Bible Lessons

When I am at work, I listen to a couple of local talk radio shows, one in the morning, another in the afternoon. I listen partly because I enjoy them, even if I don't always agree and also because I work in a building made of concrete and radio reception is not always easy to pick up.

For the past couple of days the subject has been on a rather divisive issue, with people on both sides very vehement about their opinions. One of the common arguments on one side of the issue is that the Bible preaches against it. And of course the argument on the other side refutes those claims.

So my real question here has nothing to do with the issue being argued but with the interpretation of the Bible and, is it open for interpretation? Many devout Christians live their life according to the words of the Bible. They believe every word is a direct command from God. The Bible is their rule of law, the book that influences their lives, letting them know what is right and what is wrong. They believe that every word is the word of God. Their faith tells them that everything that is written about in the Bible happened exactly like it is written, no ifs, ands, or buts.

Now the other school of thought is that the Bible is more like a guide book, guiding us through the trials and tribulations of our lives. Although the stories in the Bible were written down on paper long after Jesus rose back to heaven, they were written with divine guidance, but they were written by mere men who maybe embellished stories, got some facts wrong, forgot some details. Some people believe the Bible is more like a book of morality tales, giving us the tools to figure out how to do the right thing, but not telling us every move to make. Are the people and stories in the Bible metaphors, giving us clues on the direction we should take our lives?

Maybe it all comes down to faith. Faith is a mysterious thing, it makes you believe in things you've never seen or heard before. It can make you live your life a certain way, and it can be there for you in some of the worse moments of your life. Does your faith tell you that the Bible is a book of laws and rules to be followed precisely to the letter or does your faith tell you the Bible is here to guide you through your life by giving examples of how you should live your life.

Lots of times the people on each side of this arguement cannot see eye to eye, each thinking the other is wrong. Faith and spirituality are very personal things and what you have to ask yourself is, what does the Bible mean to you?


Kathy