Don't You Dare Take A Red Pen To It!

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:13







I want to let you know where this "taking the red pen" thought came from. It came from a recent published excellent book which you should consider obtaining and reading: Lutheranism 101, Concordia Publishing House (cph.org) Discussing the solas (alones) of the Reformation, it states: "We believe the Bible is God's perfect Word; therefore, we don't approach the Scriptures with a red pen!"

How utterly tragic and misleading it is for those who would take the "red pen" of academia and logic and learning to the Bible to stand over it as its critic, rather than to be under it as God's sacred revelation of the truth to humanity. Such is the tone in much of our country these days, to see the Bible as only a flawed human document. Under this approach everything is challenged as to: did God really say this?

Paul rejoices in the Thessalonian Christians who did not accept this role of judging and critiquing the Word of God, of not accepting it as " the word of men" but "what it really is, the word of God." Strangely enough, much of our modern day "red penned critics" proclaim that Paul is the very one who at the least embellished the actual historical truth. Yet this great apostle here flatly denies this!

Those of us today who believe with Paul and the Thessalonians this letter is addressed to that the Bible is God's Word to us and that it is now "at work in you believers," know that is working this very moment as it always has to bring us to saving faith in Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and is also sustaining this faith to eternity through this same Word. As he writes in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "because our gospel came to you in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

We should also go further to express that "taking the red pen" to God's Word can and does happen in other ways than just letting our human intelligence rule over it. We can and do at times let our emotions and experiences do the same damaging, faith destroying "red pen" editing of God's Word, adding and subtracting at will what God has said to us. In these cases also, we are thus using it not as His revealed Word but the Word under our control.

Whether we take the "red pen" of intelligence, emotions or experience to God's Word , they each lead us from what God intended and gave His powerful, saving Word to be for us: bring us to see Christ as our Light that removes all the darkness of our sin by grace through faith. May the Holy Spirit continue to allow us to be fervent witnesses of God's Word which continues to lead us forth in the victory of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.