When looking at the lives of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, we can identify the pillars of an effective believer and a healthy church: a commitment to the gospel, a willingness to sacrifice, a spirit of selflessness, and a deep seriousness regarding the Word of God. In this article, I want to focus on that final priority, having a deep seriousness for the Word of God and holding it in the highest possible regard. 

We often assume that everyone within “Christianity” shares a common view of the Bible. We take for granted the premise that the primary historical and spiritual authority for Christianity is the Word of God. Yet, current trends suggest a troubling shift. Statistics indicate that only about 25% of modern Christians believe the Bible is the literal, actual Word of God to be followed word-for-word. This marks a sharp decline from the 1980s when nearly 40% of the population held a high view of Scripture.

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This forces us to ask a vital question: What kind of confidence do you really have in this book calle the Bible?

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It is one thing to say, "I believe the Bible is a reliable source of history or religious instruction." It is quite another to assert that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God—and that you believe it literally from beginning to end.