"Is the Bible Literally True?"

For contemporary Christians, many of our questions and doubts are shaped by how we view the Bible.  For instance, how we view the Bible frequently shapes Christian views on the theory of evolution, which will be my sermon topic the following Sunday on January 20th. 

This Sunday, January 13th, I will explore the question of how we should view the Bible, focusing on whether we must interpret the Bible as literally true.  Many Christians accept the Bible as literally true.  These Christians “affirm that Scripture in its entirety is inerrant, being free from all falsehood, fraud, or deceit.”  They deny that science invalidates what the Scripture teaches about the creation of the universe or the flood when Noah built the Ark.[i]  The advantage of this approach is that it preserves the authority of scripture and recognizes that scripture is God’s divine word.  The difficulty with this approach is that it seems to put scripture in direct conflict with much of modern science, such as the theory of evolution.  This perspective also asks Christians to suspend their scientific perspective when interpreting certain stories and passages in the Bible, such as Noah and the flood.

By contrast, other Christians do not interpret the Bible as literally true, although they usually recognize the Bible as the divinely inspired Word of God.  This approach to the Bible opens up additional options for interpreting the Bible, which do not put the Christian in direct conflict with what we know from science about evolution.  Neither does it require Christians to suspend their scientific perspective when interpreting stories, such as the story of Noah and the flood.  Yet, at the same time, a difficulty with this approach is that it may raise questions about the authority of scripture that the literalist approach powerfully rejects.

My sermon this Sunday, January 13th will explore this crucial question concerning how we should approach the Bible.  I will base the sermon on 2 Timothy 3: 14-17.  The key verse here is verse 16:  “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”.

This sermon is the second in a series, called:  “Confronting Our Doubts.”  For a complete listing of the series, see my first post below.  Since these topics raise doubts, there are always at least two viewpoints.  In exploring these topics, I am not trying to convince everyone to take one side over the other.  Rather, through confronting issues that raise doubts, we can gain deeper understanding and a stronger faith.  At the same time, I think it is important that as the pastor I share where I am on this issue.  So, in answer to the question, “Is the Bible Literally True?” my response is “No.”  Whether you agree or disagree with me, I hope that this sermon will stimulate deeper reflection and understanding, concerning this doubt.

Feel free to join and post your comments on this blog.  If you live in the Meriden-area and do not have a regular church home, please consider attending Meriden UMC this Sunday.  Meriden UMC is located at the corner of Dawson and Main.  Our worship service starts on Sundays at 10 am.  Everyone is welcome because God loves us all.

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[i] Article XII of “The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy,” sponsored by the International Council on biblical Inerrancy, 1978.