How say you?
October 22, 2009 (Thursday)
As I walked in the mall yesterday, I passed by some folks having a conversation. The lady was seated on a bench, and the man was standing. Her accent sounded like a West Indies accent, possibly Jamaican.
I heard the lady say, “It’s not what me think – it’s the word o’ God. Do you believe the word o’ God?” Although I walked on by as if I didn’t hear, I was happy to hear someone who was probably witnessing. At least their conversation was not about bad, depressing news we hear so much today.
Do you believe what she said? Obviously, when she said “The word of God,” she was referring to the Bible. Is it the word of God? Most Christians believe it is. Scripture readings in the churches with a strong liturgy are always followed by the reader holding the Bible up and saying, “Word of God,” followed by the congregation repeating a response, confirming the belief. In more informal churches, the Bible is affirmed as God’s word in many ways, usually in sermons.
Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Search the Scriptures, for they testify of me.” After his resurrection, he appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and quoted all the Scriptures in the Old Testament that predicted his life and work. Many times in the New Testament gospels, an event is described, and then followed by the observation, “that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” Plainly, the Bible itself speaks with authority. Especially about Jesus our Savior.
In the words of the lady in the mall, “It’s not what me think. It’s the word o’ God. Do you believe the word o’ God?”