‘God’s Word’ is a widely used phrase that means different things.

1. Sometimes it simply means ‘The Bible’. It’s a sort of shorthand, but I think this may give a wrong impression. As if it were a series of sermons spoken or written by God, and/or a set of instructions from God. It doesn’t do justice to the variety of biblical writings over many centuries from many ancient historical settings and radically different cultures.
2. Our world is full of searchers. People looking for answers to life’s big questions. I often wonder what these searchers think in Christian communities when they hear the Bible spoken of as ‘God’s Word’. I’m all for the awesome respect that may bring. But while many parts of the Bible will speak immediately and deeply to us, especially as we are guided in early stages of faith, the reality of engaging with the whole Bible is much more complex, particularly as to how it is, or becomes, God’s Word to us. Sometimes the phrase can be used to shut down our questioning.
3. Of course, the Bible needs to be read (in public or private) to become God’s word for us today. It doesn’t happen by looking at the cover or touching it! In many church services the reader may finish a Bible reading by saying: “This is the Word of the Lord” and the congregation respond saying “Thanks be to God”. Reading any biblical passage (aloud or not) carries the potential for it to become God’s word to us. It may or may not require further study, explanation or preaching to bring it alive.

I have often heard a reading in Church finish with: “This is the Word of the Lord” and thought: ‘yes, at one time, but it’s way off the mark in this time and place.’ And then if the preacher avoids speaking about the difficult reading, I wonder what on earth the congregation (and especially a visitor) ends up thinking when the passage is a weird one from the Book of Revelation, or some difficult teaching about, for example, divorce, or women keeping silent in Church or the total annihilation of the enemy in an OT reading.

I love an alternative suggested by the Iona community at the beginning of a Bible reading: “Let us listen for the Word of the Lord” and the congregation respond: “Our ears are open”.

4. But above all, JESUS IS GOD’S WORD. Without the Bible we would know little of Jesus. I like the image of the Bible as the clothes (as in the nativity story) which are unfolded to reveal Jesus.  He is the supreme ‘Word of God’ as written in the opening verses of John’s Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The passage goes on to assert: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (The Greek word translated ‘Word’ is ‘Logos’ which also means ‘Message’)

THE BRASS EAGLE IN CHURCH

Otley Parish Church, like many Churches, has a large brass lectern, with a big brass eagle on top, where the Bible is placed and from which it is read in Church services.

Children from our local schools would come for class visits to the church, and one of their questions would often be – why is that bird there?

I would explain the use of the lectern and hold up the Bible saying something like: “It’s a wonderful book. The Bible has changed the world, and the lives of countless people, for good.  But nothing happens unless it’s read and enters people’s hearts. The eagle reminds us that the words on the page need to take wings and fly into our hearts, and that’s what the eagle is for – to carry the words into our hearts.”