Back in December, I started thinking about what would be the opposite of the scriptures being fragile. (See the comment conversation at – Were there really wise men?) I believe that the word of God as contained in the Old and New Testaments is both resilient and flexible.
Let me be clear that I do not advocate for using scripture to prove whatever point one may be interested in making, i.e. prooftexting. However, I do think that the story of God’s work in the world and the narrative of God’s people is not a fragile one that can be broken down by pointing to small inconsistencies. I believe that in scripture we see the best portrait of Jesus, who in turn is perhaps the clearest picture that we have of God.
What do you think?
Rev. Andrew Conard 
3 replies on “Scripture: Flexible and Resilient”
I’m reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.
He writes about viewing Scripture as jumping on a trampoline.
And how the trampoline allows us to ask questions, to move, that it bends but never gives out. And how then it allows others to come jump with us.
He then also talks about how some people view of the scripture is like a brick wall. You can’t really jump on a brick wall. And if you remove a brick, the whole wall may shatter.
I like the trampoline analogy. It shows that scripture is flexible and resilient.
Joseph – Thanks for sharing that example. I have not yet read Velvet Elvis, but I really appreciate this way of thinking about scripture.
I also believe that scripture can be flexible, as is seen in my favorite verse…Psalm 56:1, “Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me.” It just really speaks to me. ; )