THE BOOK THAT CHANGES THE WORLD

Why has the Bible been banned in so places? Why do people fear it? Why is the Bible the only book that over the years and until this day is criticized, ridiculed, discredited by atheists, agnostics and scoffers? They try to point out errors and inconsistencies. They try to discredit it by pulling things out context. I doubt that most of them have read the entire Bible, yet they set themselves up as authorities on the subject.  

Contrast that with those of us who not only think of the Bible as containing the Word of God but that it is the Word of God. We consider it Truth. Jesus said “The Truth will set you free”. We consider it absolutely dependable. We use it daily for inspiration and to gain endless insights into how to manage our lives. It is a book that guides us and changes our lives.

Why do doubters feel so strongly opposed to the Bible? Maybe it is because the Bible teaches that men are free and to be under the control of God  and only accountable to him. It is a question of who is in charge. Men and governments have an innate propensity to want to be in control. The Scriptures teach that men should only put themselves under earthly powers voluntarily. Bible believers believe that we should be accountable to society or the government or some other power but only with  their own consent.

Looking at history we can see how this book has changed the world.

In 1522 Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) opened the Scriptures to the common man by translating it into German, a readable language that the common man could understand. Once the people could interpret the Scriptures, the power of the abuses of The Catholic Church was broken and the people were set free to worship God as their conscience led them. They saw that the required attendance at Mass was works not grace, that Jesus was the mediator between God and man not the Priest, that grace did not require penance, and that the selling of indulgences was a money making scam. The Bible changed the course of human history.

William Tyndale (1494 – 1536) translated the Greek and Hebrew into English. The King of England, Henry VIII, was angry with him because he knew the Bible would undermine his authority. Tyndale was imprisoned, beaten, exiled, and finally burned-at- the-stake for his work. Anyone caught reading his version of the Bible was burned-at-the- stake, and many were. But once people were able to read the Bible  they understood freedom. How could one book be such a big issue? Because it could change the world.

Our founding fathers were greatly influenced with the thinking of The Enlightenment (1648 – 1789) and referred to it in the Declaration of Independence as “Nature” and “Nature’s God”. Scholars were convinced that all of God’s creation was rational so that it was possible for man to uncover laws which regulated society, politics, the economy, and even morality. The thought process of the Enlightenment was based on the Biblical account of creation where God made man in his own image. This meant that man could reason, imagine, and had a memory similar to God’s. It also meant that he could fill his mind with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. If men had freedom, they had unlimited potential. They knew that human beings were all created equal as a right. If man had the freedom to pursue his own best interests everyone would benefit. This was based on Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” idea of which the founders were well aware.

The Enlightenment also implied that God was a God of new things. Creating things like the universe and planet earth and revealing new things like mans discoveries – the wheel, magnetism, AC and DC electricity, AM and FM radio waves, air flight, the atom and nuclear fusion, silicon for computer chips, genetics and DNA, sending a man to the moon, and using unmanned space craft to explore the universe to just name a few things.

They also knew that if we all start off  with equal opportunity that some would better use their freedom causing unequal results. When you give life and liberty to people the producing of wealth is natural. It also requires people with Biblical virtues to have a just society. Consequently, Congress authorized the printing of Bibles for distribution to the public schools.  These unequal results drive the culture. This has produced the wealthiest and most culturally rich nation the world has ever experienced.

A man working in Mexico can earn $2.00 a day for his work. If he were in the United States he could earn $50 to $100 a day. Why the difference? Because we have economic, political, personal, and cultural freedom that promotes productivity that makes human capital more important than financial capital.

When there is revolution the tyrants or religious leaders take over and people’s freedom is lost.  In the past and in the present wherever the Bible goes people gain economic, political and personal  freedom. It changes a culture that benefits the people by reducing poverty, building families, and creating a more just society. It is this book that changes the world.

 Following the end of World War II Korea was divided into two counties, North and South. In 1950 North Korea invaded the South and by the end of fighting in 1953 both countries were in ashes.

Today North Korea is ruled by a tyrant who took total control. All personal, economic, and religious freedom has been lost. Bible Believers and those who found hiding a Bible are arrested and sent to Concentration Camps. There are estimated to be 200,000 people in these camps where they are worked to death. Due to government control over agriculture the country cannot even produce enough food to feed the people and there is starvation. Lack of electricity makes the whole country dark at night. Where there are not any Bibles the people suffer.

South Korea, where there is religious and economic freedom is thriving. Its economy is ranked 12^th  in the world (North Korea is ranked 125th) and there are 13 million Bible Believers, 30% of the population. Where the Bible is allowed people flourish because it is this book that changes the world.