Is the Bible Still Relevant?

On June 30, 2022, someone named Robert posted this comment on our ministry’s YouTube channel with reference to the Bible: “Why would anyone in the 21st century give a [expletive] what illiterate desert dwellers from 2,000 years ago thought about anything?” In writing this, he reflected the views of many people today, especially in the younger generation, who wonder, “Why on earth should I care about what this outmoded, outdated book has to say? What does the Bible have to do with me?”

This growing dismissal of the relevance of the Bible was confirmed in a recent Gallup poll that found that, “A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and half of what it was at its high points in 1980 and 1984.” In contrast, “a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of ‘fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.’ This marks the first time significantly more Americans have viewed the Bible as not divinely inspired than as the literal word of God.”

We could debate what is meant by “the literal word of God.” But what is clear is that a large percentage of Americans no longer find the Bible relevant.

As long as human beings are on this planet, the Bible will be deeply relevant.

That’s because human nature has not changed and divine wisdom never ages.

The Bible speaks to the common issues of everyday life, from marital relations to work ethics, as well as to the grand cycles of life, from celebrating the birth of a child to mourning the loss of a loved one.

The Bible addresses the most profound questions of humanity, including: “Where is God when it hurts?” And, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

The Bible is absolutely real, pulls no punches, exposes the sins of its heroes, tells it like it is. There is no airbrushing in the Bible.

Are you a skeptic? There’s a whole biblical book just for you called Ecclesiastes. In fact, you’ve probably quoted it even if you’ve never read it. (If you’ve ever said, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” you were quoting from Ecclesiastes. The author also said things like, “Everything is meaningless!”)

Do you question the goodness of God or, perhaps, even accuse Him of wrongdoing? Then dive into the Book of Job, one of the grandest writings of all time, and see how it articulates your very thoughts. (Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables, once said, “Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain one work only, I should save Job.”)

Remarkably, after God rebuked Job for falsely accusing Him, the Lord then commended him for speaking what was right about Him! (To figure this out, you’ll have to do some digging. My commentary on Job actually carried this subtitle: “The Faith to Challenge God.” Chew on that concept for a while.)

Or take a read through the Psalms, which are still prayed and sung around the world to this day. As Old Testament scholar Christopher J.H. Wright wrote, “God seems to want to give us as many words with which to fill in our complaint forms as to write our thank-you notes.” And when did Psalm 23 stop being relevant? In the midst of our frenzied world, it’s more significant than ever.

Consider a relevant description of the foolishness of drunkenness in Proverbs 23 or the lure and the danger of adultery in Proverbs 7.

Discover the most comprehensive description of love expressed in the fewest possible words. Paul nailed that in 1 Corinthians 13.

As you read the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, you can ruminate over the loftiest ethical challenge ever given.

Are you passionate about justice? Then the words of the prophets are for you, from Isaiah to Jeremiah and from Hosea to Amos – especially if you hate religious hypocrisy.

Do you care about the poor and the hurting? So does the Lord! Read His words in Matthew 25.

Do you struggle with fear, doubt, or unbelief? Are you physically sick or going through an emotional crisis? Do you lack direction? Are you struggling in your marriage? Do you need forgiveness of sin? Are you looking to connect with God? For every human question, there is a biblical answer.

That’s why the Bible is the world’s bestselling book, year in and year out. Despite growing skepticism in America and some other nations, billions still find the Scriptures deeply relevant, for good reason.

The Bible is still the most well-preserved book from the ancient world and the most carefully translated book of all time.

As for those who think the biblical authors just copied ancient myths, read the famous Babylonian creation account, called Enuma Elish,

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