That view of the power of the Bible’s message
became muddled, however, when the foretold apostasy took root after the death
of the apostles. (2 Pet. 2:1-3) In time, church leaders started to
attribute magical powers to God’s Word. Professor Harry Y. Gamble wrote
about “the magical use of Christian texts.” He noted that in the third century,
Church Father Origen suggested that “the very sound of sacred words in the ear
is somehow beneficial: if words have power in pagan magic, how much more
powerful must be the truly divine words of scripture.” John Chrysostom of the
late fourth century wrote that “the devil will not dare to approach a house
where a Gospel is lying.” He also reported that some hung excerpts from the
Gospels from their necks as a powerful amulet. Professor Gamble further noted
that the Catholic theologian Augustine “considered it permissible in case of a
headache to sleep with a copy of the Gospel of John under one’s pillow”! Thus
Bible texts were employed for magical purposes. Would you consider the Bible to
be an amulet, or a good-luck charm, that could protect you from evil?
Perhaps a more common misuse of the Bible is
the practice of bibliomancy. What is that? It refers to opening at random a
book, often the Bible, and reading the text that first meets the eye in the
belief that those words will provide needed guidance. For example, according to
Professor Gamble, when Augustine on one occasion heard the voice of a child in
a neighboring house saying: “Take and read, take and read,” Augustine took that
to be a divine command to open the Bible and read the first text that he saw.
Have you heard of people who when facing a
difficult situation prayed to God and then opened the Bible at random,
believing that the first verse they saw would help them cope with the problem?
Although they may have had good intentions, that is not the way Christians
should seek guidance from the Scriptures.
Jesus assured his disciples that he would
send them “the helper, the holy spirit.” He continued: “That one will teach you
all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.”
(John 14:26) In contrast, bibliomancy requires no knowledge of the Scriptures.
The practice of bibliomancy and other
superstitious uses of the Bible are common. God’s Word, however, condemns
looking for omens. (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:9-12; Acts 19:19) “The word of God is
alive and exerts power,” but we must be skilled in the use of it. Accurate
Bible knowledge, not using the book superstitiously, improves people’s lives.
Obtaining such knowledge has helped many to develop sound morals, to abandon
ruinous lifestyles, to strengthen family life, and to nurture a personal
relationship with the Bible’s Author.
For more informative articles please go to www.jw.org
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