Have you heard of “progressive Christianity”? Recently a Pastor from Nashville came under fire for stating the Bible is not the Word of God. This has caused quite the stir among Christians. 

Here is a quote from Pastor Scott’s article, “What is progressive Christianity?”

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“As Progressive Christians, we’re open to the tensions and inconsistencies in the Bible.”—

“The bible isn’t: the Word of God, self-interpreting, a science book, an answer/rule book, inerrant or infallible.” Instead, the church argued, the Bible is “a product of community, a library of texts, multi-vocal, a human response to God, living and dynamic.”

There is a lot to take in these quotes. So let’s see what the Bible has to say about the Bible.

Pastor Scott states the Bible has inconsistencies, meaning he believes there are irregularities and contradictions. 

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17 AMP-C)

…[K]nowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pt 1:20-21)

All scripture is God breathed. It was divinely inspired by God and the men He used to write were moved by His Spirit. The word inspire means to breathe. Because the Bible was inspired by God, then we conclude that He is the author.  His words were given to men to convey what needed to be shared. Since both Bible verses state that scripture came from God, was inspired by God, and the writers were moved by God, then we can conclude the Bible is not inconsistent or filled with error.

The Word of God is infallible.

Pastor Scott claims the Bible isn’t infallible. A statement like this is saying there could be mistakes in the Bible. There is no error. If there were, then God would be a liar.

Why would an erroneous book cause such trouble? Why has this book been banned from schools and in many nations? Why do groups fight tooth and nail to have scriptures removed from government buildings?  If this is just a book, why has there been such a war against it? No other book in the world has brought on as much of a fight or fought to be discredited as much as the Bible.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

The Bible is the Word of God.

Sometimes you can read the Bible and a verse or chapter you’ve read hundreds of times comes alive with new revelation. Different people can preach on the same verse, yet each preacher has a different revelation. It’s living.

What about when you need to hear from God and He brings a verse to your mind? You stand on that word in faith and pray it back to Him, and then God answers. It’s active.

Have you ever read the Bible and you feel a prick to your heart? You may feel conviction over something you’ve done. Sometimes we read the Bible, but sometimes it reads us…ouch! It’s a sword, separating soul and spirit, discerning thoughts and intentions.

Though he doesn’t know it, Pastor Scott desperately needs the inerrant, true, infallible Word of God. We desperately need the Word of God. Psalm 119 gives many excellent reasons and benefits of God’s Word.

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. (119:9)

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (119:11)

I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. (119:25)

My soul is weary with sorrow;  strengthen me according to your word.(119:28)

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.(119:49)

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light to my path. (119:105)

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. (119:114)

If you’ve ever felt weary, read your Bible. It imparts strength. If you feel surrounded by darkness, read your Bible. It gives light. If you feel hopeless, read your Bible. It gives hope. If you want to live pure for God, read your Bible. When we live according to His Word, we stay on the path to purity. But don’t stop at just reading. Speak His Word. Obey His Word.

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.(Jas 1:22 BSB)

The Word of God is powerful!

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isa 55:11)

It is milk for the new Christian to learn and grow.

It is meat for the mature to equip and teach others.

It brings faith and with faith comes power and salvation.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)

Remember when you first accepted Jesus Christ as Savior? Chances are you heard someone preaching from the Word of God and that message about Jesus became personal to you. 

When Satan came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness during His fasting, how did He answer? Did He call his angels to do battle for Him? No, He answered Satan with “it is written.”

For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,‘ People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:2-4)

We are and have been in an intense battle for our families and nation. Every soul matters to God. We must be equipped. Every soldier needs the proper armor. Ephesians 6 gives us a look at the armor of God. Remember the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, is a piece of armor we cannot afford to be without.  Without the sword  the armor is incomplete. We must be students of the Word. The Bible warns us about deception rising up in the last days. How can we spot it if we are not rooted in His Word? If there were ever a time to be hearers and doers, I’d say now is the time. This is not a rebuke to anyone, but we must go back to the Word of God.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:14-18)

Lord, I thank You for Your Word. Thank You for revealing Your purpose for us in it. Thank You for giving us both milk and meat to equip us. Give us a spirit like the Bereans, who searched the scriptures daily looking for your truth. Open our eyes as we read, and let it come alive with a fresh revelation of Your truth. Increase our hunger and thirst to be not only hearers, but doers of Your Word. Keep us from deception, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share. Photo Credit: Unsplash

Do you have a testimony about the power of the Word of God in your life? Share in the comments . . .