I, the Lord, have spoken; surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die. -Numbers 14:35
Dear members and friends,
As a pastor, I am asked very often a very simple, but troubling question, “Is the Bible truly written by God?” What most people are really asking is not whether God actually wrote the book, but if the Holy Ghost dictated the books of the Bible to its writers. The truth probably is buried in the past, and thus unknowable to us all. However, what modern biblical linguists have discovered so far is that the Bible is not only written by many people, but also edited through the ages by many people. For instance, Genesis includes parts potentially written after 500 B.C., which is the time after the destruction of both kingdoms established by the Israelites. What does it mean? This amplifies the truth that people tried very hard to understand the message from the Divine, which was often lost in their pursuit of worldly gains and pleasures.
How should we, living in the 21st century, understand the Bible? The first step is to always remember that the books in the Bible are written by ancient people in their efforts to understand the true message of God in the way that made sense to them. The second is to always remember that the message from God is always positive, hopeful, and loving, because God created humans out of love, and wishes them to have a wonderful and joyful life. The third is to be careful with the temptation of interpreting the Bible to justify personal desires and obsessions.
My brothers and sisters, let us take a moment of time this week and contemplate the Bible. Let us remember the truth, God loves us all, always and unchanging.
Blessings, Rev. Junchol Lee