by Jordan Moore
While no one is sure who first made the statement, there are those in the world who ascribe to the idea that “the Bible is the most dangerous book in the world… [and that] it must be kept under lock and key.” Through history, many attempts have been made to try and thwart the influence of the word of God. Holy scripture has been tossed into fire, outlawed, and blacklisted. However, Christians can thankfully have confidence in the words of Paul to Timothy, that even though Paul had been subjected to and bound by chains, “the word of God [was] not chained” (2 Tim. 2:9). In other words, to try and keep the Bible under lock and key would be a futile – impossible – effort. Consider:
The Word of God is not chained by persecution (Acts 6:7; Acts 12:24, 2 Tim. 2:9). While there are those that have tried to slow the spread of Christianity by persecuting it, the curious thing about God’s word is that it always finds a way to wiggle out of the attack and make its way elsewhere to influence others. Despite persecution by the Sadducees that led to imprisonment in Acts 4, and persecution by the Sanhedrin that led to beatings in Acts 5, because the Christians considered it an honor to suffer for Jesus’ sake (Acts 5:41), we find that “the word of God increased” in the very next chapter (Acts 6:7)! Later, Paul rejoiced in the fact that though he had suffered imprisonment, “what [had] happened to [him had] really served to advance the gospel” (Phil. 1:12-13). Despite man’s best attempts, God’s word will always prevail through persecution – even (especially!) today!
The Word of God is not chained by evolution (Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:5). There are some who assert that the Bible must fit into the paradigm of the theory of evolution. Instead of evolution needing to adjust and change its narrative, it’s taught by the world (and theistic evolutionists) that the Bible needs to alter its narrative to line up with the tenets of evolution. Suggestions that the creation week is allegorical or that the days of creation are really eons of time are efforts made to chain the word of God under the lock and key of evolution. However, this will never work as “we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Heb. 11:3) and what the word of God says will always trump what scientists suggest. Every time. Evolution did not frame the universe – God’s word did.
The Word of God is not chained by accusation (Prov. 30:5). All sorts of accusations are made about the Bible. From questioning its historicity to scandalizing its morality, the Bible is under constant attack. For example, in our current age, the ideas that there are more genders than male and female, and that homosexuality is natural and wholesome are increasingly popular. In turn, proponents of these schools of thought will stop short of nothing to deem the Bible as antiquated, hateful, and bigoted. Christians, however, should have confidence in the fact that the Bible will stand up against any accusation that is thrown its way because “every word of God proves true” (Prov. 30:5). Societal norms are ever changing and fluid, but God’s word is never bound by the changing of times – like Jesus, it is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). And its truthfulness will one Day be evident to all.
The Word of God is not chained by expiration (1 Pet. 1:23,25). Unlike a jug of milk or human life, the word of God will never reach a point where it has expired. Every person that has tried to chain it through persecution, through evolution or through accusation has (or will!) come to an end. It has outlasted every generation of man and will continue to stand into eternity. God’s word “lives and abides… and remains forever” (1 Pet. 1:23,25). Creation is bound and chained by the fact that it will pass away, but not God’s word (Matt. 24:35).
Thank God for his powerful, perfect, and perennial word!
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