Day 5 - The Bible

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” – Matt 13:45-46

Often, increasingly often, I find myself in the company of half-smiling sceptics who want to poke fun at my claim to be Christian. I really enjoy such encounters as it provides me with an opportunity to burst some bubbles.

This was a recent skirmish, over coffee and cake with an ex-colleague and spouse, following a visit to look at a Saxon church and remains. For context, apart from philosophy and related topics, I am interested in geology. The conversation ran something like this;

“How old are the rocks around here?”

Me - “The ones that most of the buildings are made of are Jurassic. So, maybe one hundred and eighty million years.”

“YOUR Bible says that God created the Earth in seven days – how can you believe in Jesus given that the whole story is so inaccurate?”

Me - “That’s not my Bible, it’s yours. You are forcing sources to inapt conclusions. That’s called an argument based on absurdity in my world.”

{Break for consideration}

“So, if it’s not literally true, how can you rely on any of it?”

Me – “Have you actually read and thought about what Jesus is reported to have taught, say for example Matthew 13:45? It’s about someone who finds something so mind blowingly important that they change their whole lives to be able to look further into it.

“What could be that important?”

Me - “Oh, just meaning and purpose. How is your life going?”

“Well, my job’s at risk. My team isn’t doing well. The house needs decorating.”

Me - “And, you’re going to die soon. All worth the while then for you?”

By this stage, the mocking smile disappears. The conversation moves on.

Sadly, in our generations, cynicism is the religion that most adopt. However, don’t you go away thinking that you’re OK because you pop into a church every now and again. God is not going to be pleased with that approach. Nor the attitude that claims that what you believe is right and all you need to do is await ‘them’ seeing just how right you are.

If you go back to the verse in Matthew, Jesus is saying that the inevitable consequence of find His Truth is that everything else becomes much less valuable.

Even more sadly, in our generations, there is very little evidence that in finding Christ many people are willing to alter their worldly lives to reflect that they have found, yes - meaning and purpose.

Real change affects those around. Matthew 18:20 reminds us of Jesus’ promise that when a few folks who really have found meaning and purpose meet to find Him, there He is. Imagine that! A proper Congregational church.

So, the Bible doesn’t need to be defended. What Jesus teaches doesn’t either. His sacrifice and His defeat of death is the only real meaning and purpose that matters.

The issue is that the message is meant to VISIBLE. If you have found your meaning & purpose, then it’s so valuable that other people will want to know why you’re different.

John Cartwright