Do I need to agree with everything in the Bible?
The Devotional Answer
The simple answer is that the goal of reading the Bible is not to immediately agree with it based on your feelings, but to humbly submit to it because you trust the Author. Think of the Bible as the instruction manual for the universe, written by the Engineer.
If you are reading it and find a part that seems difficult, unfair, or confusing, it is an invitation to pray and ask, "God, help me understand Your wisdom behind this, because I trust that You are good." When the Bible challenges our personal opinions, it is often showing us where God wants to stretch us and change our thinking.
The Simple Answer
Yes, you should aim to agree with everything the Bible teaches.
This doesn't mean you will understand it all immediately, but it means you must accept the Bible's authority as the true, error-free Word of God.
The Christian faith is built on the belief that what God says is always true and good, even when it feels challenging or confusing to our human perspective. Your primary response to Scripture should be: "This is true. Now, how do I live it?"
The Deeper Dive:
The tension you feel when Scripture challenges you is a normal part of spiritual growth. It highlights the difference between God's perfect truth and our fallen human opinions.
1. The Authority of Scripture
The Christian position is that the Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). It is not merely a book of human wisdom, but the authoritative revelation from the Creator. Therefore, if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord, you accept His words, and His words affirmed the authority of Scripture. To disagree with the Bible is ultimately to disagree with God.
2. Understanding the Types of Text
It's important to differentiate between:
Moral Commands (What you must obey): E.g., The Ten Commandments, Jesus' commands to love God and neighbor.
Historical Records (What happened): E.g., The stories of the kings of Israel, the travels of Paul. You don't "agree" with history; you accept that it happened.
Cultural Context (What applied then): E.g., Specific rules for temple worship or temporary food laws. The principle remains, even if the application changes under the New Covenant.
When you struggle, ask: "Am I struggling with a difficult command, or a difficult historical context?"
3. The Invitation to Trust
When a passage is morally challenging (e.g., God's justice or judgment), it is an invitation to exercise trust. Your human mind and feelings are limited, but God's perspective spans all of eternity. Instead of letting disagreement lead to doubt, let it lead to deeper reliance on His wisdom, knowing that "The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works" (Psalm 145:17).
God’s Assurance
God assures you that His Word is a light for your path—it is meant to guide you, not trip you up.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
God promises that the Bible will equip you perfectly. When you come to a difficult verse, trust the Giver of the Word to lead you into understanding and agreement over time.
Your Takeaway Thought
Don't panic when you find a part of the Bible you don't instantly understand or "agree" with. That's normal! Instead of running from it, run to God in prayer and study. Approach the Bible not as a critic, but as a student, asking the Holy Spirit to change your heart and mind to align with God's perfect truth. Agreement is the goal, but submission is the starting place.
