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THE BIBLE IN YOUR MIND

He penned one of the greatest of all Christian classics in human history; in fact, it’s been suggested that after the Bible itself, of all books written in the English language, this volume comes in next. There were ten editions printed just in his lifetime, and for the 313 years since it was first published back in 1684, it’s been translated and loved all around the world. I’m speaking of the masterpiece Christian allegory, of course, Pilgrim’s Progress. And today, right after Thanksgiving Day, it’s kind of a nice moment to be thankful to God for this unique man and his legendary contribution to the Christian faith. John Bunyan, you see, was born on this date, November 28, clear back in 1628. Elstow, Bedford, England, the son of a tinker. And he wrote this marvelous story, would you believe it, in prison — where he’d been locked up for unlicensed preaching. Today he’s considered one of the greatest of all Puritan clergy-men, and certainly one of the best authors ever to walk this earth.

And you know, a towering book like this one certainly does lead to a temptation. A person can become a devotee of a great book or of the author of great books. Here at the Voice of Prophecy we use a lot of material from people like C. S. Lewis, John Stott, Philip Yancey, Morris Venden, E. G. White. Their books get underlined and re-underlined. A new compilation of theirs comes out, or a brand new book for Christmas, and you’re the first one standing at the door down at the Christian bookstore, almost waiting there overnight so you can be first in line.

Well, we have to say this with all the respect in the world. This Thanksgiving Week 1997 isn’t National Pilgrim’s Progress Week or National Mere Christianity Week; it’s National Bible Week. And the Word of God is still the Book of all books; it’s still occupying the top spot. And that venerable Puritan minister, John Bunyan, who only had two books in his prison, the Bible and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, would be the first to tell us that there’s no book like the Bible. It and it alone should be our “(quote) final court of appeal.”

Pastor Tony Evans, who we mentioned the other day, author of a book entitled The Victorious Christian Life, has wisely observed:

“Even a good book can be a diversion from the Good Book.”

All during this special week, where we give thanks and also think about the Bible’s place in our lives, there’s one thing we have yet to say. Yes, the Scriptures should occupy first place. Yes, they should be considered the highest authority, with all of our other ideas and opinions subject to the message we find there. But friend, the only way the Bible can really govern our lives is if its message gets into our life.

We’ve mentioned several times in recent years an important book entitled Christianity in Crisis, by Hank Hanegraaff. In a very concise and well-documented way, he reveals how many Bible teachers today — especially in Christian media — have departed from the historic pillars of biblical Christianity. And there have been millions who let Dr. X or Televangelist Y, or maybe even Pastor M — and that’s “M” for “Melashenko” — be their final authority.

And partway through his book, Hanegraaff reminds readers how sailors in the ancient times used to stay on course by fixing on the North Star. They didn’t have much else to go on, but they could always see that star and sail according to its place in the heavens. They knew the North Star wouldn’t shift like the seasonal winds; they knew it was an unchanging guide. And in his book, he then adds two excellent points. Here’s the first one:

“The acid test for any doctrine is the text of Scripture.” That’s absolutely true, isn’t it? And then he adds: “Illumination must always be tested by the Word.” We said that yesterday. “Remember, Satan wants us to encounter him and think we are in touch with the living God. Whenever a teaching runs counter to God’s revealed truth, you can be sure the Holy Spirit is not behind it.”

Well, that’s clear truth, isn’t it? We test everything by the Word of God, not Pilgrim’s Progress or our pastor’s newsletter or our own impulses and opinions. But Hanegraaff’s second point is equally valid.

“Nothing should take precedence,” he writes, “over getting into the Word and getting the Word into us.”

Listen, friend, do you want to be protected as we head into the year 2004? Then get into the Word of God and let the Word of God get into you. 1997 was a year where we all watched in horror as the sheriff’s deputies brought 38 bodies out of that mansion in Rancho Santa Fe. The Heaven’s Gate cult members had filled their minds with “(quote) truth” from another source; unfortunately, it really wasn’t a Higher Source as their Web site company was so ironically named.

There’s an exceptional bit of advice that comes to us courtesy of Chuck Swindoll, from his book Seasons of Life. And it’s certainly apropos as we finish up National Bible Week. Notice:
“I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture! That’s right. No other single discipline is more useful and rewarding than this. No other single exercise pays greater dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your counseling will be in demand. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”

Friend, aren’t those goals you want for yourself in 2004? I know they are for me. Imagine the difference it might have made if those Heaven’s Gate cult members had memorized, completely memorized, Acts 4:12, where it says:

“Salvation is found in no one else [but Jesus], for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

But you know, even just extolling the virtues of Bible memorization isn’t enough. All of us, as we read the Word of God and commit passages to memory, and even as we try to live our lives by its principles, need to pray daily about having an attitude of surrender.

You see, we all of us bring human opinions into the study chamber and into the prayer closet. Yes, we open up this Book of books, but so often our minds are already fixed upon a certain number of presuppositions — whether they’ve been built in by family or background or denominational affiliation. And certainly God uses those things as part of the process of spiritual growth; I’m grateful for those own factors in my life too: the church I belong to, what I was taught at Mom’s knee. But all of these things need to be subjected to the primacy of this one unique Book as we read and study and memorize and apply.

Back to Hank Hanegraaff’s book, Christianity in Crisis, where he writes about the disturbing trends today as millions are following TV preachers into a false kind of faith. And he shares a couple of important Greek words we might do well to consider right here. It’s much better, he suggests, to exegete or “draw out of” the Bible, rather than to eisegete, which means to “read INTO.” In other words, we try to shape the Word instead of having the Word shape us. What a battle this can be! And believe me, we have to struggle with it in the hallways and offices of the Voice of Prophecy. Sometimes our Texas Instrument laptop computers want to write scripts based on our opinions rather than the Bible’s clear teachings. We want to read truth in rather than get truth out.

But there’s that word “surrender.” The surrender of those opinions and treasured theories. A willingness to say about this Bible, “Whatever I find here — whatever — this is for me the final court of appeal.”

I mentioned yesterday the exceptionally gifted writer, E. G. White, revered by so many Christians, especially in my Adventist church family. But in her bestselling book, Steps to Christ, she turns us firmly toward God’s Book with these two sentences:

“God speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption.”

And then just two pages later is a great follow-up thought for anyone who might want to join the John Bunyan fan club here on his 369th birthday.

“We should not take the testimony of any man as to what the Scriptures teach, but should study the words of God for ourselves.”

Well, you know, that’s good advice. Especially as we feel the whirlwind pull of the new millennium — and you and I both know that the apocalyptic mission statements of mortal men are going to be all around us, pulling us into this or that feverish little group. More than ever, we need to let lesser lights be lesser lights, and let the Word of God be our final court of appeal.