The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-02
BY NM. E. GILROY, D. ID,

BY VIM. E. GILROY, ID. d.,
Editor of The COngregatiOnalist
xXTE have chosen as the title OF
w this lesson the topic as given
for young people and adults rather
than the general title, The Holy
Scriptures" The subject matter for
study is, of course, the same, but
the former topic gives the study
specific application and direction. It
reminds us, also, that more impor-
tant than anything else concern
ing the Bible is our practical attl-
tude toward it and our proper use
of it.
There is a great deal OF reverence
for the Bible Of a sort that is very
Intellectual and inexpensive Of the
spirit of the Bible itself. There are
those who call it the Holy" Bible
who have never given it any place
of real holiness in their lives. They
revere it as something that they
do not know or, at least, that they
do not know with any familiarity.
Such reverence is of little avail.
The Bible is a great book Of life,
and if we do not take it into our
lives, we miss altogether the very
purpose of those who wrote it and
the value of that devotion by which
the ancient book has been pre-
served for us and made available in
our English speech.
Divine Precepts
The text of our lesson might be
regarded as suitable comment upon
the theme rather than as state
ment of the theme itself. These
passages, the one from the Psalms
and the other from II Timothy, de-
fine in ancient terms the nature and
purpose of religious writings. 1t is
their purpose to convey to men the
divine precepts and to reveal the
divine law and plan concerning hui
man life.
1t is the quality of all true re-
ligious writing to be profitable for
teaching, for the proof, for correc-
ton, for instruction in righteous
ness; and it is in proportion as
writings serve that purpose, help
ing to make the man of God COM
plete and furnished unto all good
works." that such writings are char
acterized by inspiration.
Inspiration is not some strange
maggie that impartS to a writing
divine character. On the contrary
it is the divine quality of the writ
ing that constitutes its inspiration;
and the Bible, like everything else
in the world, must stand vindicated
ultimately by it's essential nature
and by it's effect upon human life.
Has it really been means of max
ing men better? Has it been an
agency in bringing men to God?
To ask such questions is almost
Immediately to give the answer.
In these days we are laying much
more stress than formerly upon the
human element in the scriptures.
We are coming to see how these
scriptures had their origin in hui
man experience, that holy men of
God spake as the spirit moved
them because they were holy and
because they had visioned and ex-
perienced in their own lives the
truth which thy declared.
The Bible takes on a new mean
ing when we see it in this light.
1t becomes a great record not only
of Gods revelation of himself, but
a record of that revelation as a re-
Spouse to mans restless quest of
the divine.
Not Meant as Oracle
The student who reads his Bible
without taking into account the con-
ditions of its origin and the
progressive nature of it's records is
sure to miss the meaning of the
Bible for today.
The Bible was never intended to
be an oracle for mans life, taking
the place of the Holy Spirit. Its
purpose is to be not a barrier be-
tween man and God, but a means
Of bringing men to God and of
leading them into that spiritual ex-
perience where through COM
munion with God they may find the
guidance and help of his Holy
Spirit. This is the supreme teach
ing Of the Bible itself
1t finds it's eliminating point in
the record of the life of Jesus of
Nazareth who is the way, the truth
and the life, and in its revelation
of the work Of the Holy Spirit, con-
tinuing in the souls of believers all
that the disciples found in Christ's
early presence and more. Tt is as
the Bible produces this climax of
experience in our own lives that we
find it's full meaning for us and
drink most deeply of the fountain