Clarity: Can I Trust the Bible?

Welcome back to our blog series, Clarity, where we’re building a Christian worldview to navigate life’s toughest topics. In our first post, we explored spiritual warfare, learning from Ephesians 6:10-20 that our role is to rely on God and stand firm. Now, we’re tackling a foundational question: Can I trust the Bible? If we’re going to lean on Scripture to shape our understanding of reality—whether it’s spiritual battles or daily decisions—we need confidence in its reliability. Let’s dive into this with humility, recognizing I’m not an expert but a fellow traveler piecing together insights from God’s Word and solid resources. (If you’d like to dig deeper, I’ll share some recommendations at the end.)

Where Do We Turn for Answers?

Think about how we handle questions today. In 2022, Americans googled everything from “What to watch?” (109 million searches) to “Where’s my refund?” (89 million) to “How many ounces in a cup?” (32 million). Google, Siri, and Alexa are our go-to problem-solvers. But as Christians, when we face questions about God, the world, or what it means to follow Jesus, we’re called to a different source: the Bible. It’s not just a book of ancient stories—it’s God’s guide for His people.

Paul, writing to his protégé Timothy, puts it this way in 2 Timothy 3:14-17: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of… how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Paul’s point? The Bible equips us with truth to live rightly—but only if we trust it. That’s why this question matters. Since much of our worldview hinges on Scripture, we need to establish its trustworthiness upfront.

Two Truths to Frame Our Approach

Before we dive into evidence, let’s anchor ourselves with two key truths about the Bible. First, as Dan Kimball writes in How (Not) to Read the Bible, “The Bible was written for us, not to us.” It’s God’s truth for His people, but we aren’t the original audience. Take Genesis 1:1—“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Our modern picture of the cosmos differs from an Israelite’s 3,000 years ago. Or consider Leviticus, where bats are listed among unclean “birds”—their categories don’t match ours. When something feels confusing, it’s often a signal we’re missing the original context. That’s not a flaw; it’s an invitation to dig deeper.

Second, every word in our Bible is translated. From Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to English, teams of scholars labor to preserve the text’s meaning. Are nuances lost? Sometimes. But their commitment ensures we can trust the Bibles we hold. So, with these truths in mind—context matters, and translation is reliable—let’s explore why we can trust Scripture.

Three Lines of Evidence

To build confidence in the Bible, we’ll look at three pillars: manuscript evidence, archaeological evidence, and cohesion evidence.

1. Manuscript Evidence: A Wealth of Copies
   When evaluating ancient texts, scholars ask: How many copies exist, and how close are they to the originals? Compare the Bible to other ancient works. Caesar’s Gallic Wars? Ten manuscripts. Homer’s Iliad? 643. The Old Testament boasts over 11,000 manuscripts, while the New Testament has 5,700—far more than any ancient text. Even better, some New Testament manuscripts date within 100 years of their writing, while other classics were copied centuries later. With so many copies—fragments to full texts—scholars can cross-check them. The result? The New Testament is 99.5% accurate, and the Old Testament is remarkably consistent. This isn’t a game of telephone; it’s a carefully preserved record.
2. Archaeological Evidence: History Confirmed
   Archaeology keeps uncovering the Bible’s historical roots. Take the Mesha Stele, discovered in 1868 but newly analyzed in January 2023. This stone recounts King Mesha of Moab warring with Israel, aligning with 2 Kings 3, and mentions the “House of David” and Israel’s God. Or consider a 2007 find: a monument celebrating Hezekiah’s pools in Jerusalem, echoing 2 Kings 20:20. Then there’s a tiny lead tablet from Mount Ebal, excavated decades ago but only recently readable via CAT scan. Dated 1200-1400 BC, it bears a curse—“Cursed, cursed, cursed—cursed by the God YHW”—matching Joshua 8’s account. These are just snapshots; hundreds of discoveries affirm the Bible’s historical reliability.
3. Cohesion Evidence: A Unified Story
   Spanning centuries, penned by dozens of authors, the Bible tells one cohesive story: God’s plan to redeem creation through Jesus. From Genesis 3:15’s promise of a serpent-crusher to Genesis 12’s call to Abraham, from Israel’s role to Jesus’ arrival, and the Gospel spreading worldwide—it’s seamless. Its moral core—“Love God, love people”—threads through Old and New Testaments. God’s heart for Gentiles shines in both the prophets and Acts. This unity across time and cultures is extraordinary, a testament to divine guidance.

The Bible’s Living Power

Hebrews 4:12 adds another layer: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The Bible doesn’t just inform—it reveals truth we’d miss otherwise. It shows us God, exposes the world’s brokenness, and unveils our own hearts. When we trust it, it shapes us into God’s people.

The Big Idea: Trustworthy Truth for Life

Here’s the takeaway: We can trust the Bible to give us the truth we need to live as God’s people. It’s not like other ancient books—its preservation, historical backing, and unified narrative set it apart. We can be confident this is the book God intended for us.

Your Challenge

So, what’s next? Find a Bible reading plan and start engaging with Scripture. Whether it’s a “Bible in a Year” plan or a slower dive into a single book, let God’s Word speak. It’s not just reliable—it’s alive, ready to guide you into truth.

Why This Matters for Our Worldview

In our Clarity series, we’re constructing a Christian worldview. Last time, we saw spiritual warfare requires reliance on God. Now, we’ve established the Bible as our trustworthy foundation. It’s not Google or cultural trends we turn to—it’s Scripture, revealing reality as God sees it. As we move forward, this confidence will anchor us through life’s tough topics.

Resources to Explore:

• How (Not) to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball
• The Bible Project (videos and podcasts)
• Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell

Clarity: How do I Engage in Spiritual Warfare?

In a world that’s rapidly changing, where the United States has o entered what some call the “Post-Christian Era,” we’re faced with a sobering reality: most people no longer attend weekly worship services or affiliate with any religion. 

During the Great Depression, church attendance surged as people sought hope and meaning amid the financial hardship they experienced. Since the turn of the century we see the opposite happening: the rise of the “Nones”—those who claim no religious affiliation. This change in reality isn’t just a statistic; it’s our lived experience. We live alongside, work with, and are friends with, and have family whose worldview—the lens through which they interpret reality—differs drastically from our own.

This difference in worldview matters. It’s not that those with a different way of looking at the world are inherently “bad” or “evil”; it does mean they operate from a distinct moral framework, pursue a different purpose in life, and draw authority from sources other than the Bible. Understanding this is crucial if we’re to build meaningful relationships and share the Gospel effectively. 

I think it also forces us to confront a deeper question: What do I believe? If we’re to withstand constant challenges to our faith and communicate the Gospel clearly, we must know what we believe and why we hold those beliefs.

That is the purpose behind this blog series, Clarity: Thinking Clearly about Life’s Tough Topics. My goal isn’t to hand you a list of “correct” Christian answers to common questions, but to show how the Bible equips us to wrestle with some of today’s toughest issues. We should not see the Bible as an instruction manual with step-by-step fixes for life’s problems. Instead, it’s a guidebook, that helps us construct a worldview that makes sense of the world. And to kick off this journey, we’re diving into a topic that’s often overlooked or misunderstood: spiritual warfare.

The Spiritual Reality We Can’t Ignore

Let’s be honest—there’s some wild stuff in the Bible. A talking serpent in Genesis 3? A cherubim wielding a flaming sword to guard Eden? The “sons of God” marrying the “daughters of man” and producing heroic offspring? That’s just the opening act! 

Flip to Job 1:6, where Satan walks into God’s presence, or 2 Kings 6, where invisible armies surround Elisha, or Daniel 10, where angelic beings battle behind the scenes. Then there’s Jesus, confronting demons throughout the Gospels. The Bible doesn’t shy away from the unseen—it insists there’s more to reality than what meets the eye.

This brings us to Ephesians, a letter from the Apostle Paul to churches in Asia Minor. This letter were intended to be shared among the different churches. One of the recurring themes in the letter is the spiritual realm. Paul mentions it repeatedly—six times, by my count (e.g., Ephesians 1:21, 3:10)—urging believers to recognize the cosmic conflict unfolding around them. He wraps up the letter with a rousing pep talk in Ephesians 6:10-20, outlining our role in this spiritual battle.  What wisdom does the Apostle have for us?

What Ephesians Teaches Us About Spiritual Warfare

Paul begins, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Our strength doesn’t come from within—it flows from our relationship with God. We’re powerless to withstand this spiritual warfare our own, but God equips us with His armor. Who is the enemy? Satan and his forces, scheming to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). They wield influence in this world, that is why Paul clarifies: our real fight isn’t against flesh-and-blood people but against these spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12).

So, what part do we play in this spiritual battle? We stand firm. The image we should have in our minds is that of the Roman army, famed for its unyielding formations. Soldiers locked shields, planted their feet, and thrust spears forward—armor only on the front because retreat wasn’t an option. United, they were invincible. Likewise, we stand together, relying on God’s power, not our own.

Paul details the armor we’re given: the belt of truth (living with integrity), the breastplate of righteousness (right relationships with God and others), shoes of the Gospel of peace (sharing the good news of King Jesus), the shield of faith (loyalty to God), the helmet of salvation (assurance of our security in Christ), and the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word, our only offensive tool). This isn’t just poetic imagery— it comes from Isaiah 59:17 where God puts on His armor to save His people, and now He shares this armor with us.

At the end we see that prayer ties it all together. Prayer is how we lean on God, aligning our hearts with His. Paul’s point isn’t to sensationalize spiritual warfare—naming demons or picking fights with cosmic powers—but to ground us in a simple, steady response: resist by standing firm.

Our Part in the Battle

So, what’s our role in this unseen conflict? 

First, we stand united. Ephesians 3:10-11 reveals God’s grand plan: the Church, diverse yet unified, showcases His wisdom to the spiritual realm, advancing His mission to restore creation. Our job isn’t to chase down demons but to live faithfully—loving, serving, preaching the Gospel, seeking reconciliation, and offering forgiveness. This is how we push back darkness.

Second, we pray. Yes, pray for physical needs and healing, but also for Kingdom priorities—wisdom, courage, and the expansion of God’s reign. Let Scripture shape your prayers; ask for boldness to carry His love into the world.

Third, we don’t overstep. Jude 1:8-10 warns against those who arrogantly challenge spiritual powers they don’t understand. Our only offensive weapon is God’s Word, not because we’re weak, but because victory isn’t ours to win—Jesus already secured it. We’re not meant to start cosmic showdowns. Even when confronting evil (like the demon-possessed in Acts 19:13-16), we rely on prayer and Jesus’ authority, not our own authority.

Standing Strong in a Cosmic War

The Bible offers a glimpse into a reality far bigger than human sin. It’s a cosmic rebellion against God, spilling into our physical reality. Our mission? Stay faithful. Clothed in God’s armor—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His Word—we resist evil’s advance. United and prayerful, we don’t just hold ground; we reclaim it for God’s Kingdom.

The big idea is simple yet profound: engaging in spiritual warfare means relying on God and standing strong in faith. Jesus won the victory; we spread the victory by making disciples. Every act done in His name—every kindness, every witness—pushes back the tide of evil. Our call is to remain faithful.

A Daily Challenge

Here’s your challenge: pray Ephesians 6:13-17 daily. Ask God to clothe you in His armor—not just for yourself, but for your whole church family. We all need it to stand firm. This isn’t a battle against people (though they may be pawns in the war), but against rebellious spiritual forces. Our response? Put on God’s armor every day and stand.

Closing Prayer

This week in our prayers let’s: (1) Thank God for new life in Christ. (2) Ask Him to clothe us in His armor. (3) Commit to stand firm. This is how we engage in the battle—not with fear or frenzy, but with faith, unity, and reliance on God’s strength.

You Are A Theologian

 

One of the fundamental aspects of being human is that we think. Some people may reflect more deeply than others, but all of us, at some point, have pondered life's big questions. It’s in our nature to think and to seek understanding.

This natural inclination to think means that, on some level, every person is a theologian.

Stanley Grenz wrote in his book Theology for the Community of God:

"Every Christian is a theologian. Whether consciously or unconsciously, each person of faith embraces a belief system. And each believer, whether in a deliberate manner or merely implicitly, reflects on the content of these beliefs and their significance for Christian life." (p. 1)

In other words, you are a theologian. Every time you contemplate who God is or reflect on His existence, you engage in the discipline of theology. Even though people—both inside and outside of the Christian community—disagree about the nature of God, the act of thinking about such things makes us all theologians. This reflective process plays a key role in shaping our worldview.

Your worldview, the set of beliefs through which you interpret the world, is rooted in your thoughts about God. If you’re reading this, chances are you already have specific beliefs about God’s role in the world and in your life. These beliefs shape how you understand the world and influence the way you live.

For me personally, what I believe about God shapes my understanding of right and wrong, my sense of purpose, and the hope I have for the future. It informs my perspective on the creation of the world, historical events, the present, and what lies ahead. My faith brings moments of joy, guilt, hope, and sorrow. In essence, reflecting on God guides every aspect of my life.

What’s remarkable is that God grants us the freedom to choose what we believe about Him. He doesn’t force our beliefs; He invites us to decide. This means that as you ponder God’s existence, you also determine the place He will have in your life.

The question you need to consider is: “Will you allow Him to guide you, or will you ignore Him?”

The choice is yours.

This freedom also brings with it a personal responsibility. You can’t rely solely on your family’s beliefs or simply go along with the crowd. You must seek the truth for yourself.

It’s essential to pause and think deeply about what you believe and why. I firmly believe that God desires us to think critically about our beliefs so that we gain a better understanding of life and the world around us.

While we each bear responsibility for our own faith, we also have the potential to impact the lives of others. Through our conversations and the way we live, we influence those around us—especially those closest to us. That’s why it’s important to be intentional about learning, teaching, and living out the truth.

The apostle Paul gave Timothy this advice:

"Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:15-16, CSB)

Paul reminds Timothy that what he believes about God is crucial and that his faith should shape his life. We should take this to heart as well, allowing our beliefs about God to guide our actions and decisions.

You are a theologian. The ideas you develop about God will influence the direction of your life. Don’t just follow someone else’s beliefs—take the time to think deeply about who God is and what that means for your life. Being a theologian is one of the most important roles you’ll ever play. Don’t ignore this great responsibility.

A Silent Message

 

"Before and since Tolkien’s death there have been numerous articles and books on the meaning of his fiction. Kilby [one of his biographers] records Tolkien’s favorable reaction to an essay sent to him from Australia, concerned with the themes of kingship, priesthood, and prophecy in The Lord of the Rings. He [Tolkien] endorsed the spirit of the essay in finding Christian meaning in his work, even though, as he remarked, it displayed the tendency of such scholarly analysis to suggest that it was a conscious schema for him as he wrote. He [Tolkien] didn’t deliberately try to insert Christian meaning into his work—a point over which he disagreed with C.S. Lewis, in whose fantasy he felt the Christianity was too explicit."  

—Colin Duriez, The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook

Our worldview—the underlying philosophy of life—shapes everything we do. It is formed out of our beliefs about God, humankind, and the world. Our worldview is created, not only by what we have learned through Scripture and Church, but also by other things such as what we learned at school, the family we grew up in, and the movies that we watch.

One of the things that have informed my worldview is J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. In this story I have discovered metaphors and illustrations for what it means to follow Jesus. 

As the above quote shows, Tolkien didn’t set out to write a theological work, but Christian themes naturally emerged nonetheless. His worldview, whether consciously or unconsciously, influenced his storytelling. This reality reminds us that our worldview always affects the work we do.

Since our worldview affects the things we do, then other people’s worldview will affect the things that they create. This is why it’s dangerous to consume stories, TV shows, music, and movies without a discerning eye. Even if creators don’t intentionally embed messages in their work, there’s always a message—something their worldview conveys. 

We need to be mindful of the subtle ways these messages shape how we see the world. As Christians, we should be particularly aware of how the stories we consume influence our thinking.

The effect of these stories can be so subtle that we might not even notice it happening. We may begin to adopt the worldview of the storyteller. For instance, if an author portrays the world as dark and hopeless, we might develop a similarly negative outlook. Or, if an author paints a picture of unrelenting optimism, we might develop an unrealistic expectation of life. Stories profoundly impact how we interpret the world around us.

So, how do we, as Christians, maintain a Christ-centered worldview? 

We maintain a Christian worldview by not allowing the world's narratives to have the primary influence over us. Instead, we need to immerse ourselves in the study of God’s Word and meditating on its truth. We must spend time in prayer, seeking His wisdom. 

It is also important to remember what Thomas à Kempis wisely wrote, “Why wish to see what you cannot have?” 

The stories we consume, along with the music and social media we engage with, often stir desires within us for lives we cannot or should not pursue. While all forms of media can awaken emotions that lead us closer to Christ the opposite can also be true. If taken without discernment, these things can lead us away from Jesus. That is why, as Christians, we must be careful about what we allow into our minds. The power of stories and songs lies in how easily they infiltrate our thinking without us realizing it.

I want to urge all of us to carefully examine the things we read, watch, and listen to, because they hold the power to shape our lives. More importantly, we need to make sure we are regularly filling our hearts and minds with God’s Word. Scripture should be our primary guide and influence.

As Philippians 4:8 (NLT) reminds us:  

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”