“You’re really into the Bible, aren’t you?” Our seven-year-old foster daughter sounded a tad scornful.
When I agreed that I was really into the Bible, she responded loftily, “I’m just into God.”
My reply was quick and to the point. “If you’re into God, you’d better be into the Bible. Otherwise, people can tell you anything they choose about God, and you won’t know if it’s true or not.”
I’m so thankful for the godly foundation in the Christian home where I was raised. Although none of us live out the truth perfectly, my parents’ deep respect for God’s Word had a lasting impact on my life.
However, when we got to Japan, I discovered that many people had no knowledge of the Bible or no reason to be impressed if I told them what I was teaching was in the Bible. One man who came to our English Bible study argued and debated every truth we presented. At last he said, “If only you would agree that the Bible is a myth, then we could have common ground.”
Another dear lady who had been listening to Bible teaching in English class for a long time told me, “I believe in Jesus but I don’t believe Mary was a virgin.” I explained that I believed it because it was in the Bible. I said, “Everyone has to decide whether or not they believe the Bible is true. There are many historical proofs that Jesus existed and that the Bible is true, but each person must decide for themselves.” Soon after, she became a Christian.
Sadly, I’m afraid the lives of many Christians show that while they may be “into God,” they are definitely not into the Bible—at least, not if that means reading and obeying it. Occasionally I hear people say, “I believe every word in this Book.” Often the truth is they would be hard pressed to tell you anything that “Book” says.
Charles Stanley says, “If we aren’t grounded in Scripture, we’ll unknowingly accept philosophies and teachings that will lead us astray. But when biblical truth has saturated our mind and heart, we’ll sense a red flag pop up in our spirit whenever we encounter an erroneous concept.”
One of the people in Japan we had the privilege of leading to the Lord had been involved in a false religion. After she received Jesus, her past erroneous beliefs would often come out in conversation—her belief in reincarnation, for example. My standard mantra became, “It’s not in the Bible.” Her surprise was always evident as she processed a new set of beliefs. Thankfully, she responded by getting into God’s Word and learning for herself what it said. She was not just into God, she was into the Bible.
How about you? If someone were to evaluate your life to determine whether you are into the Bible or just into God, what do you think they’d find?
Father, forgive us when we neglect your Word. Forgive us when we act as if we can be “into God” without being “into the Bible.” Give us a hunger for the truth so we won’t be deceived by false prophets and false doctrines when they come. Amen.
