6,000 years. This misconception is probably due to Bishop Ussher's chronology, developed in the 1600s. The Bible doesn't say mankind is 6,000 years old, nor 60,000 nor 600,000. It does say, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
• "The Bible is filled with inaccuracies."
Answer: To test the person's knowledge, ask, "What inaccuracies?" Should he or she bring up creation, Noah's ark, Joshua's long day, Jonah's fish, the Virgin Birth, etc., respond that we cannot explain these things, though we believe they are historical. We don't have to defend them. God has spoken. The Bible demands the exercise of faith! Quote Billy Graham from the "Background." Paul the apostle said, in writing of those who have problems with Scripture, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [known only through the Holy Spirit]" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
• "I find the Bible hard to believe," or, "I can't understand it."
Answer: Suggest purchasing a modern translation of the Bible and trying again. Quote Mark Twain: "It's not the things I don't understand about the Bible that bother me; it's the things I do understand that bother me."
If the inquirer seems sincere in his or her doubts, suggest the prayer given by John Stott in his book Basic Christianity: "God, if You exist (and I don't know if You do), and if You can hear this prayer (and I don't know if You can), I want to tell You that I am an honest seeker after the truth. Show me if Jesus is Your Son and the Savior of the world. And if You bring conviction to my mind, I will trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord."
3. You may find it helpful to share with the caller this personal testimony from Dwight L. Moody concerning the power of the Bible's message:
"I prayed for faith, and I thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not come. One day I was reading the tenth chapter of Romans: 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17). I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since."
Scripture
"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
"The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).
Other suggested Scriptures: Acts 20:32 2 Timothy 3:16–17 2 Peter 1:20–21
BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT
Background
Bitterness is the product of intense animosity, characterized by cynicism and ill will. Resentment is indignant displeasure and ill will which results from a wrong, an insult or injury, either real, imagined, or unintentional. Bitterness and resentment often go together, the dual results of unresolved anger.
Billy Graham says: "The Bible does not forbid displeasure, but it sets up two controls. The first is to keep anger clear of bitterness, spite, and hatred. The second is to check daily to see how we have handled malevolent feelings. There's an old Latin proverb: 'He who goes angry to bed has the devil for a bedfellow.' Of course, there are many irritations in life. They become prime opportunities for Satan to lead us into evil passion."
Professional counselors reveal that a large percentage of those being counseled today are angry, embittered, and resentful. Bottled-up feelings eat away until some become emotional cripples and physically ill. Their ability to function is impaired, diminishing their effectiveness. They often have difficulty sleeping; and their personal relationships, both within and without the family, erode. Some become so obsessed with the urge to "get even" that they may kill someone. The individual who has deep-seated, unresolved anger is not a whole person.
A classic case of the "grudge and get even" syndrome is found in the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1–16). Cain was angry because his offering was not accepted while his brother's offering was. It really wasn't a matter between Cain and Abel at all, but between Cain and God, for it was God who had rejected Cain's offering. But Cain became resentful and depressed. Instead of repenting and asking forgiveness of the Lord, he turned on his brother.
Many times people will share problems of this nature because they are seeking sympathy or reinforcement. They will tell you how they have been misunderstood, maligned, and mistreated, never realizing the sinful implications behind their own behavior. As the story unfolds and you detect resentment and bitterness, treat it as sin.