My wife and I have been reading “Repenting of Religion: Turning from Judgment to the Love of God” by Greg Boyd (check it out via Amazon).

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:11-12

Can you imagine what your community would be like if you applied this at all times and then it spread to others? And yet, even as I read it I imagine some one saying, “But what if…”

Even though we know our community would be transformed…

Even though, if one is a Christian, we should be submitted to the Word…

Even though…

Everybody I know has a big but.

How can we know that the authors of the Bible were telling the truth? Maybe they had an agenda – some kind of plan to take over the world or control people’s thinking and behaviour.

Of course, the record doesn’t bear that out. The Bible is brutally honest and calls people to use their minds. The Bible also calls people to serve and not control.

The best presentation I have heard on this topic was given by Herb Montgomery.* He presents compelling evidence in a fair and balanced manner.  Take a listen.

*Herb Montgomery can be found here.

We like things that are reliable. Reliable means we can trust it; find it reassuring.

A common claim is that the Bible isn’t reliable. This conclusion doesn’t come from reading the Bible but usually some modern work that is eventually discredited.

I know you’re smart enough to catch the irony.

When we say that the Bible is reliable we mean that what we read today is what was written by the original author.

The truth is, the Bible is the most reliable ancient work. The overwhelming volume of manuscripts reveal a consistency not found in any other written work. The proximity to the original source is also unprecedented.

The Bible is reliable but how can we be sure that the authors were being honest?  Coming up next.

When I used to be a religious atheist, I used to say that the Bible can be made to say anything you want it to say.

That’s absolutely true.

It’s also absolutely wrong.

Like any story or statement, you can take words and situations out of context. Perhaps you are doing it because you don’t know any better. Perhaps you are doing it to justify your behaviour and attitude.  Whatever the reason, it can be done.

However, the interesting thing about the Bible is that it tells a consistent story from start to finish. That means that if you read it in context, you can’t make it say what you want; it can only tell it’s own story.

The big question is: Will you listen to it?

You may have never heard of The Notebook – ha ha ha, yeah right.  It’s probably one of the most popular books/films out there. It’s a great romance about two young lovers and their journey to be together. However, the part that really hits my heart is the commitment of the much older Noah who reads the notebook to his wife Allie, who has Alzheimer’s, so that she will “come back to him.”*

This is a picture of God and the Bible.

Our brokenness causes us to be like Allie. We aren’t lucid; we’ve forgotten the one who has loved us from the beginning, who makes us truly alive. God inspired people to write his love story so that we can remember and come back to him.

The Bible contains historical information, but it’s not a history book. It reveals cultures, geography, and religious practices but these are just the side details in a greater story. The Bible a love story about a God who so loved the world he gave every part of himself so we could be with him forever.  It has it’s greatest impact upon us when we read it this way.

When I find someone who wants to discover God, I point them to the New Testament and the Good News According to John.  This is a great place to begin reading the love story. Why not try it out? Only read it as fast as you can understand the story; after all the goal is not to win a race but discover a relationship.

*Spoiler alert.