“The Bible is not an answer book or an instruction manual.”
I get in trouble for saying that.
It makes some Christians uncomfortable. Some publications have asked me to remove it from my articles or rewrite it to reflect a more Biblical worldview. Sometimes, I’ve been denied its publication at all.
I think it’s time I address it.
The Bible is not an answer book
Here are some common verses we hang on our refrigerators as God’s personal promise to us:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
Here, the prophet Jeremiah was relaying God’s words of encouragement to His people in Babylon, but they’re not what you’d expect.
These words were in contradiction to the words of a false prophet who said that prosperity for the Jews would come swiftly. God’s promise came in the context of deliverance that wouldn’t come for seventy years.
Some listening had no reason to believe that they’d still be alive.
Now you know the rest of the story.
How about Mark 10:27?
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” ~ Mark 10:27
Jesus had just instructed the rich young ruler to sell everything he had to follow Him. When the rich young ruler left, Jesus told His disciples that choosing Him over earthly things would be far more difficult than they thought.
So He was referring to disciples giving up things to enter the Kingdom, not Him removing things that stood in their way.
Another?
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” ~ Philippians 4:13, NIV
We quote this when we’re trying to make it through tough situations. But in context? Paul was saying, “Be content in whatever situation you are in.” In other words, stop trying to overcome, and trust God.
Context, context, context.
A verse lifted out of context to meet our current wants or needs can lead us to disappointment or worse, to follow after false teaching.
The Bible is not an instruction manual
The book of Proverbs is filled with “if…then…” statements instructing people how to live a life of prosperity and peace on Earth.
Yet we all know of men, both in Scripture and who have lived long since, who have walked in wisdom and righteousness yet whose lives have ended in tragedy or they have died a pauper’s death.
And the wicked? Well, they don’t always receive the wages of sin before they die as the Proverbs indicate they will.
Yes, the Proverbs are a source of wise instruction, so go ahead and post them on your fridge, but recognize that proverbs are not the same as promises.
What about the New Testament letters? Didn’t Paul offer instruction in them? He did. But take the time to find out why and you’ll see that his direction was given to establish the churches, not to direct our daily lives.
Context, context, context.
The Scriptures are a story
Before you jump in hard on the word “story,” let me assure you I am fully convinced that this story is true. It’s like the “story” of Corrie ten Boom, not the “story” of Peter Pan.
God spoke to men and men passed down His words, not as a manual for living, but to draw all men unto Him — not as “the Answer Man,” but as He is — the Word — the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Some chapters from the story
The man Job experienced greater trials, I’m guessing, than any of us ever will. His children were killed. He was living in physical agony. He’d lost all his material possessions. He had no one standing by him — not even his wife. Her answer for him was, “Give up.”
And then there were his friends.
Job’s friends came to him with all sorts of answers while Job was drowning in questions. Who was chastised in the end? It wasn’t Job.
And even more amazing? God gave Job no answers — not a one — yet this is what Job learned:
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. ~ Job 42:4-5, NIV
God said He was the one with questions and He expected Job to answer for himself.
Had Job listened to his friends’ canned answers, he would have walked away with nothing more than a list of to-dos and a load of guilt rather than what he really needed to survive his trials — a more intimate knowledge of the Holy One.
And then came Jesus
There’s this story in Matthew 13.
When Jesus appeared before His largest audience and had his best opportunity to offer instruction, He spoke in hard-to-understand parables. Some there got it; some didn’t.
The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” ~ Matthew 13:10–11, NIV
Note: the knowledge of secrets, not answers.
Thousands walked away; a few followed.
Then there’s this story in John 6.
Jesus’ teachings in Capernaum were offensive to many; even his disciples complained.
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” ~ John 6:68–69, NIV
While Jesus was speaking of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, the Twelve understood no more than those who left, but they knew this one thing: they knew who He was.
And so they continued with Him.
Following Jesus was hard. It led to offense, separation, and persecution. They stumbled when they didn’t understand. They had to endure when they didn’t have answers.
All this was while they had the Living Word with them! Now we have the written Word, and what do we expect?
If the Bible were indeed an instruction manual, shouldn’t life be but a breeze?
So what is the Bible?
Can I encourage you if you have your Bible handy to pick it up?
This collection of sixty-six books carries the story of God’s Word revealed as the perfect demonstration of the natural filled with the Spirit of God.
If all that Jesus did was recorded, John said, the whole world would not have room for the books that could be written.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. ~ John 30:21, NIV
That we may have life. Not answers or instructions, but life in His name.
Jesus never said, “I have the answer to your problems.” He said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6, NIV
For both Him and His disciples, walking in the Truth led to persecution, and revealing the Way led to death, yet all that He was and is leads to Life for His Church, and we will establish His Kingdom forever.
The Bible tells us that story.
What is your Bible for?
The small volume in your hands contains the story of God establishing His Kingdom on Earth, beginning with Earth’s creation in Genesis 1:1 and ending with man’s reign in Revelation 22:5.
Now, open your Bible and read Revelation 22:5–21. Why do you suppose I said the story ends at verse 5 and not verse 21? Do you agree? If not, why not?
Now consider verse 19. What significance do “the Tree of Life” and “the Holy City” have? Where did we first see the Tree of Life? When did we learn of the Holy City? Why are the two brought together here?
There. That’s what the Bible is for. Every verse calls us into the whole story of Life with the Son of God at the center.
“But I don’t have time to read more than a few paragraphs in the morning.”
So?
I suggested you read seventeen verses. I referred to only three, and I asked seven questions. It took no time at all.
Now, you may walk away without any answers to the questions, but if you are seeking a way, the truth, or new life, you’ll think of Jesus all day long.
By Michelangelo — Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1551141