“Word of God” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot.
Now you tell me…
When you say or hear the phrase “Word of God,” what do you really mean?
Now you tell me…
What is the “Word of God?”
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Chris McAlister: That commercial gave me chills! It inspired me on many levels. Nothing...
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I mean something I can`t define. The breath, the power, the completeness of the work of God? Certainly I`m not referring to any collection of words we have on paper.
Would you include those words we have on paper into the larger category of “God’s Word?”
No, I wouldn’t, except insofar as they are part of God’s creation. I think they’re a history of humanity’s wrestling with God, but I don’t think they’re, in the sense people usually mean it, “God’s word.”
Sorry if that was terse. First, I’m tired
but second, I get weary of coming out of my theology closet, and wary, cuz there’s often a smack-down coming–though I don’t expect one from you.
I agree with most of what Nick says, below, but I just want to be very upfront when I say no, I don’t believe the Bible has special status as God’s message, though I do treasure it (along with other writings) as the record of my people’s reaching for God.
That’s all good. I try not to allocate more or less authority to the Bible than it allocates itself. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
It is a tension we live and operate in. Sometimes we neglect scripture and miss a bit of what’s going on. But other times we neglect the story because we’re so fascinated with the book – a more grossly misguided practice (in my opinion).
The “Word of God” is God’s communication with humans, through the Incarnation, Scripture, prayer, the prophets and other spiritual leaders, and other people. It always centers around the Cross and God’s longing to bring His people back to Himself.
It is complete, definitive, and specific. It brings life to the whole universe and each individual soul. It is God’s message to the entire world, but also His message to me alone, and you alone.
It bleeds the perfection of Christ while dancing with the imperfection of sinners. It’s willing to meet us where we’re at without ever compromising its holiness.
It’s both the solid rock on which we stand and the spring that propels us heavenward.
(hmmm… I got a little poetic there)
Nice Nick. I like it. In college, defining “God’s Word” was a large chunk of my senior paper. In my research I read a story of a couple. Each day that couple would read through Scripture together. They understood that the words laid out before them were from God. They also spent time in prayer, meditation and conversation with God. They would right down things they felt God was calling them to do or not do. For them, that became an extension of scripture.
I like to think of God’s Word as something more than the printed words in the 66 books of the Bible. God is constantly speaking to God’s people. God’s Word is a living, breathing thing.
That said, I must confess that I can’t think of a time that I’ve used the phrase “God’s Word” to describe anything other than “Scripture”. Perhaps I’m more of a modernist than I would like to admit.
Thanks for making my brain work a little extra today.
Erik
yeah. it seems that there is such weight and reverance tied to that phrase that it is EXTREMELY hard to use it in regular speech to refer to anything other than the Bible. We’re odd creatures.