Worshiping the Bible

[Mike]

Again, I don't know of anyone who views salvation or the Bible this way. It is certainly not a mainline denominational teaching that "knowledge of the Bible alone" can save. I don't think someone's pet peeve with another person or "weird doctrine" they've encountered rises to the level of a "Council of Nicea" moment, do you?

That said, I think this thread is pretty pointless, actually.

I agree 100%. I'm sure there are fringe individuals who don't think clearly and do this, but they are the very few. Some people disagree with some scripture and will make this accusation when all of scripture is said to be Inspired. I believe this is a defensive reaction, and a completely unfair (dishonest) one at that.

Much ado about nothing.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I agree 100%. I'm sure there are fringe individuals who don't think clearly and do this, but they are the very few. Some people disagree with some scripture and will make this accusation when all of scripture is said to be Inspired. I believe this is a defensive reaction, and a completely unfair (dishonest) one at that.

Much ado about nothing.

Jesus was speaking much ado about nothing when he spoke of the Jews who took false comfort in the fact that they possessed the scriptures, but who were far from him nevertheless?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

To this day the Jews will parade the Torah scroll through the streets of Jerusalem like it's some kind of idol to be worshiped, but who can't see Jesus Christ, the true God in that same scroll. Little knowing that to reverence and to serve the true God is to keep Torah, not just possess it as the people chosen to do that. Did anyone read the scriptures I posted, particularly Romans 2? Many in the church today have this same attitude.

 

[Stormcrow]

Jesus was speaking much ado about nothing when he spoke of the Jews who took false comfort in the fact that they possessed the scriptures, but who were far from him nevertheless?

And those who did paid the price for rejecting Him. I wouldn't exactly call Judaism a mainline protestant denomination.

This whole thread is little more than a troll post and a tar baby. I'm out. Enjoy.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

17 ...if you...brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth

Get it?

Merely possessing the Word means nothing, yet many people think that is the measure of God's pleasure and put their trust and hope in that...just like placing your trust and hope in a false idol.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Originally Posted by Jethro Bodine:
Jesus was speaking much ado about nothing when he spoke of the Jews who took false comfort in the fact that they possessed the scriptures, but who were far from him nevertheless?

And those who did paid the price for rejecting Him.

And will the church escape for doing the same thing?

 

[Mike S]

The Lord is not a book.

I agree, the Lord is not a Book. We worship God, not scriptures ABOUT God, no matter how inspired.

 

[Stormcrow]

I agree, the Lord is not a Book. We worship God, not scriptures ABOUT God, no matter how inspired.

Apparently, some of you run in circles where "Bible Worship" is a problem. I'd get out of them if I were you. 2

Quite frankly, I don't think I could find the "Church of Holy Bible Worship" if it were in my back pocket with both hands. I'm amazed so many can. Perhaps this thread will start a world-wide movement to nip such heresy in the bud.

Or not.

Go figure. 2

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Apparently, some of you run in circles where "Bible Worship" is a problem. I'd get out of them if I were you. 2

Quite frankly, I don't think I could find the "Church of Holy Bible Worship" if it were in my back pocket with both hands. I'm amazed so many can. Perhaps this thread will start a world-wide movement to nip such heresy in the bud.

Or not.

Go figure. 2

Well it's a relief to know knowledge can't be an idol someone trusts in instead of God himself.

Perhaps you can help us come up with a palatable reinterpretation of the scriptures I shared so those among us who take confidence in what they know instead of who they know can continue doing that guilt free.

 

[jruner]

I believe we are to Worship God and this is what I think of when I think of the "Word". I worship (God/Christ-"The Word") in this sense but not the bible itself.


John 1 1-14


1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

KJV Public Domain

If some are placing the Bible above Jesus Christ I would be concerned.

 

[Stormcrow]

I believe we are to Worship God and this is what I think of when I think of the "Word". I worship (God/Christ-"The Word") in this sense but not the bible itself.

Congratulations! Welcome to the 99% club! 2

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I believe we are to Worship God and this is what I think of when I think of the "Word". I worship (God/Christ-"The Word") in this sense but not the bible itself.


John 1 1-14


1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

KJV Public Domain

Okay, let's use this portion of scripture to illustrate what it means to trust in knowing and possessing the scriptures and affirming them as true instead of trusting in God.

A person could 'amen' this all day, but if all this is to a person is a creed of sorts that they defend and insist is true and believe, and think God is pleased with them just for taking such a stance they may well be in danger of deceitfully trusting in what they know and affirm instead of in what these truths about God are to lead them to.

I know this is hard for some to grasp, but affirming scripture never saved a single soul. But living out scriptural truths because you have truly been transformed by your belief in God's forgiveness does. Can you understand even a little of what I'm saying? Don't you see it's not enough to just acknowledge that what God says is true and post it in official creeds and defend it heartily. What you believe is true must lead you to place your trust in Christ, but some think just acknowledging that what you quoted from scripture above is true, for example, is what it means to 'believe' and be saved.

The Jews are our (Biblical) example. They will defend the OT to the death and zealously guard it as the truth, and think that pleases God so that they will be rescued from his wrath and live in his favor, but they have not placed their trust in who the scriptures testify about. Their trust is in simply possessing the scriptures and zealously reverencing them and affirming them as true and from God, instead of placing their trust in what those scriptures testify about.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Congratulations! Welcome to the 99% club! 2

Can you see it? It's not good enough to just acknowledge that John 1:1-14, for example, is true.and from God and zealously defend it against all who would say it is not. That is not the 'belief' that saves. But many people think that their correct doctrine is the 'believing' that saves a person. Hardly true. Correct doctrine that leads you to truly trust in God's forgiveness as evidenced by a changed life is what saves. But many trust in simply knowing the truth and agreeing with God that it is the truth--thinking that reverence for the truth alone is what pleases him and will spare them the wrath of God on the Day of Judgment. Not even remotely true.

God apparently thought it important to see that a major theme of the entire Bible be there for a mere 1 out of 100 people who approach him that mistakenly take comfort in what they know and affirm about God instead of actually laying hold of and applying what they so confidently know and affirm in scripture.

 

[Stormcrow]

Can you see it?

The only thing I "see" is a man on a crusade to fix something that isn't broken.

I'll repeat my earlier objection to this entire thread: Worshiping the Bible is not an issue in any mainline denomination of which I am aware. There may be fringe groups out there that sprinkle the shed blood of chickens on the cover while dancing under a full moon in order to "worship" the Book, but really: I have never encountered such fanatics in any church I've ever attended. If you have, find a different church or have this discussion with them. I - for one - am not interested.

You've found a solution in search of a problem. Congratulations! It means nothing in the greater world of church doctrine.

This thread is vapid and pointless, IMHO.

P.S. You seem like a decent guy. Why do you let the possibility that someone may actually worship the Bible push your buttons like this? My advice: read a couple of the Psalms with a warm glass of milk. :yes

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Let's try it again ('law' has been replaced with 'scriptures' to show it's relevance to the church today):

17 ...if you...brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the (scriptures); 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the (scriptures) the embodiment of knowledge and truth (Romans 2:17-20 NIV1984 parenthesis mine)


Paul is chastising the church at Rome for taking false confidence in knowing and having the knowledge of God instead of doing what they have and know to be true in scripture. Many in the church are sure they have a good relationship with God that will save them simply because they know the scriptures and have sound doctrine and are equipped to teach others, but Paul is saying that person has their confidence, their faith, in the wrong place. And as a result, they are storing up wrath against themselves for the Day of Wrath:

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” (not according to what he knows and affirms to be true) 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. (Romans 2:5-7 NIV1984 emphasis and parenthesis mine)

Simply knowing and acknowledging that scripture is true is not enough, but many are convinced their correct doctrine is why they will saved on the Day of Wrath. They are trusting in a false idol.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The only thing I "see" is a man on a crusade to fix something that isn't broken.

I'll repeat my earlier objection to this entire thread: Worshiping the Bible is not an issue in any mainline denomination of which I am aware. There may be fringe groups out there that sprinkle the shed blood of chickens on the cover while dancing under a full moon in order to "worship" the Book, but really: I have never encountered such fanatics in any church I've ever attended. If you have, find a different church or have this discussion with them. I - for one - am not interested.

You've found a solution in search of a problem. Congratulations! It means nothing in the greater world of church doctrine.

This thread is vapid and pointless, IMHO.

P.S. You seem like a decent guy. Why do you let the possibility that someone may actually worship the Bible push your buttons like this? My advice: read a couple of the Psalms with a warm glass of milk. :yes

My advice to you: read Romans 2 where God talks about this something that means "nothing in the greater world of church doctrine". Was God wrong? Is it really not that important and should not have been a major theme in scripture? Do you really want to call scripture "vapid and pointless".

 

[Stormcrow]

Simply knowing and acknowledging that scripture is true is not enough, but many are convinced their correct doctrine is why they will saved on the Day of Wrath. They are trusting in a false idol.

LOL! No wait...you're serious, aren't you???

If Paul were alive today he'd be chiding churches for not doing a better job of teaching the Bible!

Wow! And here I thought you were really onto something important!!! :bigfrown

Enough of this. I'll get us straight to the point and then we can let this thread die:

{22} But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22 (NASB)

"Worshiping the Bible" requires a firm conviction of its veracity. You'd be hard pressed to find that kind of conviction in any mainline denominational church today.

Do you really want to call scripture "vapid and pointless".

I would never call scripture pointless. I reserve that moniker for threads like this.

This thread was, is, and remains: pointless.

Yeah, now I'm done.

 

[jasoncran]

Okay, let's use this portion of scripture to illustrate what it means to trust in knowing and possessing the scriptures and affirming them as true instead of trusting in God.

A person could 'amen' this all day, but if all this is to a person is a creed of sorts that they defend and insist is true and believe, and think God is pleased with them just for taking such a stance they may well be in danger of deceitfully trusting in what they know and affirm instead of in what these truths about God are to lead them to.

I know this is hard for some to grasp, but affirming scripture never saved a single soul. But living out scriptural truths because you have truly been transformed by your belief in God's forgiveness does. Can you understand even a little of what I'm saying? Don't you see it's not enough to just acknowledge that what God says is true and post it in official creeds and defend it heartily. What you believe is true must lead you to place your trust in Christ, but some think just acknowledging that what you quoted from scripture above is true, for example, is what it means to 'believe' and be saved.

The Jews are our (Biblical) example. They will defend the OT to the death and zealously guard it as the truth, and think that pleases God so that they will be rescued from his wrath and live in his favor, but they have not placed their trust in who the scriptures testify about. Their trust is in simply possessing the scriptures and zealously reverencing them and affirming them as true and from God, instead of placing their trust in what those scriptures testify about.

on that note they dont call themselves people of the book for nothing.

 

[Chris]

The Bible is the word of God but is still written by man. God and his son are the ONLY central theme and should be worshiped alone. God is a Jealous God.

The true worship he wants is spiritual communion with him by the saints.

Reverence for the bible is a good plan but worshiping it is a really bad one.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Enough of this. I'll get us straight to the point and then we can let this thread die:

{22} But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22 (NASB)

This is what I've been saying (I used this very scripture in one of my posts).

To trust that merely hearing and affirming the truths of scripture and having correct doctrinal beliefs about things is what pleases God so you can be saved on the Day of Wrath is to make that knowledge a false idol that can not save at all. That is a deceitful and misplaced trust.

Only trust in God's forgiveness displayed in a life of obedience can save a person on the Day of Wrath. Merely possessing and acknowledging what is true in scripture is not what saves a person. That person has their trust in the wrong place. They are serving a false idol. Trusting in God's forgiveness such that it changes who you are, that is what saves. Merely possessing and reverencing an accurate account of that forgiveness, even sharing it enthusiastically, does not. It's enough of a problem among those who call themselves Christians that God saw fit to speak about it numerous times in both Testaments. The spirit of the Pharisee is alive and well in the church to this very day. And God has said much about it.