A Short Interlude

I needed to add this about why I am doing this.

Over the years, I have studied the Bible by reading it for myself and by listening to countless sermons. Every sermon is, in some way, filtered through the pastor’s own understanding, education, and tradition. It doesn’t take long to realize this if you listen to teachers from different denominations or spend time watching various television evangelists. The differences can be striking.

As my own search for truth continued, I began to ask whether I had been approaching the Bible in the right way. Was it meant to be read only as a literal history book, or was it also intended to reveal timeless truths about the human journey and our relationship with God?

Quite a few years ago, I discovered that several biblical narratives have similarities to stories found in much older civilizations. Rather than weakening my faith, this caused me to ask a different question. What if these stories preserve spiritual truths that transcend cultures, civilizations, and even time itself? Perhaps God has spoken to humanity in ways that are deeper than just the stories.

As my own search for truth continued, I began to ask whether I had been approaching the Bible in the right way. Was it meant to be read only as a literal history book, or was it also intended to be more than we often imagine?

Science and archaeology continue to uncover new information about our past, and there are many questions that remain open for exploration. I believe we should never fear honest inquiry. Truth has nothing to fear from sincere searching.

At the same time, I have encountered many voices that seek to dismiss the Bible altogether or discredit Christianity. In my opinion, many of them are asking important questions but stopping short of the deeper ones. If they conclude there is no Creator, they are still left with the question of how anything came into existence in the first place. Every explanation eventually arrives at the mystery of beginnings.

Likewise, I believe Jesus—Yeshua—was a real historical person. While the New Testament is our primary source of information, several non-Christian writers from the first and early second centuries also refer to Jesus or to the movement that followed him. History may not answer every question about who he was, but it provides good reason to believe he truly walked this earth.

History also reminds us that religious institutions are made up of human beings. Like all human organizations, they have sometimes reflected remarkable wisdom and, at other times, human ambition, misunderstanding, or the desire for control. That reality should encourage us to seek truth with both humility and discernment.

My purpose in writing this series is not to tear down anyone’s faith. It is quite the opposite. I believe the Bible contains a profound pattern for living. Its stories are not merely accounts of ancient people, but mirrors in which we can see ourselves. The struggles of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and so many others are also the struggles within each of us.

When Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” I believe he was inviting us to look beyond the surface. Every story carries a deeper lesson for those willing to search with open hearts. I now call myself more spiritual than by any denominational title.

I hope that these articles will encourage you to see familiar passages in a fresh way—not to abandon your faith, but to discover its deeper purpose. If these stories help us become more loving, more compassionate, more forgiving, and more aware of the Divine within and around us, then perhaps we are beginning to understand why they have endured for thousands of years.

Life moves forward, but wisdom often comes from remembering where we have been. May these ancient stories continue to guide us as we grow toward the One who is the source of all life.

Warren