This website is devoted to the proposition that the Word is alive! In a culture that often fails to define or clarify terms, I don’t want to make that mistake. The Word has a dual meaning. The Word is a person. The Word is God who made his appearance on earth in the person of Jesus Christ. As the apostle, John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:1,14).
How do you account for the existence of Christianity and the over 2.3 billion people globally who identify themselves as Jesus’ followers? The only claim ever made by those starting the church was that Jesus, though he had been crucified and buried — in other words, he was “dead dead” — is now very much alive. The medical doctor and historian Luke who carefully researched that claim wrote, “After his suffering, he (Jesus) presented himself to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). That forty days was ample time for deluded followers to come to their senses, or for doubters and skeptics to factually refute Jesus’ resurrection.
Because no one could, Christianity has grown to be the largest worldwide religious movement. For some the historical, credibility, logical, and legal proofs are too strong to deny. For others, they have experienced the transforming power of Jesus in a personal way that has positively reshaped their worldview. No one is going to undo that experience.
Jesus of Nazareth, the eternal God, is the Word. He is alive. For sure! He has been my teacher, guide, confidant, and help through the best of times and the worst of times for over five decades. His presence in my life is too large and real to question.
The Word also refers to the Christian Bible. For a beginner, the Bible can seem like a strange world. However, for the beginner who has the good fortune to not only start reading Scripture but who receives some guidance and direction from an informed instructor, the Bible explodes with relevance and seems like the home we always looked for.
The Bible is an amazing collection of writings bound together by a single theme. The Scriptures consist of sixty-six books or letters, written over 1,500 years, in three different languages now translated into English, and written by forty people. The single theme revolves around God’s desire to draw us into a covenant or agreement with him centered on mutual love, where God promises to bless us eternally and where we promise to trust him implicitly, obeying him joyfully.
I have often asked my university students, “Who among you could put together a project plan that extends over 1,500 years using different languages and so many different people, then expect it to be completely successfully?” Most see quickly how ludicrous that is. Yet, our Bible is the result of just such a project. Only God could pull that off, and he has.
Through the written Word, God continues to pour out his instruction, his promises, and his expectations for his followers — for us. And that word is alive – for sure! The writer of Hebrews knew that. He wrote, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). In Paul’s words, Scripture is inspired by God or God-breathed. It teaches us, rebukes us, corrects us, and trains us in right thinking and right behavior. It thoroughly equips us for every good work (2 timothy 3:16-17).
The divine Word, Jesus, speaks to us through the living Word of Scripture. This blog over time will speak to many different issues and topics. New entries will normally appear every couple of weeks, sometimes more, sometimes less. I will always notify you through Facebook and Twitter when a new one is posted. But know this. This website is devoted to the proposition that the Word is alive – for sure!