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Be Careful and Discerning
"The Bible Project" had a post recently that stated through a reel, "For those of us who follow Jesus we have a book. It isn't a theology book. It isn't a rule book. (rule book is crossed out in the video--JW) This book is a story of God and humanity, a story Jesus said He was fulfilling. This book contains poems, riddles, letters, puzzling narratives, and new ideas. Yet, throughout it all, this book is full of the breath of God. For those of us who follow Jesus this book is a treasure, this book is a tree of life, this book is a page-turner. Turn the page with us."
There is some material from The Bible Project that is very well-done. The graphics look great. Their visuals and some of their Bible book overviews are concise and helpful. Yet, make no mistake, the Bible Project does push an agenda that I've noticed and that I'm afraid many find appealing. They are encouraging people to see the Bible through a "new paradigm" (one of their podcasts). As the above promo indicates, they are projecting the idea that the Bible as "a rule book" is unbiblical and that we should be more focused on "the story of Jesus." Thus, it would seem, anyone who would reference the "rules" of Scripture is viewed as being blind to the big picture of the Bible and missing the point. These ideas are creeping into many popular writings of authors today. These types of statements are being parroted by many and they are legion. Personally, I know several Christians who follow "The Bible Project" religiously and are recommending them openly (some of them secretly).
As a result, many Christians are copycatting these same agendas in local churches and providing helpful promotion to the Bible Project and those authors, preachers, podcasters, etc. with similar ideas.
Please consider this if you've swallowed the ideas being pushed in the above promo. I'd beg you to be more discerning about what you hear and share and promote. This idea of diminishing the Bible as a "rule book" while just being a book about the "new ideas" of Jesus is blatantly misleading. It is preaching another Jesus. If you believe the Bible is a book about Jesus at all, you must believe it is also a book about HIS RULE. We should be careful not to rebuke the idea that rules are most certainly contained in Scripture. The very role of Jesus in prophecy and in reality implies no less. For example…
Jesus is the one Psalm 2 declares as "My KING on My holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6). This is connected to His "RULE" in Psalm 2:8-9 (quoted also in Revelation 2:27).
Jesus is the One declared to king David whose "KINGDOM" and "throne" would be "established forever" (2 Samuel 7:13, 16).
Jesus is the One Isaiah 9:6-7 points to stating, "the GOVERNMENT will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the THRONE of David and over His KINGDOM to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever…"
Jesus is the One who declared to Pilate, "You say rightly that I am a KING" (John 18:37).
When crucified, on the cross of Jesus, Pilate wrote an inscription stating, "Jesus of Nazareth, the KING of the Jews" (John 19:19).
As Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus declared, "All AUTHORITY has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).
When Peter first preached Jesus, He noted the prophecy of David indicating God "would raise up the Christ to sit on his THRONE…" and declared Jesus as "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:30, 36).
As Paul wrote to Colosse, he reminded them they had been "delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the KINGDOM of the Son of His love..." (Colossians 1:13).
Jesus is depicted in Revelation as "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (19:16).
Why does all of this matter? The very idea we would try to pretend the Bible is a book about the story of Jesus, while disconnecting Jesus from His rule is incredibly dangerous. This presents itself in various forms in today's jargon—doctrines of grace devoid of obedience (see Titus 2:11-14). The gospel separated from doctrine (see both terms used in the same context of 1 Timothy 1:10-11). Love without law (see Revelation 3:19). Jesus as king without His rules. We need to be very cautious of these false teachings and understand the Bible, not through the catchy promos of popular influencers, but through the inspired teachings themselves.
Because the Bible points to, portrays, and preaches Jesus, as the King of Kings, it inherently bids us to pay attention to the constitution of the King, the law of the Lord, the rules of the Ruler, the Head of the body. We cannot disconnect those two concepts and attempt after attempt is being made to do so.
Jesus did not disconnect those things either: "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…" (John 15:10).
Even "love" is a "commandment" — "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
Being a "friend" of Jesus is conditioned upon obedience to His rule: "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (John 15:14).
Jesus called His first disciple-makers to convert people "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20)—this connected discipleship to commands (a.k.a. "rules")
John would say, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).
Brothers and sisters, be careful. Be discerning. Be careful you are not just parroting the doctrines of your favorite influencers. Don't let social media influencers become your sacred cow. Check what you hear. But, like Paul, be able to say, "HIM WE PREACH, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:28).
