From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part two of a series. Read part one.

Today most churches - if they value the Bible at all - value it for the wrong reasons. What are the right reasons to value the Word of God? Are they your reasons?

Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

(Psalm 119:11)

In the first article of this series we saw that the Hebrew word translated "have hidden" in this verse is a far richer one than the post-evangelical church generally understands. This word, a form of the Hebrew tsaphan, means not only to hide something, but also to treasure it. And there is even more. This word also tells Christians why we are to treasure Holy Scripture, how we are to do so, and that our treasuring of the Word must be a purposeful activity. As we continue our study we shall examine each of these vital points.

So to begin: Why are we to treasure Scripture? The word tsaphan has to do with treasuring something because of its great value and preciousness.

Valuing the Bible for the Wrong Reasons

With few exceptions, today's post-evangelical churches value the Bible for the wrong reasons. They may speak respectfully of the Bible. They may claim that the Bible is their standard and authority. But more often than not, churches' actions do not support their words. Today few churches truly esteem the Bible as precious.

Each week over 7 million people watch the television program of the largest so-called "evangelical" church in the United States. But the focus each week is not on the Word of God, but on being materially and psychologically successful in life - or as it is often put, "discovering the champion in you." This is what has become known as the "prosperity gospel" - the man-made formula which says that if you do certain things and adopt certain attitudes, God is obligated to give you health, wealth, and happiness.

Joel Osteen, the pastor of this church, leads the 16,000 people in attendance as they hold up their Bibles and repeat a mantra: "This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the Word of God. I'll boldly confess. My mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name."

But then, for the next half hour these thousands, and the millions watching in the worldwide television audience, do not hear instruction from the Word of God. They hear a psychological pep talk that is often contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture. After the crowd repeats the mantra saying, "Today I will be taught the Word of God," Osteen rarely mentions, much less quotes or exposits, God's Word. He rarely names the name of Jesus. He never, ever preaches the one true Gospel. One wonders why people bother to bring their Bibles to the service, except to hold them up while they repeat this deceptive mantra as the television cameras scan the crowd like the audience at a game show.

The people and leadership of this so-called church are typical of so many in our time - in fact, Osteen's website includes a directory of many of the thousands of so-called churches that emulate his. These churches do not treasure the Word of God, at least not in a godly way. If the people of these gatherings place any value on the Book in their hands, it is only because they are taught to see it as what it is not: a how-to manual for self-promotion, enhanced self-esteem, and material and financial success.

They never come close to seeing themselves as sinners in need of a Savior, because according to the man who leads them such thinking would be an unhealthy psychological de-motivator. And so these people, though outwardly happy and excited, are actually high on spiritual junk food. They continue in their sins. Each Sunday they are a week closer to eternity in Hell.

How unspeakably tragic. How much blood is on such a false teacher's hands.

This phenomenon is but one of many ways in which the post-evangelical church values the Bible for the wrong reasons. Dr. Stephen Prothero of Boston University is not a Bible-believing Christian, but he has done extensive statistical research on the changing state of the post-evangelical church. He has come to this chilling conclusion about the change in the church's attitude toward the Bible since about 1950:

Among Evangelicals there's been this shift over time - from Bible reading to feeling - from knowing what Jesus actually had to say to having a "relationship" with a "Jesus" that they know little or nothing about - from actually reading the Bible to merely revering the Bible...¹

These things must not, indeed cannot, be so for the true people of God. As the force of Psalm 119:11 in the original language tells us, we must value the Word of God for the right reasons. We must treasure it because we understand its true preciousness.

Valuing the Bible for the Right Reasons

Why are we to esteem the Word of God to be precious? Scripture itself gives us at least four reasons.

First, we must esteem Scripture as precious because of its nature - the same perfect nature as its divine Author:

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)

As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30)

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

Your Word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it. (Psalm 119:140)

The entirety of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)

I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your name. (Psalm 138:2)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation [more literally, nothing in Scripture is man's own determination of what it true or not true], for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved [more literally, driven] by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Secondly, we must esteem Scripture as precious because of its unique power to condemn those who reject it - and valuing it for the wrong reasons is a rejection of its truth:

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner [Greek kritikos or critic] of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)

He who rejects Me [Jesus], and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

Thirdly, we must esteem Scripture as precious because of its unique saving power:

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24)

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3)

For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:11)

So then faith [that is, true saving faith] comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever, because "all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever." Now this is the Word which by the Gospel was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25)

Fourthly, we must esteem Scripture as precious because of its unique sanctifying power - setting believers apart in Christ, and changing them in this life to be more and more conformed to His image, in preparation for the glorious life to come:

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth. (John 17:17)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience [literally, the endurance] and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

The Glorious Results

Scripture itself tells us what the result will be for those who esteem the Word precious in the ways God commands.

We will be thoroughly fitted out with all that is necessary for this life, in preparation for the life to come:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching us the right way], for reproof [showing us when we have deviated from it], for correction [placing us back on it], for instruction in righteousness [keeping us on it], that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We will be, even in the midst of spiritual conflict, Spirit-empowered witnesses to a watching world. The unbelieving will see the evidences of the Word at work within us:

For our Gospel did not come to you in word only [i.e., not in mere human eloquence], but also in power [that is, inherent power to influence the mind], and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance [literally, absolute confidence], as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction [i.e., persecution], with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

For from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10)

What About You? Your Church?

Dear reader, do you - and does your church - value God's Word for the wrong reasons or the right ones? Do you see it as nothing more than a how-to book for "success" in human terms? Do you value it from some other self-centered motivation? Or do you value God's Word for what its Author declares it to be - His eternal, unchangeable revelation of things that would never otherwise enter the heart of man; the living, powerful critic of the thoughts and intents of our hearts, laying our true sinful selves naked and open before God; the glorious foundation of saving faith through Christ Jesus; the lamp and light that will lead a soul through this dark, disapproving world to the glorious light of eternity with Him?

How firm a foundation you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
for I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
for I will be with you in trouble to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all Hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no never forsake!

References:

1. Dr. Stephen Prothero, C-SPAN television interview May 13, 2007.

Next: Gathering God's Treasure Into the Repository of the Mind

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