Can The Bible Tell Us About God?

In the day in which we live, there is, among many Christians, a general agreement about how the Bible is perceived. We don’t always verbalize it or even see it in our thought patterns, but it is there. We often expect unbelievers to share our values, our worldview, or our understanding of life, even though we should not. Scripture makes it clear there are two kingdoms. Those of us who have been changed through faith in Christ should not expect those outside the faith to reflect Christ’s priorities.

This difference is clearly seen in how the American populace feels about the Bible’s ability to accurately tell us about God. 

LifeWay Research recently sought responses to this statement: “I can trust the Bible to tell me who God is.” Christian subgroups agreed with this, ranging from 83 to 89 percent. When the population overall is considered, however, the number drops to 65 percent. The researchers concluded, “Across the board there are significant differences between the subgroups and the overall population.” Simply put, as we might expect, far fewer non-Christians than Christians trust the Bible to tell us about God.

Where does that leave American Christians? How do we engage people who do not necessarily trust the very book that forms the foundation of our faith?

Scripture tells us to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. But, what if fewer people are asking questions about such a hope?

Honest to God: Real Questions People Ask has been written with these people in mind. Reaching those outside the family of faith should be a goal of every church and every believer.

How do we reach those outside the body if they do not really trust the Bible to provide truth?

1. Remember, the gospel can penetrate the most unbelieving heart. Every person who came to faith in Christ began as a person with a hardened heart. Even those raised in church under sound preaching were rebellious in heart until surrendering to Christ. What is the hammer God uses to break the hardened heart? The gospel. Stone is no match for the water of the Word. Simply because a person does not currently find value in the Bible does not mean he or she will not in the future. There is a reason C.S. Lewis referred to himself as a “reluctant convert.”
2. Keep in mind, community that is inviting will go a long way to prepare a heart for the gospel. Christians living in community centered on the gospel will affect those who are watching. Many times people observe the lives of Christians to see if what we claim is believable or not. When our lives reflect what the Bible says should be true of us, non-believers become more open to the gospel message.
3. Love unconditionally those outside the family of faith. A keystone of Christian theology is that God is love. In fact, no one would have ever known God or anything about Him if He had not first loved us. We are told that God loves the world (John 3:16), that He demonstrated His love for us in Christ (Romans 5:8), and that God’s love brings us life (1 John 4:9).

The first expressions of God’s love people experience tend to be from those who know God. When we love the lost unconditionally, they experience God’s love and will eventually find an interest in the truth that love brings.

Yours for the Great Commission,

Ronnie W. Floyd

Senior Pastor, Cross Church

General Editor, Bible Studies for Life