Last week I discussed the CRAAP test, a set of questions designed to help measure the credibility of source material—a necessary step when trying to navigate all the information thrown at us.
So how does the Bible measure up to the CRAAP test?
According to the world, it has been found lacking in every area, but is it?
Currency:
The Bible has been called archaic, outdated, and out of touch with today’s world. But is it?
No. Not socially or scientifically.
The world is constantly redefining its social norms to align with the heart’s desires. The problem is that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9) so will never be satisfied. The quest for the “right” answer will always come up short.
In contrast, God never changes, His standards remain firm, and His promises are forever. There is extreme comfort in this. Today is as secure and sure as yesterday. No guesswork. No uncertainty.
Second, while man is in the business of discovering, God is in the business of revealing. While on earth, man only knows so much at any one time (I Corinthians 13:9) and will never know it all until the time of completion (vs. 10). But since the beginning of time, man has sought to understand his world (both at the micro and macro level) and his universe. This desire to search and discover is strong and unquenchable.
At the other end of this quest is God’s desire to reveal Himself, which He has also done since the beginning of time. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
And while the Bible is not meant to be a science text, the Bible leaves no doubt that God is the God of all. (For example: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 147:4; Mark 4:39)
As scientists learn more and more about our body, our world, our universe and the universes around us, the more evidence there is for a supreme being. Each discovery makes God more current.
Finally, we have the ultimate promise of currency. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
God has been and always will be —here.
Join me next week to see how the Bible fares against the second of the five categories: relevance.
So how does the Bible measure up to the CRAAP test?
According to the world, it has been found lacking in every area, but is it?
Currency:
The Bible has been called archaic, outdated, and out of touch with today’s world. But is it?
No. Not socially or scientifically.
The world is constantly redefining its social norms to align with the heart’s desires. The problem is that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9) so will never be satisfied. The quest for the “right” answer will always come up short.
In contrast, God never changes, His standards remain firm, and His promises are forever. There is extreme comfort in this. Today is as secure and sure as yesterday. No guesswork. No uncertainty.
Second, while man is in the business of discovering, God is in the business of revealing. While on earth, man only knows so much at any one time (I Corinthians 13:9) and will never know it all until the time of completion (vs. 10). But since the beginning of time, man has sought to understand his world (both at the micro and macro level) and his universe. This desire to search and discover is strong and unquenchable.
At the other end of this quest is God’s desire to reveal Himself, which He has also done since the beginning of time. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
And while the Bible is not meant to be a science text, the Bible leaves no doubt that God is the God of all. (For example: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 147:4; Mark 4:39)
As scientists learn more and more about our body, our world, our universe and the universes around us, the more evidence there is for a supreme being. Each discovery makes God more current.
Finally, we have the ultimate promise of currency. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
God has been and always will be —here.
Join me next week to see how the Bible fares against the second of the five categories: relevance.
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