Reflections
February 22, 2009
February 22, 2009
In this electronic age, life moves at the speed of light and sound. We can take college courses through our television, do our banking and pay bills with our computer and order products made half a world away with our telephone.
We are people impressed by numbers. How much, how big, how fast, how far, are the questions we seek answers for. Statistics are important we are told, for this is how we can compare and contrast products, policy and even people. In baseball for example, statistics are used to compile data on every conceivable action on the field. All movement, be it offensive or defensive, even mistakes are counted and evaluated. The purpose of the statistics is two fold. First, to compare current players with others on the field; and secondly, to compare them with the greats of the past. The problem, of course, is that statistics merely give us the facts. The numbers do not tell is how modern players would perform if placed back in history, or how historical players would respond today.
I recently found the following information about the Bible: "The Bible contains 3, 566,480 letters; 773,746 words; 31,173 verses; 1,189 chapters and 66 books. The word and occurs 46,277 times. The word Lord occurs 1,855 times. The word Reverend occurs but once, which is the 9th verse of the 118th Psalm. The 21st verse of the 7th chapter of Ezra contains all the letters of the alphabet except the letter J. The longest verse is the 9th verse of the 11th chapter of St. John. There are no words or names more than six syllables."
These statistics about the Bible are just that, a numerical analysis of word usage, phrasing, and frequency. They tell us nothing about the text historically, the people for whom the words were written or the authors. The numbers give us nothing which we can grasp in spiritual terms. In faith we know the Bible is the Holy Scripture; written by human hands, but inspired by God. It is the story of God at work in the lives of people. It is history and it is spiritual narrative. Though recorded in print, it is not dated or time bound. For the God of the Bible is yet alive, moving about in Spirit and Truth. One wonders which the Creator would find more important, attempting to live the ideals of the Bible, or counting the letters included therein. Heaven knows there is room for both.
We are people impressed by numbers. How much, how big, how fast, how far, are the questions we seek answers for. Statistics are important we are told, for this is how we can compare and contrast products, policy and even people. In baseball for example, statistics are used to compile data on every conceivable action on the field. All movement, be it offensive or defensive, even mistakes are counted and evaluated. The purpose of the statistics is two fold. First, to compare current players with others on the field; and secondly, to compare them with the greats of the past. The problem, of course, is that statistics merely give us the facts. The numbers do not tell is how modern players would perform if placed back in history, or how historical players would respond today.
I recently found the following information about the Bible: "The Bible contains 3, 566,480 letters; 773,746 words; 31,173 verses; 1,189 chapters and 66 books. The word and occurs 46,277 times. The word Lord occurs 1,855 times. The word Reverend occurs but once, which is the 9th verse of the 118th Psalm. The 21st verse of the 7th chapter of Ezra contains all the letters of the alphabet except the letter J. The longest verse is the 9th verse of the 11th chapter of St. John. There are no words or names more than six syllables."
These statistics about the Bible are just that, a numerical analysis of word usage, phrasing, and frequency. They tell us nothing about the text historically, the people for whom the words were written or the authors. The numbers give us nothing which we can grasp in spiritual terms. In faith we know the Bible is the Holy Scripture; written by human hands, but inspired by God. It is the story of God at work in the lives of people. It is history and it is spiritual narrative. Though recorded in print, it is not dated or time bound. For the God of the Bible is yet alive, moving about in Spirit and Truth. One wonders which the Creator would find more important, attempting to live the ideals of the Bible, or counting the letters included therein. Heaven knows there is room for both.
Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Ave., No. Hollywood, CA 91601
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Ave., No. Hollywood, CA 91601
