The Bible—Can You Trust Its Message?

What If the Bible Has Been Misrepresented?

Can you trust a book that people have sometimes used to hurt your people?

That question deserves an honest answer.

Bibles were present in some places where Native children were separated from their families, punished for speaking their languages, and taught to feel ashamed of their identity. Religious leaders sometimes quoted Scripture while supporting actions that caused deep harm.

Holding a Bible does not prove that someone is following its teachings.

The Bible itself condemns oppression, dishonesty, kidnapping, prejudice, and the abuse of children. People can quote a verse while ignoring the character of the Creator revealed throughout Scripture.

The wrong actions of a reader do not make the Bible wrong. They show why everyone’s beliefs and actions must be tested by what the Bible actually says.

This guide invites you to examine its message for yourself.

What Is the Bible?

The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by many people over many centuries.

It contains:

• History
• Poetry and songs
• Laws and instructions
• Personal stories
• Wisdom
• Prophecy
• Letters
• Eyewitness accounts of Jesus

Its writers lived in different times, places, and circumstances. They included shepherds, kings, prophets, fishermen, physicians, government workers, and prisoners.

Most of them never met one another. Yet their writings tell one connected story: the Creator made humanity for relationship, sin brought separation and death, and God is working through Jesus to rescue people and restore creation.

Where Did the Bible Come From?

Read 2 Timothy 3:16–17 ↗.

This passage says that Scripture is inspired by God. The word translated “inspired” carries the idea of something breathed out by God.

The Creator worked through human writers to communicate His message.

Read 2 Peter 1:20–21 ↗.

The writers were guided by the Holy Spirit. God did not remove their personalities, backgrounds, or writing styles. David wrote poetry. Solomon recorded wisdom. Luke carefully investigated history. Paul wrote letters addressing real situations.

The Holy Spirit guided these different people so that Scripture would faithfully reveal the truth God wanted humanity to receive.

The Bible has human voices, but its message comes from the Creator.

Does the Bible Belong to One Culture?

The Bible did not begin in Europe or North America. Its human writers came primarily from the ancient Middle East and lived within Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Roman settings.

The Bible was written within real cultures, but its authority stands above every culture.

It examines Native cultures, European cultures, modern American culture, religious culture, and every other human way of life by the same standard.

The Creator affirms what reflects truth, justice, faithfulness, compassion, and love. He also confronts whatever produces greed, cruelty, abuse, dishonesty, or separation from Him.

No culture is treated as perfect. No culture is given the right to control another.

Read Acts 10:34–35 ↗ and Revelation 14:6 ↗.

God does not show racial favoritism. His message is intended for every nation, tribe, language, and people.

You do not have to adopt another culture before you can read, understand, or respond to the Bible.

Does the Bible Defend What Happened to Native People?

Consider what Scripture says.

Read Exodus 21:16 ↗.

God condemned kidnapping and selling human beings.

Read Isaiah 10:1–2 ↗.

God spoke against leaders who created unjust laws and denied vulnerable people their rights.

Read James 2:1–9 ↗.

The Bible condemns treating one group as more valuable than another.

Read Matthew 18:5–6 ↗.

Jesus gave a serious warning against harming children.

Read Mark 7:6–9 ↗.

Jesus confronted religious leaders who used human traditions to avoid obeying God.

Taking children, destroying families, using force to change beliefs, and producing shame about a person’s ancestry do not reflect these teachings.

People may use religious words while disobeying the Creator. That is why Jesus said we should examine the fruit produced by a person’s life.

Read Matthew 7:15–20 ↗.

A teaching should be judged by whether it agrees with Scripture and produces the character of Jesus.

Why Take the Bible Seriously?

It tells one connected story

The Bible was written through many people, yet its books connect around the same central story.

Creation explains where we came from. The entrance of sin explains why our world is broken. The prophets reveal God’s plan to rescue humanity. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus stand at the center. Prophecy points toward His return and the restoration of creation.

Each part helps explain the others.

It does not hide human failure

The Bible records the failures of its own leaders.

Noah became drunk. Abraham acted dishonestly. Jacob deceived his family. Moses lost his temper. David abused his power. Peter denied Jesus.

The Bible does not rewrite history to make its important people look perfect. It shows both their faith and their failures.

This honesty helps us see that the Bible’s heroes needed the Creator’s mercy just as much as we do.

Its prophecies reach beyond their own time

Read Isaiah 46:9–10 ↗.

God says He can reveal what will happen before it takes place.

Scripture contains prophecies about the rise and fall of kingdoms, the coming of Jesus, and events that will take place before He returns. Later guides will examine several of these prophecies carefully.

Prophecy is not given merely to satisfy curiosity. It shows that history is not beyond the Creator’s knowledge or control.

Jesus trusted Scripture

Read Matthew 4:1–10 ↗.

When Jesus was tempted, He answered with Scripture. He treated God’s Word as trustworthy and authoritative.

Read John 5:39 ↗ and Luke 24:27 ↗.

Jesus taught that Scripture points toward Him. The clearest purpose of the Bible is to help us know the Creator through Jesus.

It changes lives

Read Hebrews 4:12 ↗.

The Bible does more than provide information. The Holy Spirit uses it to uncover our motives, correct our thinking, expose sin, and give hope.

A verse written centuries ago can speak directly to a struggle you are facing today.

This does not mean every passage will be easy to understand. It means the Creator can use His Word to change the direction of your life.

What About Difficult Passages?

Some parts of the Bible are difficult. You may find descriptions of war, judgment, slavery, family conflict, or actions that seem confusing.

The Bible sometimes records behavior without approving it. Describing what someone did is not the same as commanding us to do it.

Other passages contain instructions given to a specific people at a particular time. Understanding the setting can help us recognize the lasting principle.

You do not have to hide your questions. Careful questions can lead to deeper understanding.

When a passage is difficult:

• Read the verses before and after it.
• Ask who was speaking and who was listening.
• Learn what was happening at that time.
• Compare the passage with other Bible passages.
• Look for the character of God revealed through Jesus.
• Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding.
• Avoid building an entire belief on one isolated verse.

The Bible should be studied as a whole.

Can You Trust Every Religious Teacher?

The Bible does not ask you to give another person control over your mind.

Read Acts 17:10–12 ↗.

The people of Berea listened to Paul, but they also examined Scripture every day to see whether his teaching was true. The Bible calls them noble for doing so.

You have the right and responsibility to examine what any pastor, teacher, podcast host, or religious organization says.

Do not accept a teaching only because someone speaks with confidence, has a title, tells an emotional story, or quotes one verse.

Ask:

• Does this teaching agree with the whole Bible?
• Does it reveal the character of Jesus?
• Does it produce love, truth, humility, and freedom from sin?
• Is the teacher willing to be questioned?
• Is anyone using fear, shame, money, or authority to control me?

Truth does not need to silence honest questions.

How Should You Begin Reading the Bible?

You do not have to begin on page one and understand everything at once.

Start with Jesus.

The Gospel of John is a good place to begin. It explains who Jesus is, why He came, and what it means to trust Him.

Before you read, pray:

“Creator, guide me through Your Spirit. Help me understand what is true. Show me what this passage teaches about You and how I should respond.”

Then ask four simple questions:

1. What does the passage actually say?
2. What does it show me about the Creator?
3. What does it show me about people?
4. What truth can I put into practice today?

Give yourself time. A relationship with the Creator grows through regular attention, honesty, and trust.

What If You Do Not Own a Bible?

You can read the Bible online or through a free Bible app. Choose a translation that uses language you can understand.

Different translations may use slightly different words because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Comparing two clear translations can help when a verse is difficult.

The goal is not to find a mysterious hidden message. Begin with the plain meaning of the passage and allow Scripture to explain Scripture.

Think About It

Write your answers in your own words.

1. What experiences have shaped the way you feel about the Bible?
2. Have you seen Scripture used to help people, harm people, or both?
3. What is the difference between the Bible’s message and the behavior of someone who owns a Bible?
4. Which reason for taking the Bible seriously was most meaningful to you?
5. What question about Scripture would you like these guides to answer?
6. How can you test what a religious teacher says?
7. What could help you make Bible reading part of your week?

Try This During the Coming Week

Set aside ten quiet minutes on four different days.

Read one passage each time:

• Day 1: Psalm 19:7–11 ↗
• Day 2: Luke 4:16–21 ↗
• Day 3: John 1:1–18 ↗
• Day 4: John 3:1–21 ↗

After reading, write down:

• What did I learn about the Creator?
• What did I learn about Jesus?
• What part was clear?
• What question do I still have?
• Is there one truth I can practice today?

Do not rush. The goal is to listen carefully to what the passage says.

A Prayer You Can Pray

Creator God, thank You for giving us Your Word. I know people have sometimes used the Bible in ways that caused harm. Help me separate human misuse from Your true message. Guide me through the Holy Spirit as I read. Give me wisdom to recognize truth, courage to ask honest questions, and a willing heart to follow what You show me. Help me see Your character clearly through Jesus. Amen.

Remember This

The Bible is a collection of 66 books with one connected message.

The Holy Spirit guided its human writers.

The Bible belongs to no single race, nation, or culture.

Its authority stands above every human culture and institution.

The Bible condemns oppression, prejudice, abuse, and religious hypocrisy.

You have the right to test every teaching by Scripture.

The central purpose of the Bible is to help you know the Creator through Jesus.

Coming Next

Lesson 5: Where Evil Began

If the Creator is good, where did evil come from? The next lesson reveals the hidden conflict behind suffering, deception, and the brokenness in our world.