Is the Bible worth reading
In 2018 GQ magazine (Gentlemen’s quarterly) had foolishly put the Bible on the list of classic books (not) worth reading. Their article said the Bible is “repetitive, self-contradictory, sententious, foolish, and even at times ill-intentioned.”
They could not be more wrong. God’s word tells us of problems w/unbelievers:
Scripture/God’s word explains the warped mindset GQ allowed to publish : “But a natural man (does not accept) the things of the Spirit of God, for they (are foolishness to him), and (he cannot understand them), because they… are (spiritually appraised). (1 Corinthians 2:14)
“natural man” (or natural person). This refers to the unconverted, (unsaved) who lack supernatural life and wisdom.
“spiritually appraised” (or spiritually discerned). Through illumination of the word, the Holy Spirit provides (His saints, i.e. Christians) the capacity… to discern divine truth (see Ps. 119:18), which the spiritually dead are unable to comprehend (cf. John 5:37–39; see 1 John 2:21-22, 27.
The doctrine of illumination does not mean we know everything (cf. Deut. 29:29), that we do not need teachers (cf. Eph. 4:11–12), or that understanding does not require hard work (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15).
Another problem with the GQ mindset made known in Scripture; 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and (men loved the darkness) rather than the Light, for (their deeds were evil.)
20 For (everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.) (John 3:19-20)
Another relevant Bible passage: “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is (hostile toward God) for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)
Rom. 8:6 “The mind set the mind on the flesh.” This is a simple spiritual equation: The person with the mind set on the flesh is “spiritually”
dead (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1).
Rom. 8:7 “hostile to God.”
The unbeliever’s problem is much deeper than acts of disobedience, which are merely (outward) manifestations of (inner fleshly compulsions.) His basic inclinations and orientation toward gratifying himself—however outwardly religious or moral he may appear—are directly hostile to God. Even the good deeds unbelievers perform are not truly a fulfillment of God’s law, because they are produced by the flesh, for selfish reasons, and from a heart that is in rebellion (see 5:1).
Rom. 7:5 “flesh.” Scripture uses this term in a non-moral sense to describe man’s physical being (John 1:14), and in a morally evil sense to describe man’s unredeemed humanness (see Rom. 6:6; 8; Gal. 5; Eph. 2), i.e., that remnant of the old self which will remain with each believer until each receives his or her glorified body (Rom. 8:23). “In the flesh” here describes a person who is able to operate only in the sphere of fallen mankind—an unredeemed, unregenerate person (8:9). Although the believer can manifest some of the deeds of the flesh, he can never again be “in the flesh.”
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
(2 Timothy 3:1-4)
THEN — further down, same chapter verses 15-17:
15 and that from childhood you have known (the sacred writings) which are able to give you the wisdom (that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus).
16 All… Scripture… (is inspired by God) and profitable… for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every… good work. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
In John 17:17 Jesus said “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.”
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32)
24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
“but sanctify Christ as Lord (Master) in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)
I highly doubt the author if that GQ article spent 50 years studying the Bible, let alone a few months, but you can. Don't listen to naysayers, you can and should read the Bible, it is not only the worlds best selling book, but it is the truth, it holds the keys to our life purpose, as well as the message of salvation.
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