I was not aware until this past week that there has been an ongoing effort to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee. A story in Saturday Commercial Appeal began, “It’s back. Once again the controversial measure to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee is before the state legislature.”
I was shocked. I was not aware, as the article related, this had been an ongoing effort. In fact, a joint resolution introduced by Rep. Jerry Station marks the third attempt to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee.
Though shocked at this attempt, I was not surprised as the article indicated, the previous attempts raised constitutional concerns about the state endorsing religion. Our constitution is clear that Congress shall make no law “respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” We believe in the separation of Church and State. The thought is inherent in the statement of Jesus who said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
I stand when we sing the national anthem, but I support the right that, in our democracy, people have a right not to stand. I am concerned that so much of this is an expression of “civil religion.” Singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge of allegiance do not make you a good citizen. These are rote civic exercises with little or no religious meaning. Being a good citizen and a good Christian are not the same.
My concern with the present legislative issue is what is being said about the Bible, making it just a book, trivializing it, lumping it in “with the state bird, flower and rifle.” I write explicitly as a Christian. The bible is more than a book. When Paul says to Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16), he is literally saying: “Scripture is God’s breathed Word.” That means it is more than a book.
First, more than a book, the Bible is a revelation and an encounter with the living God.
Moses experienced that encounter when he was confronted by the burning bush that was not consumed and out of that burning bush heard the voice of God. The dynamic of that story pervades “the Bible More than a book.” The Bible is a revelation and an encounter with the living God.
More than a book, the Bible is an invitation – an invitation to life. The great events of the Old Testament (creation, covenant and exodus) all reflect the movement of God as a movement of love toward us. The big story of the Bible is the story of God staying with us– wooing us, loving us, seeking to restore us to our created image, and bring us back into fellowship with Him.
Note one other thing – more than a book, if we accept it for what it is, we find in the Bible a blueprint for living. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the servant of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy. 3:16-17)
See the words there: teaching, reproof, correction, and training. And for what purpose? “That the servant of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The Bible is more than a book, and it cannot be the book for Tennessee. It is far more than that. When our minds are open to understand the Scripture, our hearts are open to receive God’s grace. And when our hearts are open to receive God’s grace, our wills are softened to do God’s bidding.