The vision of the organization I lead, Unconventional Business Network, is to see a million business leaders model biblical principles in their workplaces. Trust in the authority and reliability of the Bible is therefore fundamental. Recently, while interviewing a job applicant, I asked her about her relationship with the Bible. She said, "I believe the Bible is inspired by God, but of course not everything it says is true."
Since belief in the value and truth of biblical teaching is at the core of what we do, the applicant's response was a deal breaker for me. In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” Either every word of the Bible is true, or we are putting ourselves in God's place by rejecting some of His Word. Let me break down the acronym to help you believe in the relevance and practical application of the Bible.
Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute, uses the acronym "MAPS" to emphasize confidence in the reliability of the Bible. The letters stand for M (Manuscripts), A (Archaeology), P (Prophecy), and S (Statistics).
M stands for manuscripts. Several years ago I visited the Dead Sea Scrolls website. The process the scribes used to rewrite God's Word was impressive. If they made any mistake, they immediately burned the scroll. Historians judge the reliability of a manuscript by its length and the length of time between the originals and the earliest manuscripts. The Bible has a stronger basis than the ancient writers: Homer, Tacitus or Aristotle. Psalm 19:9 says, “The commandments of the Lord are righteous and make glad the heart; The commandment of the Lord is bright, it enlightens the eyes.” Historical handwritten evidence provides compelling evidence of the reliability of God's Word.
A means archaeology. Hanegraaff tells the story of a biblical skeptic named Sir William Ramsay. Trained as an archaeologist, Ramsay decided to refute the historical accuracy of the Gospel of Luke. Ironically, Ramsay became a believer as one after another, the historical claims presented in the Gospel of Luke were confirmed by archeology and scientific methods. The passing years have proven that skeptical archaeologists were wrong to challenge the Bible. Want to know if God's Word is trustworthy and true? Just ask the archaeologists who have tried to prove otherwise.
P is for prophecy. Among the most remarkable qualities of the Bible are the predictions made hundreds of years before they came true. Before the birth of Jesus, there were over 50 prophecies about the Messiah. Everything was fulfilled, including the fact that as the Savior He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem and as the Messiah was crucified. No book can claim this. In Deuteronomy 18:19, God declares: “...And whoever will not listen to My words, which (that Prophet) will speak in My name, I will exact punishment from him.”
S stands for Statistics. A professor named Peter Stoner worked with 600 students to calculate the probability of just eight prophecies about Jesus Christ being fulfilled. Result: 1 in 10,036 Considering that He fulfilled over 40 other prophecies, it is astronomically impossible that they could all be fulfilled by one person. If only they had not become reality. Statistics confirm the reliability of the Bible.
God's Word has proven its reliability. We can trust that it is not only factual, but that its wisdom and principles are more than enough to guide us in our daily work responsibilities and tasks.
Copyright 2023, Non-Traditional Business Network. Adapted with permission from UBN Integrity Moments, a commentary on faith in the workplace. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a ministry of faith in action serving the international small business community
Questions for reflection/discussion
NOTE. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 119:9-11, 33-36; Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
