The past century has brought many new and varied opinions as to the value of the Scriptures. There are those who claim to be Christians and at the same time reject the absolute authority of the Bible. In home classes and church classes, I ask the question, “Do you find it difficult to believe every word in the Bible?” You would be shocked that the majority simply don’t know they can believe it.
Michael Foust wrote an article titled, “Most Preteens Reject the Bible as God’s Word” in christianheadlines.com. He said that “Only one-fourth of America’s preteens believe the Bible is the Word of God and only one-fifth believe in absolute truth, according to a new survey that warns the nation’s preteens are ‘following in the unfortunate spiritual footsteps of the generations that have preceded them.’”
According to these sources, only 25 percent of U.S. children ages 8-12 agree with the statement that the Bible is the “true words of God that should be a guide to knowing right from wrong, and living a good life.” A total of 21 percent agree “there are absolute truths — things that are right and wrong, that don’t depend on feelings, preferences, or circumstance.” Regarding salvation, just 36 percent of preteens say they believe that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, the analysis said, “Today’s children are not being raised in an environment in which the concept of absolute moral truth receives favorable treatment, and the widespread doubts about absolute truth are clearly affecting children.” In addition, about one-fourth (27 percent) of preteens agree that the “main reason to live is to know, love, and serve God, with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.”
Of course, these numbers are staggeringly low, and they point to a spiritual and worldview crisis in America. How can we help our children? One relatively simple way is to make sure they know four foundational facts about the way Jesus viewed the Bible, the infallible, inspired Word of God.
Jesus Viewed the Scriptures as a Historically Accurate Account
Jesus didn’t view the Old Testament accounts as myths or fables. He spoke of the account of creation and Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:3-5), Cain’s murder of Abel (Matthew 23:35), Noah and his ark (Matthew 24:37-39), Jonah and the fish (Matthew 12:39-40), and Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt (Luke 17:32).
He also mentioned the Mosaic authorship of Genesis (John 5.47; 7:19), God feeding Israel manna in the wilderness (John 6:32). He furthermore treated Naaman and Elisha, along with the widow of Zarephath and Elijah as real people (Luke 4:24-27).
Jesus Respected the Verbal Inspiration and Accuracy of the Scriptures
Everything in the Word of God will be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18). A “jot” and a “tittle” are the smallest letters in the Hebrew alphabet. They’re basically our commas or periods. God keeps the smallest of details accurate in the Bible.
Jesus also held fast to the fact that the Scripture can’t be broken (John 10:35; cp. Matthew 16:19). He furthermore equated Scripture with the Word of God (Matthew 19:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Jesus Used the “Proof-Text” Approach to Religious Questions
He accepted the “face value” implications of Scripture (Luke 10:25-28). An old biblical saying goes, “It means what it says and it says what it means.”
This saying can be applied to many “disturbing” passages that denominationalists can’t accept (Matthew 19:9; Mark 16:16; Galatians 5:4; Ephesians 4:4; James 2:24). Jesus distinguished between traditions and the doctrines of men and the Word of God (Matthew 15:1-9).
Jesus Believed That the Scriptures Contain an Absolute Standard of Morality
Humanism, which was born as a philosophy 100 years ago, has made man into the measure of everything. Every new humanistic philosophy, whether it’s relativism, situation ethics, group morality, etc., in the end rejects the authority of the Bible and it’s pronouncements for a righteous life.
What did Jesus say? Matthew 5:28-32 and 15:19 more than adequately demonstrate that Jesus wants His followers to be mentally and spiritually pure. Paul, in preaching the “doctrine of Christ” (cp. 2 John 9), emphasized the godly requirements of inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
How Do You View the Scriptures?
Do you accept most of it or believe all of it (James 4:17; 2 John 9)? Is it ridiculous or awesome to you (Psalm 19:7-11)? Will you ignore or defend it (John 12:48; Jude 3)? Are you narrow-minded or open-minded (Matthew 7:21; James 1:21-25)?
It definitely matters who you grant permission to tamper with your mind — both now and in the end of time (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 John 7). We know that the Bible can be accepted by reason and by faith (Hebrews 1:1-2). Do you know your Bible? Your Bible knows you!
Kyle Campbell
