Theology & Life

“I am one of those old-fashioned ministers who believe the whole Bible and everything that it contains.” (JC Ryle)

You can replace the word ministers in the above quote with Christians and it’ll have the same effect. Oh, you’re one of those Christians, some may say. You actually believe the entire Bible is true?

Why yes, yes I do.

Many people who would label themselves a progressive Christian—which is an oxymoron, if we can be honest—would paint those who believe the whole Bible as fundamentalists. Or old-fashioned. Either way, whatever word they use is meant as a pejorative.

The Bible is correct in everything it speaks to. As the old saying goes, “If the Bible says it, I believe it.” And I will add, “Unapologetically so.” Christians—young or old—should not be afraid of believing the whole Bible . . . even the parts our culture abhors. If we truly believe the Bible is composed of the very words of God, then we should believe it all.

Of course, if anyone reads the Bible with objective eyes, they know it has different genres and contexts. You shouldn’t read Proverbs the same way you’d read the Gospel of John. John’s gospel is a narrative whereas Proverbs is not.

But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. People don’t call us old-fashioned fundamentalists (or worse!) because we simply believe the Book. They call us these names because of what the Book says.

The Book says that God created the world in six 24-hour days, which trashes evolutionary theory.

The Book says that he created us male and female, which excoriates transgender ideology.

The Book says sex should only happen between one man and one female, within the confines of marriage. Both of these directly contradict the LGBTQ agenda and the promiscuity of culture that makes fornication normative.

The Book says all humans have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We need a Savior, and that Savior is Christ. This flies in the face of our self-righteousness in thinking we have it all together, that we are good enough for God. We are not.

We could go on and on about the different ways the Bible—the Good Book!—is deemed “old-fashioned” and out of step with the culture.

Christian, be okay with being out of step with the culture. Be at peace with the name-calling, the threats, the marginalization or even persecution. If we are in Christ, we’re on the right side of history.

They may call it old-fashioned, but God calls it faithful.

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