INSPIRATION
Inspiration is the belief that God moved upon men to write the Bible, as no other book has been or will be written. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The apostle Paul wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else, and his writings were considered Scripture just as those of the Old Testament. “Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15–16). “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37).
Strong’s tells us the word “inspiration” comes from two words, “God breathed,” meaning the Scriptures are not the inspiration of man but of God. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). As someone would hold an ink pen in his hand and write, so God’s apostles and prophets spoke as they were “moved” by God’s Spirit. Though the apostles wrote years after Christ had gone back to heaven, they were not left to their memory to recall what Christ had said or what had happened. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
This inspiration of God was not merely inspired thoughts. The words of the Bible are, in fact, the very words of God. Those whom God chose to write His Word were not left to put it in their own words. “Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). God was not limited to their vocabulary any more than He would have been limited when the “Lord opened the mouth” of Balaam’s donkey that spoke (Numbers 22:28–30). God raised up His men using their personalities, background, and language to communicate His Word. Again, as the analogy I used of holding a pen and writing, I have the choice of picking a pen with blue ink, or red, or whatever color I choose, but it is in my hand and “moved” by me. The writers of the Bible did not always understand what they wrote, and therefore could not possibly have been left to put it in their own words. “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8–9; see PRESERVATION; see BIBLE).
INSURANCE
Some forms of insurance, as car insurance, are mandatory, and as Christians we are to obey the laws of the land, but is it wrong for a Christian to buy other types of insurance, such as health insurance? “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). Was it wrong for Israel to have chariots or horses when they went to battle? No. But it would have been wrong for them to trust in chariots or horses or swords or their own strength. Some Christians believe it is wrong to have insurance, because they believe they are not trusting God if they have it. Though I do not believe it is wrong to have insurance, I do believe it is wrong to trust in it. Insurance companies sometime err as does any human company, and they sometimes go bankrupt. The question that needs to be asked is, “How will the bills be paid if I do not have insurance?” Will my relatives have pressure put on them to pay my bills—or will my church or friends? Would they not believe I should have had insurance as they did, thus making them feel responsible for my debts?
Inspiration is the belief that God moved upon men to write the Bible, as no other book has been or will be written. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The apostle Paul wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else, and his writings were considered Scripture just as those of the Old Testament. “Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15–16). “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37).
Strong’s tells us the word “inspiration” comes from two words, “God breathed,” meaning the Scriptures are not the inspiration of man but of God. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). As someone would hold an ink pen in his hand and write, so God’s apostles and prophets spoke as they were “moved” by God’s Spirit. Though the apostles wrote years after Christ had gone back to heaven, they were not left to their memory to recall what Christ had said or what had happened. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
This inspiration of God was not merely inspired thoughts. The words of the Bible are, in fact, the very words of God. Those whom God chose to write His Word were not left to put it in their own words. “Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). God was not limited to their vocabulary any more than He would have been limited when the “Lord opened the mouth” of Balaam’s donkey that spoke (Numbers 22:28–30). God raised up His men using their personalities, background, and language to communicate His Word. Again, as the analogy I used of holding a pen and writing, I have the choice of picking a pen with blue ink, or red, or whatever color I choose, but it is in my hand and “moved” by me. The writers of the Bible did not always understand what they wrote, and therefore could not possibly have been left to put it in their own words. “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8–9; see PRESERVATION; see BIBLE).
INSURANCE
Some forms of insurance, as car insurance, are mandatory, and as Christians we are to obey the laws of the land, but is it wrong for a Christian to buy other types of insurance, such as health insurance? “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). Was it wrong for Israel to have chariots or horses when they went to battle? No. But it would have been wrong for them to trust in chariots or horses or swords or their own strength. Some Christians believe it is wrong to have insurance, because they believe they are not trusting God if they have it. Though I do not believe it is wrong to have insurance, I do believe it is wrong to trust in it. Insurance companies sometime err as does any human company, and they sometimes go bankrupt. The question that needs to be asked is, “How will the bills be paid if I do not have insurance?” Will my relatives have pressure put on them to pay my bills—or will my church or friends? Would they not believe I should have had insurance as they did, thus making them feel responsible for my debts?
