“It is a mistake to look to the Bible to close a discussion; the Bible seeks to open one.” – William Sloane Coffin
One of the great mysteries of the universe is this: God wants to have a relationship with you. And with me. And my neighbor, too.
How do you approach the Bible? Do you go there to prove a point or to hear a voice, a different perspective — God’s perspective. Do you listen for nuances of God’s character?
Years ago I heard someone say, we should not seek to master the Bible but to have the Bible master us. If we simply use the Bible to answer questions on a quiz, we are missing the point. Right doctrine definitely matters. But behind the doctrine is God’s desire to have a relationship with us.
Instead of using the Bible to close a discussion (“now that settles it”), ask God if that is truly the end of the matter. You might be surprised to find it’s not.