The editors of GQ have written an article called “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read,” and I wasn’t at all surprised to see that the Bible made their list. They aren’t impressed by God’s word. Here’s their review:
The Holy Bible is very highly rated by all the people who supposedly live by it but who in actuality have not read it. Those of us who have read it know there are some good parts, but overall it is certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced. It is repetitive, self-contradictory, sententious, foolish and even at times ill-intentioned.
Then they recommend an alternative, a novel that they say will be good for those who heard that the thing that’s good about the Bible is “the nasty bits.”
There are so many things that we could say about the fact that God-breathed scripture has wound up on a list of books that supposedly aren’t so hot. We could even analyze their maybe not so untrue jab about Christians who don’t spend much time reading God’s words (although I would argue that none of GQ‘s editors have sat down and read the Bible cover to cover). But, I would suggest that we resist the temptation to do so. God isn’t shocked when His word is mocked, nor is He wringing His hands about it right now. Neither should we. The Bible is filled with verses about this very thing happening, and sadly things don’t end well for those who reject the truth of God’s word.
The editors of GQ don’t have the power to hurt scripture or its message. God doesn’t need the editors of an ungodly magazine to approve of His word. He already speaks clearly about people like them. Instead of demanding an apology or all of those other silly things that we tend to want as American Christians, our time would be better spent praying that the editors of GQ would have their eyes opened, so that they would see that the message of the cross is the power of God to those who believe.
If the editors of GQ come to the end of their lives, holding hard to their “truth” that the Bible is foolish, in one last breath they will learn the awful otherwise. Pray for their salvation and their rescue from the wrath of a Holy God.
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? Jeremiah 8:9
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-26
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Thanks again for another great post. I haven’t commented for awhile, but you are always spot on on these things. Thanks for keeping close to Him and in His Word! It shows.