For a number of years, I spent a great deal of time working out and reading about nutrition. A debate about multivitamins in 2013 reminded me how quickly the advice we hear can change. It prompted a more lasting question: What can we build our lives on when human advice proves incomplete?
People learn, make mistakes, and revise their conclusions. That can be a useful part of learning, but it also reminds us of the limits of human knowledge. The larger point of this reflection is the stability of God’s Word and the confidence it gives us as we seek to follow Him.
That is one reason I am thankful for Scripture. Isaiah 40:8 contrasts fading grass and flowers with the enduring Word of God. We still need humility: our interpretations and applications can be mistaken, so we should keep studying and welcome correction. But God’s truth gives us a reliable foundation for our marriages, families, and daily decisions.
As a pastor, I take seriously the responsibility of giving counsel because people may act on it. My confidence must rest in faithfully explaining God’s Word. For a fuller study of the encouragement Scripture provides amid conflicting opinions, read Christian encouragement for difficult times.
12 Responses
At first, sorry if my English is not correct, that’s because English is not my native language. I do not know what you exactly mean with Gods Word, but if you mean the Bible: of course what is written in the Bible does not change, but our perspective on what is written does also change sometimes, II think. Otherwise “we”‘ would still believe in the same way people believed in the Middle ages and ( for example) Bible study would be of no use. Therefore I think we also can make decisions on what we call Gods Word and later regret them. I think we should be careful by firmly stating something is Gods Word.
Hello Walter. I’m sorry but I’m not exactly sure I understand what you’re saying. Yes, the Bible is God’s Word, and it doesn’t change. It says/means the same today as it did in the Middle Ages.
I mean our (human beings) interpretation of the Bible does change over time. We read the Bible in an other perspective than we did in (for example) the Middle Ages. Otherwise the theology of Thomas from Aquino would still be “leading”
Hi again Walter,
I think I understand what you’re saying. Let me ask you this: where do you think our understanding of Scripture comes from? I would say the Holy Spirit…and He hasn’t changed.
I wish all topics were as easy as vitamins/no vitamins. I anticipate as christians we
are really going to suffer the wrath of world as we continue to stand firm on no abortion, no same sex marriage and only One Way to heaven ;-)
I agree Vicki. Many people already suffer as they take these stands with their family members.
A good multi vitamin is cheap insurance to combat vitamin deficiency problems which are many (B complex in particular)! A blanket statement that vitamins are bad is irresponsible, not progressive ;) Too much of some individual vitamins/minerals can be harmful, but not a multi and that’s not the message we all heard. Linus Pauling received the Nobel prize for his work re vitamin C and the common cold and is considered one of the most important scientist of the 20th century.
Well said, thanks Steve! I still took my vitamins this morning :).
So true! I remember getting a hard time over our exclusive use of butter. (NO MARGARINE IN THIS HOUSEHOLD!) Now the ones that did that are touting butter as a good thing. Then there was our use of canola and olive oil. Come to find out canola oil is no good, olive oil is still good! Then there is the ever changing world of psychology and sociology and, and, and… well, I’m right there with you! The ONLY thing we can count on is the WORD OF GOD!
Lori, funny you mentioned psychology, sociology, etc because I felt like I could’ve really lengthened this post by going on to the myriad of other things that change too. I used vitamins as an example, but I can’t tell you how many other times the same thing has happened in other areas of my life.
I know it is neither here nor there to your topic of ever changing world stuff vs. never changing Word stuff… but my nurse friend says the nursing industry calls vitamins “bed-pan bullets”. Not much good comes from most vitamins on their way out LOL!!! (Yes, I still take my supplements everyone, so don’t hate on me!)
Lori, you definitely got the gist of my post that it was about the unchanging truth of God’s Word…but the funny thing is the majority of the comments have been about vitamins :).