need to take the Bible very very seriously as it reveals Jesus, but worship HIM, not the Bible.

To do otherwise is idolatry.

And no, that doesn't make me a flaming liberal. Anything we find in Jesus should square with the Bible.

But again, if we worship the Bible we are idolaters.

We are to worship God.

 

believe that it was Dr daniel wallace that wrote that we in Evangelical circles tend to try to prove Bible in word of God first, than use it to prove divinity of jesus...

We need to reverse and use jesus as primary source as proof of Bible being word of god, as he said it was!

 

This is how God rates his Word.

Ps 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 

YOU can't be serious!!! do you realize you just sinned by making the Bible equal to God? You no longer hold to the trinity, but now you have God the father, son, holy ghost and word....

The bible did not become flesh..
JOHN 1:1 is not talking about the Bible...
That is exactly what making the Bible an idol is all about.. and your view is heresy and I don't make that accusation lightly.. it is heresy because it destroys the teaching of the trinity.

 

Gently, Brother, gently.

Use kind words to teach, as another brother may not yet understand the difference between the word and the Word.

Or, he may not have realized, at the time, his choice of verses contained one that wasn't appropropriate for the point he was trying to make. I know I've done that and later learned I was wrong. The way I was corrected either brought about appreciation or anger.

 

There was a man I worked with and we often talked about our churches and the Bible. One day the subject came up about making notes in the margin of Bible pages. My Bible is full of them, and frankly, wish I had started lots earlier. My coworker refused to write in his Bible, because he thought the pages themselves were sacred, and that writing on them was disrespectful. I tried to explain the difference between the Word inspired by the Lord, and paper it was printed on. I never did get my point across, but I continue to make notes. We just agreed to disagree and are still friends to this day.

 

exactly!

We worship the Living Godhead, father/Son/Spirit, who just so happened to give us by inspired revelation the wisdom and thoughts partially of Himself, the Bible!

There will be jesus upon the Great White Throne, not the Bible!