The difference between the Bible and politicians

Politicians generally have a poor reputation. Young political minds generally aspire to become politicians to try and fix the problems caused by current politicians. Rarely is a politician looked upon favourably, although there are some.

Most often the reason politicians have a poor reputation is because they make all sorts of promises, but then never really act on them. A politician who makes extravagant claims but does not act upon them is not to be trusted. He is a liar and the reason for why politicians have such bad reputations. However, a politician who makes claims and backs them up by putting them into practice is to be trusted, for he has proven that he is credible.

The same principle is true for the Bible. The Bible makes extravagant claims, however unlike politicians; the Bible goes further and backs up its claims with actions. This is how we know that the Bible can be trusted as God’s Word. Our trust is not based on the claims alone. It is based on the fact that it is able to deliver those claims and prove itself as a credible and trustworthy source.

2 Timothy 3:16 states: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,…”

If somebody was to read a text which made this claim and believe it simply because they read it, they would be a fool, for there is no basis to their belief. God warns against fools. He gives us advice on how to be wise. He tells us to seek wise counsel when making decisions and be weary. He rebukes those who are tossed with every new thing and doctrine which comes about, describing them as chaff in the wind or waves in the ocean. He instructs us to test all things.

Psalm 1:4 “The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”

Ephesians 4:14 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Therefore we should not put our trust and faith in the Bible merely on what it states, but on the fact that it delivers on those claims impeccably and shows how it is a trustworthy and credible source as the ultimate and inspired Word of God – just as 2 Timothy 3:16 claims it to be.

We can see how the Bible is able to back up every claim that it makes with great weight just by reading it.

• It is a book written over 1,500 years by completely unconnected people at different times in history, yet it is completely coherent and flows perfectly.
• Many of the books within it are written by uneducated men, yet it remains one of the most studied and best selling books even today. To reproduce such a work is impossible. Even Shakespeare would be unable.
• It prophecies over things which had not come to pass at the time. Some prophecies were fulfilled later on, for example Old Testament Scripture prophecies over Jesus were fulfilled by Jesus to the letter. However, it also makes prophecies which were fulfilled at dates beyond the Bible, all verified by History. Prophecies concerning Alexander the Great, Antocius (see Daniel 8 and 9), the reformation of Israel. It even mentions kings to come by name. (King Cyrus - See future article to come). These things all lead to the conclusion of its trustworthiness and credibility.
• Its prophecies concerning the future and end times.
• The fact that a book that was written in ancient times has not been disproven by Science or modern technology. On the contrary discoveries have been made which add to its credibility.
• The millions of witnesses today who claim its truth also adds weight. In our court system the testimony of just 2 eye witnesses can lead to a conviction. We have millions upon millions in time gone by and that number is increasing day by day.
• The relevance of the Bible even today, 2,000 years after it was completed.
• It’s incredible wisdom.

Read the Bible and you will see how not only does it claim amazing things, but it goes on to back those claims up. It is this that we as Christians put our trust in and know that the Bible is the Word of God given to us. We do not possess a blind faith, for that would be foolish. We have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that He has not only made claims but lived them out in His life – to the point of His death.

We would be foolish to wholeheartedly trust a politician. If the politician makes a promise and does as he says, then we have a reason to trust him. However he will never deliver fully and we should be weary of such people. On the other hand, the Bible makes its claims and delivers every single time to the iota. It is a never-changing and static book in an ever-changing and incredibly volatile world, yet it is still as relevant to us today as it ever was, and that fact will never change.

-BACChristian.