The Bible Is NOT a Rule Book

By Wayne Harmon

I grew up in a religious culture where “the Bible says” was the basis for everything in life. EVERYTHING written in the Bible was seen as a rule. It went from the ridiculous to the just plain silly.

For example, men shouldn’t have long hair and women shouldn’t have short hair based on I Corinthians 11. Well, how was “long” was “too long”? Longer than the preacher’s hair, obviously. How “short” was “too short”? Shorter than his wife’s hair, obviously.

For me personally the silliest rule was that we weren’t supposed to have food in the church. We never had a fellowship meal or a potluck dinner in my childhood church. Why? Because of one single phrase ripped horribly and embarrassingly out of context from I Corinthians 11:34, “If any man is hungry, let him eat at home…”

It was absurd. We were told that everything from the popular culture was a “sin”. Movies, rock music, shorts and short skirts, women wearing slacks, dancing, alcohol, tobacco, and on and on … all sins. And for each prohibition there was a Bible verse.

I once heard a pastor say that he didn’t trust people with tattoos, because they were in violation of God’s commandments. He based this on Leviticus 19:28. However, while he was preaching he was wearing a shirt made with blended fabrics; a violation of verse 19 of the same chapter.

Go figure.

But that was then, and as I have had the opportunity to learn more about the Person of God, I see the Bible more clearly for what it really is: One book, written by One Author, telling One Story.

The Holy Spirit, the spirit of God, worked through a variety of humans to bring us the Story of God’s love for His creation. It is the Story of Jesus, and how He has made it possible for God’s creation to be restored into fellowship with Him. I now see the Bible as a narrative of that truth.

Reading the Bible with this understanding has made it even more important to me. I no longer approach it as something to be afraid of. The Story draws me closer to God, where the Rules drove a wedge between Him and me.

The Story says to tell all people of God’s love.

The Rules say to stay away from the “unrighteous”.

The Story says to love people.

The Rules say to curse those who are different.

The Story says help those in need to the extent that we are able.

The Rules say pay your tithe or God will punish you.

The Story says “for God so loved the world”.

The Rules say “God hates sinners”.

The Bible is a beautifully woven tapestry illustrating The Story.

Men have come along, taken down that tapestry, and cut it into pieces which they use to make patchwork quilts of their own design.

As they present their quilts to others they proclaim, “The Bible says!”

No.

It doesn’t.

Copyright 2014: Wayne Harmon