Billy Graham had a catchphrase — “The Bible says….” If you are a Christian of a certain age, you can close your eyes and hear that lovely Carolina accent saying those words with a heavy emphasis on “Bible.” But when Billy burst into the national consciousness in the late 1940s, he preached to a dramatically different nation. Back then, most people at least respected the Bible and, at some level, viewed it as authoritative.
Today, people have been programmed to see the Bible as a collection of oppressive myths — no more true or holy than the collective works of Steve Martin. “The Bible says…” does not carry the weight it did with previous generations of Americans. For this reason, some Christian ministers have concluded that the Bible should no longer be the centerpiece of evangelism. They could not be more wrong.
Such preachers turn to political and cultural tools of persuasion. They choose inoffensive messages designed to show that they “get it.” They persuade using the sole authority of academia and media. Some focus on themselves and the force of their own personalities.
The Bible says [yes, I used that phrase] that a great falling away from the faith will happen not long before the return of Jesus. Organizations and people claiming to follow Christ will become increasingly distant from the real Jesus. They will replace Him with “another gospel,” one shaped by the ever-changing winds of moral fashion. What the Bible says will matter less and less.
That does not mean we use 18th century language to communicate with 21st century people. An evangelical is, by definition, a missionary. And missionaries learn the language of the culture to which they minister. If no Bible exists in that culture’s language, they translate the Bible for them. We learn the language of our culture to present the gospel in a way that people can understand. That language extends to every part of the lives we live. You and I are the Bible translation our neighbors are most likely to read.
Translate the Bible so it can be understood by the culture. But do not try to transform the Bible into something the culture will like or applaud. As purely and simply as possible, translate God’s love, His caring, His warnings, His standards, and His good news of forgiveness and redemption.
And do not abandon the Bible. The phrase, “The Bible says…” may not mean today what it did to Americans 75 years ago. But what Billy Graham said next is as powerful now as ever. He would follow that phrase with scripture. And the power of God’s Word cannot be diminished by time.
How can the Bible be powerful to people who don’t believe it? The Bible compares itself to a sword. Five times the book of Revelation describes Jesus having a sword coming out of His mouth. His words are the words of God. A sword’s sharpness does not depend on people’s belief in its sharpness. A soldier doesn’t need to convince people that an M4A1 Carbine is powerful. It has the same effect whether they believe it or not.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit.” Use the Bible because it is living and powerful. Even with those who do not yet believe it is true; it pierces into the innermost being — not to kill or destroy, but to bring life and liberty.
“The Bible says…” remains central to the Christian message.
