Translate

Friday, May 02, 2014

Inerrancy? Not So Sure

Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census.  “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the Lord told him. [2 Samuel 24.1]

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. [1 Chronicles 21.1]

The two passages above refer to the same event.  The two passages above sharply disagree on the leading force in David's action to take a census of Israel.  The 2 Samuel account says the LORD told David to count Israel and 1 Chronicles said it was Satan.

"Inerrancy" folks, it simply cannot be both ways!  And, before making lengthy explanations as to why these passages only 'appear' to be in discrepancy, consider carefully the argument first!

The Bible, as we have it today, is a translation.  Great effort was put forth to accurately translate each and every passage of the writings compiled to be the Bible.  Why, if so much effort was put forth, does a discrepancy as glaring as this one remain?  If there is a sufficient explanation for the discrepancy, why not just fix it?  The Authorized King James Version also supports this conflict between the accounts.

Let's call this what it is!  One of the writers, or one of the translators, was incorrect in his representation of what took place at this instant of history!

Now, this is where I will reiterate that a 'physical written book' is NOT God's Word!  It is simply a book!  As such, it is very much subject to translation and even interpretation by imperfect humans.

However!  Do not misunderstand that the Bible does not contain God's True Word!  The Story of the Bible is God's Word!  Compare this idea to the story of George Washington cutting his father's apple tree...  We believe the event took place and, likewise, we are convinced the moral of the story (not to lie) is sound.  But do we have the original text of the event?  I don't know if we do or not!  But that is not what matters!  What matters is that we learn a valuable heart-lesson from 'the story.'

So it is (and eternally more so) with the Bible.  The simple Story of the Bible is far greater than the sum of all the expository and exegetical studies of it the world over combined!

Without endless volumes of academic supporting data, even the casual Bible reader can understand clearly that God loves mankind.  Likewise, that same reader can ascertain that man does not reciprocate that love and loyalty accordingly.  Furthermore, it is no secret that God remedied the situation by the Advent of Christ - and it is hardly concealed the world over that faith is what pleases God and that He will eventually reunite with the faithful.  Simple.

I am not knocking 'Academia' here.  But I am reminding Academia that it has no corner on God's Story!  Having said this, I absolutely concur that when 'the Story' truly affects the human heart, the natural inclination and admonition is to learn more...  But, let's not worship a book...  Instead, let us worship the LORD our maker through His Son as the Story of the book (the Bible) affects that change and imparts Truth in our hearts.

Why am I so adamant on this topic?  Because there are countless unbelievers, even naysayers, who, in my humble opinion, would like to believe the Story, but find their God-given ability to think puts them in opposition to the indoctrination of "Inerrancy" when they can clearly see all the discrepancies presented by the Bible.  Our single mission is to reach the world, but if, like the Pharisees, we isolate the world from God through a doctrine that simply does not hold up to its own scrutiny, then we can only expect the same outcome as Jesus Himself forecast for those religious zealots who didn't 'get it.'

Don't worry though, anyone who actually 'gets' the Story will naturally conclude that the writing and compilation of the Bible was indeed inspired - it has been a marvelous carrier of the Story through the ages - thank God for it!  But again, we should not worship the book!

Father, thank You for the Bible.  But more so, thank You for Your Story that the Bible conveys!  I know the Truth of Your Word is unaffected by my words here and I am not ruling out that I could be wrong in what I have said here.  But I am absolutely certain that You will fix me as I continue to, and persuade others to pursue You and Your Truth!  Thank You.

No comments: