OK, so it wasn\u2019t funny. But a commenter on the _awakening blog<\/a>, where my post about fundamentalism being fundamentally unbiblical<\/a> is being discussed, asked what the agenda is behind pointing out the Bible\u2019s errancy. Here\u2019s what I left as a comment in answer to that question:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019ll chime in with what my<\/em> agenda is. I want Christians to accept the Bible for what it is<\/a>, not impose on it claims about the Bible that are inaccurate<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is important for multiple reasons:<\/p>\n First, when people are told \u201cEither the Bible is the inerrant Word of God or a bunch of garbage that you can simply throw out\u201d, and then discover the difficulties and discrepancies in the Bible, guess what they do? It\u2019s a self-fulfilling prophecy, you might say. Fundamentalism\u2019s false claims about the Bible have driven many people away from faith altogether, because it not only lies about what the Bible is, but also lies about there being only one other option.<\/p>\n Second, it is important because, if we ask why people believe the Bible is inerrant, in most cases it is because they don\u2019t know any better. They have never studied the Bible in sufficient depth or detail to know better. And so what ends up happening is that they believe what a particular preacher or author says that the Bible says (and says inerrantly). That puts too much power<\/a> into those preachers\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n Third, attributing inerrancy to the Bible is idolatry<\/a>. It takes an attribute of God and attributes it to something that is clearly part of the created order.<\/p>\n Fourth, and most basic, is honesty<\/a>. Unless one thinks it is appropriate to lie, cheat, steal and deceive in order to win people to Christianity, then being honest about what the Bible is<\/a> is nothing more than living according to the commandment not to bear false witness.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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