Who and What

This week in Lent we are called to make our priorities  clear, we are called to remember the difference between the  Who and the what.

Here in Tulsa, I often hear that the Word of God is sharper than a two edged Sword, etc, basing the quote on Hebrews 4:11,12. The problems is, most people think that the "Word of God" is a book, when in fact, the verse they partially quote tells us that the before Him no creature is hidden.  So the Word in Hebrews must be a Person, not a book.  The reason I point this out, is that lots of people around here get mixed up on just Who the Word of God is, and think He is a what (Book).

So I wanted to point out that in fact, JESUS is the Word of God, the Revelation of God to us, the  book (bible) is simply a record of how God has acted in  human lives and how He calls us to understand His love as  exemplified by His Son, Jesus. It was written and preserved  by flawed men struggling to transmit what they believed was  God's Spirit speaking to us.

My trust and faith is in Jesus,  not in this book that transmits His record to me. The Bible is a book, just that. Not Magic, not an Idol, not a Totem. The version produced by men in a country called England in the year 1611 is no more perfect or important than the recent proclamation of Matthew in the Sena language of tribal people in Mozambique.

Many  people who insist that the record is the Word of God,  instead of simply a book are confronted by some of the  obvious "issues" of less than exact science or numerical  lists. Then they say that it is only the original  manuscripts that were inerrant — and since these have been  lost, all the later copies contain mistakes. An easy  argument to make since there isn't any possibility of  rebuttal.

O God, Whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious  to all Who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them  again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace  and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus  Christ Your Son; Who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and  reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Comments

[Monk-in-Training]

Mary,
you are more than welcome, please give me your blog's address. I would be happy to visit.

[Mary]

Hope you don't mind my popping into your blog...found it by chance. Am Catholic in the Roman tradition and am also on a journey...not so much for illumination, although I wouldn't object to some. My journey really is simply deepening my relationship with God and becoming who God created me to be...whatever that might be. I keep a blog of my journey on yahoo360. You are welcome there, but it is really is just about where I am at any given moment.