Sandophobia

A sideways look at the importance of building our lives on the foundation of God’s word, as well as the cost of doing so. I also explain the intriguing title to this article.

I once asked God what the banner headline over my life was. Instantly the phrase, ‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ popped into my head.

I smiled to myself. How well the Holy Spirit knew me.

Even prior to becoming a Christian, truth was a strong value for me and I wasn’t afraid to give voice to it. For example, back in my youth I had a local councillor come to my home to berate me for having the temerity to call into question the integrity of a decision our borough council had made.

It’s interesting how some of the inherent natural qualities we have are harnessed by God when we give our lives to him. And for me it was this value of truth. By which I don’t just mean honesty or even integrity but the truth of God’s word.

For as long as I’ve been a Christian my guiding principle for approaching the Bible is that it is true and to be trusted. You’d think that this would be a given for all Christians in that we are called believers, but sadly this is not always the case.

In this regard, I was recently reflecting on the familiar parable about the wise and foolish builders. Jesus was making the point that putting our faith in the word of God was foundational, in every sense.

It’s a parable about which sermons have been preached, songs have been sung and books have been written. In spite of this, it’s a message that isn’t always adhered to.

Having instant access to the theology of so many people, courtesy of social media, I am constantly astounded at the offence some Christians take at the word of God.

Even to the degree that it can sometimes feel like you’re putting your head above the parapet in simply stating what the Bible has to say on a particular subject, putting to one side any comment you may wish to add to it.

In an age where offence often leads to cheap accusative monikers - phobic this, that or the other - I could readily imagine ‘sandophobic’ being added to its numbers. Those who resolutely believe that the Bible is true and to be trusted, like the wise man who built his house upon the rock, but whose stance is perceived by those who’ve built their life upon the sand as harsh, judgemental and contemptible.

That’s not to say that the Bible isn’t to be explored and understood.

But to be mined, not undermined.

Once more, I can sometimes feel the anger on social media when a Christian simply stands by the truth of a certain scripture. How dare they!

The blanket statement that is invariably rolled out is that love trumps everything. So long as you love people, that’s all that matters. But that’s not what Jesus taught. On bringing affirmation and acceptance to the woman caught in adultery he added “sin no more”.

Jesus also said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15. If we are to receive him as the Way and the Life we must also receive him as the Truth. He is the Word and his word is truth.

How can such clear truths be ignored or twisted?

I can’t answer that specific to every person but the Bible does warn us that in the last days even the elect will be deceived. Whilst it speaks of this in terms of false prophets and false messiahs, I’d propose that this deception will also include the deception of diluting, distorting or even dismissing the word of God.

Of course, this is nothing new. Christians throughout history have redacted and revised scripture to suit tradition, preference and prejudice. Having said that, it seems to me that the attack on biblical truth has become more aggressive than ever, from within and from without the body of Christ.

What is the solution? It starts with us.

We have to be those who know to the core of our being that the Bible is true and to be trusted.

As we minister the truth of God’s word, over the bridge of love, we will be positioned to help those whose lives are broken and despoiled to likewise place their trust in Jesus and in his word.