By Mike Edwards
I am convinced there are beliefs claimed about God that lead to many tuning out God. Our relationship with God cannot exceed our understanding of God. I have written HERE how we can decide what God is really like. One’s interpretation of a Book may be the only reason to think human and godly perfection are different. When the Bible is said to be infallible or inspired by God, most assume every word penned comes from God. Why would a Creator not love us and others how we were seemingly created to love others?
The infallibility of the Bible is a non-starter.
We don’t have the original manuscripts. If infallibility was critical, why didn’t God find a way to preserve the original texts if God controlled the writers’ thoughts. The most common defense for arguing the Bible is inspired is to claim the biblical writers made such a claim. Such logic would not lead those same people to accept the Quran being infallible because it claims to be. God didn’t necessarily have in mind that recordings wouldn’t be questioned. Another view of the Bible is accepting as a document recording experiences of beginnings with God and Israel culminating with the life of Jesus that we don’t possess in any other documents. Such writings can keep us talking and reflecting what God is really like.
Did God really inspire genocide or marrying one’s rapist?
Did God really approve a woman being required to marry her rapist. Laws proclaimed by Moses supposedly came from God. Deut. 22: 28-29 says: If a man happens to meet a virgin…and rapes her…He must marry the young women, for he has violated her. The idea of a woman ever having to marry her rapist as a good thing hardly inspires many about God. I am convinced only humans thought this was a good law at that time, not God.
Did God really inspire acts or language of genocide? I Samuel 15:3 says God told Israel: “Now go, attack the Amalekites… put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” Only evil dictators approve of such actions or talk during war. Hundreds of passages in the Old Testament advocate violence in God’s name. It isn’t irrational to ask if a good God would inspire or approve such thoughts or language.
An inspired Book leads down the slippery slope of inspired interpretations.
Most admit literature requires interpretation, thus why biblical scholars often disagree about the meaning of the same passage. It is seldom voiced one’s view about God according to their interpretation could be wrong. Such an admission would encourage different views standing side by side as we continually evaluate the most loving approach, rather than forcing opinions on others in the name of God.
An inspired Book has led to justifying violence in the name of God.
The possibility of an infallible or inspired Book has led down the slippery slope of assuming God’s views on morality only come from a Book such as the Bible or Koran. Not questioning if writers always understood God perfectly has led to justifying slavery, killing infidels, and other atrocities in the name of God. Interpretations must be questioned by our moral consciences.
An inspired Book leads to declaring God mysterious, thus less knowable or relatable.
God is said to be a mystery beyond human comprehension because one’s interpretation clashes with common human moral sense. When assuming the writers understood God perfectly, we often search for ways to rationalize our interpretations. How can one understand a God who created us to know and hate evil, if their evil in our eyes is supposedly good sometimes?
People may be rejecting God for the wrong reasons.
Two plausible interpretations exist on most major issues when speaking of God’s character. Many defend that the Bible teaches that God proclaims women cannot be in authority over men in roles such as a priest or pastor. Women can rightly feel disrespected and confused why a supposedly loving God would put men in leadership position over women which has encouraged dominance on the man’s part leading to atrocities women face at the hands of men. People condemn gays, despite their heart saying otherwise, because God supposedly rejects same gender loving relationships according to a Book.
It is dangerous to value right beliefs or interpretations at the expense of loving others.
Those not growing up in church don’t understand all the fuss. Who thinks literature subject to interpretation should be read so dogmatically? A fallible Book can lead to listening to different opinions as we continually evaluate the most loving approach. God doesn’t get enough credit for communicating through our moral senses how we ought to treat others. The Bible wouldn’t be God’s main communication anyway, because the majority born into this world never had a copy.
Many Christians are rightly accused to be judgmental when they in the name of God condemn gays, prohibits women from serving as pastors or priests, and judge others based on religion when the religion the majority adhere to depends where born. Their heart often tells them differently. There is likely more harm done when declaring certainty than uncertainty about God. It prevents conversations looking for areas we agree, respecting the opinions or others, and committing to growing in understanding.
Dangers In Not Questioning But Assuming The Bible Is Entirely Inspired By God
Series:
Why I Doubt God Is An Excluder Of Religions
Why I Doubt Heaven Is Closed To Anyone After Death
Why I Doubt God Is A Homophobe
Why I Doubt God Is A Mysterious, Moral Hypocrite
Why I Doubt God Is A Blood-Thirsty Child (Jesus) Killer
Done with Religion 
I appreciate your comments. I believe we mostly agree. One can believe the Bible is inerrant or not inerrant. But, as you mention the Bible requires interpretations so we cannot claim to speak for God. I believe God left the Spirit to guide individuals. You say it best. We all have our gifts. Let’s be open-minded with one another possibly leading to new understandings and creative solutions.
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It makes perfect sense. My stance would be the Bible is inerrant as God the author intended it. However, our inability to have inerrant interpretations is our downfall. I am highly suspect of anyone claiming to be a mouth piece of God or that their interpretation of the Bible is always 100% accurate. Uncertainty will always be present, but I believe that is where faith comes in. Faith is what bridges the gap of uncertainty. Seeking fellowship with other believers is vital. Each person brings their own gift to the table. Discussing scripture allows us to reach a shared understanding as well as develop our faith. I appreciate your response and willingness to discuss
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Thank you for your kind and open spirit. Yes, civil discussions are so very important. I will address one question you mentioned. We can continue discussions if you like. You are right – because I am convinced all of the Bible isn’t necessarily inspired by God I cannot claim to know what is divinely inspired or human. But even if one believes the Bible is entirely inspired they can’t be positive their interpretation is inerrant. So, it seems we are at the same place – relying on the Spirit and being open-minded with fellow believers in deciding what seems to be the most loving interpretation. Often, we may need to disagree and allow the Spirit to guide each individual. We cannot be certain but that may not be so bad. Certainty seems to lead to people claiming they are speaking for God without admitting they may be wrong. I hope that makes sense.
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I’ve read several of your posts on the Bible now. They are intriguing. I have a very different view/belief of the Bible and the role it plays in our faith. However I am a big proponent of healthy, respectful discussion even when conflict arises because that is how truth is discovered and understandings reached. I do have a few questions.
You talk of an inspired interpretation and ask, if different people can have different interpretations of the Scripture, how can it be divine? Could it be that the difference in interpretations arise from the fact that we are imperfect, fallen humans ? I.e. proof texting, preconceived notions and beliefs. It is easy twist the Bible into saying whatever you want it to say. Chop off one half of a verse here and slap it on to another half from over there. Now no rational thinking person who understands the historical and contextual evidence behind that scripture would condone such a practice or call it divine, yet it is routinely done.
And if one does not believe in biblical inerrancy, how would you go about distinguishing between the divine or inspired by God and what is purely human ? Is it possible to do such a thing objectively without human imperfections and biases and all the while being guided by the Holy Spirit ?
I have many more questions if you are interested in a healthy respectful discussion.
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