(Psa 137:1-4, 8-9) By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us-- he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
This is a song of sorrow over the defeat of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. It is very sad and angry because of the suffering the people have gone through. It’s an amazing poem, but is it Holy Scripture? Is it inspired by God? Is it the Word of the Lord? I bet that last sentence makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Here’s another passage for you to think about:
(Josh 6:20-21) When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it--men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
Is this passage Holy Scripture? Did God order the death of all of the people of Jericho, and strangely enough all of the animals, as it says a few verses earlier in 6:16? Is this, along with the many passages that are like it, the Word of God?
Perhaps not. The Urantia Book uses many passages from the Bible and has praise for some of the writing, but not all. The Urantia Book quotes Jesus as saying that the Hebrew Scriptures contain the highest of human religious thought at that time but also much that is far from a true philosophy of God (1767.4). All of the writings considered scripture were written by people. Some of the people were inspired by God and some were not (1767.5). In my opinion the above passages are an example of Jesus’ reference to writings that are far from God. And I think that most people seeking truth feel uncomfortable when confronted with words that so clearly fall short. A better concept is needed to help us understand what the phrase Holy Scripture means.
The Urantia Book helps us develop this better concept by presenting us with the idea of progressive revelation. This is not a new idea, it’s been written about for a long time in theological circles. But the church has repressed the idea because it is a threat to the foundation of its bureaucratic powerbase. God’s already told us what we need to know so play ball with the church and you’ll go to heaven. Jesus told Nathaniel that “the scriptures grew in beauty” as they advance in time (1768.2). And he used as an example a comparison of the militant teachings of Samuel to the later day and more enlightened work of Isaiah. And Jesus did not present his knowledge of truth beyond the capacity of his audience to comprehend (1535.6). He understood that people must be approached with the truth at the level of their understanding. We as a people have progressed slowly in the development of our understanding of God (1598.3). But progressed we have. And the book promises that we will continue to progress as a people and as individuals under the watchful care of our heavenly Father.
Ultimately even inspired words can only go so far. It’s up to energized believers to put them into practice. Jesus required not just belief from his followers but action (1769.5). The Urantia Book speaks many times about the need for godly experience in spiritual development. Loving service to others is the main requirement of those who have entered the kingdom. And so if you were to ask me how I would discern inspired scripture from those that are less so, I would say look for those that call us to service. I would say seek out words, from whatever source, that speak of love and kindness rather than vengeance and death. I would recommend writings that inspire selfless giving – loving God and loving people. Inspired words inspire us to act in the service of others. This is truly what the Word of God looks like.
I started out with some unhappy passages from the Bible; it is only fitting to end with one that makes my heart soar.
(Psa 100) Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
God Bless You,
William Whitehead
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