"Would You Put Your Life Between The Covers Of A Book?"

Brother James Gibbons, late editor of The Sword and Staff publication, once recorded a personal testimony of a discussion he once had with a Methodist minister. Brother Gibbons was once a member of the Methodist church, but found, through a "diligent" study of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15 ASV), that their teachings regarding the mode of baptism and the baptism of babies were contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

When brother Gibbons confronted the Methodist preacher with questions regarding the above unscriptural practices, the preacher replied with the following retort: "Would you put your life between the covers of a book?”

Obviously, the Methodist preacher didn’t have much regard for the validity or the authoritative teaching of the Bible, for the Bible never mentions sprinkling as a mode of baptism, nor does it promote the baptism of babies. Unfortunately, this minister’s view of the Bible was the same view as many folks in the so-called “religious” world view it — as just another secular book authored by man.

Beloved, we dare not view the Bible as just another secular book! (cf. John 12:48; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11). We must view it as the inspired Word of God — coming directly from the mind of God to man through Holy Spirit inspired authors (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Gal. 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-6). Thus, the Methodist minister’s question posed to Brother Gibbons can be quickly answered by true followers of Christ: “Yes, I would put my life between the covers of a book, if the book is the Bible — God’s revealed and inspired word to man” (Ephesians 3:1-6; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ASV).

Like brother Gibbons, let us be willing to test all religious teachings we receive by the inspired Word of God, “searching the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so” (Acts 17:11).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets