Question:

Hello!
I have been trying to follow Christ for about a year. I try reading the Bible and believing it but I have a very skeptical, analytical, and doubting mind. What advice would you give me on how I can truly trust that the Bible is God’s word?
I’m sure you’ve heard all the arguments and reasoning why it’s not Gods word, so I’ll save typing out all my questions about it!
I really do want to believe and live by the word of God, if God really inspired or wrote a book to us. I find myself doubting its validity every time I pick it up, so it’s hard trying to apply it to my life when I don’t even know if I believe it.
Any opinions or advice would help. Thanks!

Thanks for reaching out with your question. It is a good one and I will try to answer it for you! 

I, too, have struggled with believing that what the Bible says in it is actually true. With so many criticisms and arguments against it out there, as well as arguments and cases for, it is hard to know who is telling the truth and who is just using convenient evidence to support their theories. Doubly frustrating are the people who use circular reasoning to prove their point: “It’s God’s Word cuz it says it is!” That isn’t helpful at all, and I will not attempt to use that method. You didn’t get into the arguments you know of, and there are a lot out there, so I won’t try to assume what you are referring to. I won’t get into every detail of the historical evidence, archaeological evidence, prophetical evidence, etc. that is out there. But I will give you some good resources for you to check out regarding that evidence that you can research on your own. If your questions are about specific arguments, I would be glad to answer those specific questions as well.

My main argument for the validity of the Bible as God’s word is that if it is what it claims to be (the inspired Word of God), then what it says is the best way to live life should work as it says it does. Do the principles and teachings put forth in it actually accomplish in our lives what they claim they should accomplish? At Flatirons, we believe that it does, from the practical applications of Godly living to the supernatural applications of the Holy Spirit coming to live in us once we are saved. The latter is extremely useful in proving to us that the Bible is God’s Word since there are plenty of books with good practical advice out there that are not God’s inspired Word. However, this is the only book I have found that actually follows through with its spiritual teachings. I have experienced the Holy Spirit in my life and His fruit is actively growing in my life. I have received spiritual gifts and use those to serve God and others. These personal experiences have helped me to have a strong faith that the Bible is indeed God’s word. And, honestly, that is what it really all boils down to: faith. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV) The word “assurance” here is sometimes translated as “evidence” (KJV), meaning that faith is the evidence. To be more precise, and to avoid circular reasoning (“It’s true because I believe it to be true!”), by having faith in God and His Word, and doing what it says and believing in who He is and what He accomplished through Jesus on the cross, He actually produces all the evidence I need in my own life.

Now, as promised, I will provide you some links to some resources to address some of the more practical evidence as to the validity of the Bible. I find all of this very interesting, and encourage you to look into it as well as do your own research, as well as keep on picking up your Bible. God has a way of using it to reveal things to us that we may not have seen on the first go around.

 This book is very good at addressing the issues we as skeptics find ourselves questioning. Chapters 6 and 7 are especially relevant to our topic. I HIGHLY recommend reading them:https://www.amazon.com/Reason-God-Belief-Age-Skepticism/dp/1594483493/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534459703&sr=8-1&keywords=the+reasons+for+god

These websites and articles also have helped:

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/gods-peculiar-glory

https://www.genesispark.com/essays/gods-word/

https://www.gotquestions.org/why-should-I-believe-the-Bible.html

 I hope I have shed some light on your questions. I know you probably have many more, so please do not hesitate to reach out again. I’d be happy to dive deeper with you and perhaps we can learn more together.

The "Good Questions" blog is a place where some of the really good questions people email into the church can be shared with everyone, along with Flatirons' response. To ask a question (about anything, really), please fill out a contact form here.