Can Bible study become an idol?
The Bible is a miraculous gift from God to His people. It is to be cherished. It is to be studied. It is to be applied. But, like anything in this world, if we’re not careful, the Bible can become an idol. Did I hear a gasp?
Let’s start by looking at the definition of idolatry:
Webster’s Dictionary: Idolatry is the worship of idols, images, or anything which is not God; the worship of false gods; excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.
Bible Dictionary: Idolatry is a matter of the heart. Its object is anything that replaces the one, true God.
Combining the word Bible with idolatry, we get the term Bibliolatry, which simply means the worship of the Bible. Some people use this word in a derogatory sense with the goal of undermining those who hold to a literal interpretation of the Bible, while others elevate the Bible to a position equal with God.
I’m one of those who believes the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), so my inclination may be to elevate it to a place of idolatry. Yikes!
Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Let’s get really honest today and ask this difficult, yet important, question: Have I made the Bible or Bible study an idol?
I’ve been a Bible teacher for many years. I love the Bible, and I especially love teaching others how to apply the truths of Scripture to their lives. Keep that in mind as I reveal the other side of this proverbial coin.
As a young mom, I dragged my boys to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) on a weekly basis. I loved the teaching; I didn’t love the rules. Finding time to do 45 minutes of studying five days a week was next to impossible, and I was told I couldn’t use any resources other than the Bible. This created a dilemma, as I didn’t know enough to answer many of the questions on my own, and I didn’t have a whole lot of extra time to sit and ponder. So, I cheated.
Was that another gasp? The real question is why did I keep doing a Bible study I didn’t have time for and that was creating undo stress in my chaotic life? Had I made Bible study an idol?
After BSF, I participated in a new Bible study at my church every semester and eventually started facilitating and teaching those studies. Fast forward several years. I had matured in my understanding of the Bible and my ability to teach and began noticing a pattern in many of the women who came to my Wednesday night group. They were typically tired after a long day at work and oftentimes struggled to finish their homework. Even though I encouraged participation regardless of whether all the questions had been completed or not, some weren’t confident enough to do so. So, why did they keep coming if their hearts weren’t in it?
My guess is because it was Wednesday, and Wednesday night meant Bible study regardless of how they felt. Now, please hear me out. I am not saying they shouldn’t have come. I just wonder how many of them would have felt less godly if they hadn’t checked their Wednesday night Bible study box. Perhaps some of them made Bible study an idol.
THE BIBLE: The inspired and revealed Word of God given for the purpose of training up His people in righteousness. And though it has everything we need to know Him and to live a life of godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4); it does not contain all of God’s wisdom and knowledge.
When you look in a mirror, you see a reflection of yourself. And if you touch the reflection, it won’t be smooth skin, plump lips, or a chiseled jawline you feel but flat, cold, glass. The image in the mirror is not you, it’s a reflection of you.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12
1 Corinthians 13 says we only know the things of God in part. We’ve been given a glimpse of creation. He’s revealed to us salvation through His Son, Jesus and told us many things about who we are and how to live in obedience to Him. There is even a brief description of our future home in Heaven. But it’s like looking at our image in a mirror. We can’t see or touch the fullness of God. We only have what He has chosen to reveal.
But then He says, “when the perfect comes,” we will know fully. The “perfect,” by the way, is Jesus!
“God said it! I believe it! That settles it!”
R.C. Sproul, a well-known American theologian and pastor, had much to say about this so-called “Christian bumper sticker.”
“God says it. I believe it. That settles it.” Huh? God says it. I believe it. Now, it’s settled? No, if it’s going to be a Christian statement, you say, “God said it. That settles it.” It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not. If it’s God’s Word, beloved, it’s settled, and this is what the psalmist understood, and he says, “It has been settled in heaven from eternity.”
People who believe the Bible as absolute truth, acknowledge God as the sovereign, ultimate authority in the universe. Therefore, when He speaks through His Word, who are we (sinners saved by His grace) to challenge or contradict Him?
God also expects us to use reason and experiences to help us better understand the truth of Scripture as it applies to our individual, Holy Spirit-led lives. This can be of great value if we allow the authority of the Bible to verify the conclusions we reach.
What the Bible says about itself?
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13
“Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Galatians 3:21-22
To Summarize: In giving us His everlasting Word, God tells us it will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it. What is the Bible’s purpose?
It equips us for the good works God planned in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10).
It gives us hope.
It discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.
It points us to Jesus.
Back to the question at hand: Have you made the Bible or Bible study an idol? If you’re not sure, I encourage you to ask God to reveal that to you. He is clear in Scripture that He is unwilling to take second place in your heart to anyone or anything—even the Bible.
My thoughts after considering the question for myself: If I honor the Bible for all it claims to be and worship the God who breathed it, I most likely haven’t slipped into bibliolatry. However…
“God, I ask you to search my heart. If anything rises up to take your place, sound the alarm with the conviction of Your Holy Spirit. I want nothing to come between us, but I am fully aware that my heart has been prone to wander. Help me to be faithful to You and You alone.
I ask this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.”
Kel-nalogy (an analogy that suddenly pops up in Kelly’s brain): If given the opportunity to read the autobiography of your favorite author, musician, actor, historical figure, etc. (living or dead) or sit in their presence, which would you choose?
I know it’s not the same, but let’s try to make a connection with spending time studying the Bible versus spending time with God.
Personally speaking, I look to the Bible to know God and receive guidance for daily living. It feeds me truth I wouldn’t otherwise have. It is the most important book in the world, in my not-so-humble opinion, but it is a book—a book that teaches us above all else to “love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). And, if I might be so bold, that is a difficult thing to do if we never pull our noses out of the Bible and spend time with Him and those He gives us to love.
The point I’m trying to make (perhaps with too many words) is that studying the Bible is not more important than developing a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible’s goal isn’t to make us smarter but to make us more like Jesus. Jesus carried with Him a message of hope, which had Him traveling from town to town. Then, before ascending into the heavens to return to His Father, He instructed His followers to “Go…” (Matthew 28:19).
