From the Mouths of Babes

This is an article of mine that appears in this week's edition of The Enterprise and Interstate Progress.

The Mouths of Babes

Recently, at our Wednesday night Bible Study, we considered why it was important for us, the followers of Jesus Christ, to spend time studying Holy Scripture.  On the face of it, this seems a very simplistic question, but it is one that is still worth asking.  Maybe it would help to rephrase the question:  With all the distractions and temptations of the world around us, and the obligations of work and family that occupy so much of our time, why should we make Bible study a priority?

As we went around the room, the answers given were accurate and appropriate and heartfelt.  “Because it brings us closer to God,” said one person.  “Because the Bible teaches us how we are supposed to live and relate to each other as well as God,” said another.  “Reading it deepens our faith,” said another.  “Because the more time we spend in the Word the more we want to be in the Word and to know God better,” came and excellent answer.  All these are absolutely true and excellent reasons, but then we got the one that really hit the nail on the head: “Because God wants us to!”

We need only look at the natural world and study the way the universe works to realize the existence of a creator.  The complexity and the beauty of the world point directly to God.  Modern science has peered into the deepest recesses of space and time and concludes that everything had a point of origin but those who are honest and humble also recognize that something or someone made something out of nothing   The chances that the complexity of life on our planet could come about merely by a series of random mutations and accidental combinations of organic chemicals are so remote as to be ridiculous.  Therefore, there must be a creator; there must be a God.

We might not doubt his existence, but what do we know about him or his intentions for his creations?  That’s where the Bible comes into play.  The Bible is a collection of inspired documents, written by man under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  It solves the problem of how we are to know God because it is his revelation of himself to his people.  In Holy Scripture, God tells us who he is.  He shows us his intentions for his people: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Why should we make reading the Bible a priority in our lives?  Because that is how God reveals himself to us.  God wants us to know him and his plan for us.  In short, God wants us to.

By the way, the answer “Because God wants us to” was given by a 7 year old.  Truly words of wisdom from the mouths of babes.

Fr. Michael+