"Oh, but the bible is so outdated..."

I am sure you hear people saying that we can't follow ALL that is in the bible because it is culturally irrelevant, outdated, dry and dusty. It isn't fresh and relevant to this new millennium, or our advanced culture, you know.

Really?

Well think on this: when Paul preached and quoted the Old Testament at least 183 times, and referred to people or places or events dozens more, much of the Old Testament was as old to the first century Christians as the New Testament is to us now.

The New Testament writers overall included approximately 250 express Old Testament quotations, and if including indirect or partial quotations, the number jumps to more than 1,000.

Did Paul say, "The Prophets were good men, but we don't need to follow their example now, because our society can't relate to theirs. That was 1400 years ago. It's a different time now." Or did he say,

"all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1 Corinthians 10:11)

The bible is just as relevant today as it was when Job was written, the book scholars believe is the earliest in chronology. When I read stuff like this:

"An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?" (Jeremiah 5:31-32)

Which by the way is happening now in our faith with so many false prophets and teachers, I see the bible as prescient and relevant.

Or this:

"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely" (Jeremiah 6:13)

Also happening. It is a fresh word because though penned by men, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit lives outside of time.

Or this-

"They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!"

Which is a current headline, "We could wipe out Israel, says Iranian military chief", I stand amazed.

The Bible is not obsolete nor irrelevant. The author of the book The Shack wrote insultingly of God's word, saying at one point, "God’s voice had been reduced to paper, and even that paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellect" (pp 65-66). He also write disparagingly of devotionals with a bible, “Images of family devotions from his childhood came spilling into his mind, not exactly good memories…He half expected Jesus to pull out a huge old King James Bible.” (p. 107). There are lots of ways to denigrate His Word, either outright rejection or a sly chipping away like William P Young did of The Shack. Don't fall for it.

It is vibrant and as fresh as the day the Spirit inspired it and the 40 men wrote it. It is the most relevant book on earth, ever. The non-Christian cannot understand it, but for the Christian, it reveals all truth. Please take the time to read it daily.