I hear so many Christians saying that they believe in the Bible. But I wonder, sometimes, just what does that mean? Does that mean you have the right to try and change someone's sexual orientation because you think that's God's will? Actually, the word "homosexual" doesn't even appear in the original scripture because it wasn't created till late in the nineteenth century. Likewise with the word "witch". It doesn't appear in the original Biblical writings. Besides, words are just labels and I don't like labels. One could do worse than be a "witch".
That said, I do believe that the Bible is the Word of God. It's one of the ways that God speaks to us. But it's not the only way. And it doesn't contain all there is to know about God or even about life. God is too vast and too real, too omnipresent and too untamed, to be confined to the words of a book. (Or rather, a collection of books). All the writers of the Bible reveal some truth about God, but reading the Bible is only the start. Or at least, it should be. For many people, it's the end as well. They read the Bible and never ask another question about God, about life, about the universe---see, it's all there, in the Bible? Sorry, I just can't buy it.
Once I had read the Bible, I started asking questions and have never stopped. I've learned that God usually takes His time to answer our most pressing questions--but He does answer them. I think God likes it when we ask Him questions--how else are we supposed to learn? My most sincere prayer often takes the form of a question: why did so and so betray me? why did I become ill? where were You when....the list could go on and on.
I guess what I'm getting at is God's ways aren't our ways. Here on Earth, we have schedules that we must stick to, things to do, places to be. God is timeless; all that will ever be has been done; God is always present. He's quite simply unfathomable. And can never be tamed. (C.S. Lewis knew this well). I think too many Christians want a tame God, one that fits neatly in their Bible when they close it for the night. Me, I want a wild, unchangeable, incomprehensible God who surprises me at every turn with His generosity and love. I think that kind of God scares a lot of people. Oh well, they have their Bibles and images of a sweet, Caucasian, smooth-complected Jesus who only got angry once, when He overturned the tables in the temple. If that placates them, fine. I'll take the Jesus who was sun-burned, dusty, tired, and once referred to a woman as a "dog" because she wanted healing and wasn't a Jew. A complex man, that Jesus. Just like the Bible. Just like the universe. Just like faith.
Peace.
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