THE GOD CONNECTION: A Layperson's Guide to the Bible

How does God’s Word come to us?  How did it come to inspired authors years ago when the Holy Bible came into its final form?  But of course, there was no “final form” because down through the centuries, this remarkable volume has been revised, edited, re-written in hundreds of different languages, and modern-day versions--all of which are designed to help us, but all of which also serve to bring confusion as to how we shall know what the “actual” WORD really is!

Through it all, we are desperately in need of a divine yardstick because the very Scriptures which were meant to bring us together, have served to shatter us into a thousand segments (denominations, cults, etc.).

It should be obvious that the WORD that “became flesh” and “dwelt among us”, must in truth be that significant “God Connection”.  How do we know the nature of this God who made us?  How are we to understand the struggling concepts of the “Children of Israel” of the Old Testament, unless we come to grips with the one who “in the fullness of time”, came to save us, and give us that final and most perfect picture of our Heavenly Father?

Our author, Francis Geo. Guither has been a faithful pastor in the United Methodist Church for 60 years, but has experienced the heart-ache of one who sees his people hungry for a more satisfying understanding of the Church’s primary text-book, the Holy Bible.

Active in community affairs, Rotary, Kiwanis, Chicago Church Federation, School Boards, Conference missions, etc. he has enjoyed writing for church newsletters.  He has had his devotional material published weekly and monthly in local newspapers for a dozen years.

In retirement, he remains active in church and community, and has two published devotional books, two published religious science fiction novels, and now this volume.  This is probably his most exciting and mind-intriguing work.

GOD CONCEIVES THE GREAT IDEA

In the beginning, God!"  Not what, how, or why, but Who? The Bible is a book about God.

Unfortunately, we try to make it a book of science, magic, and unquestioned history.  We force it to do all kinds of things it was never intended to do.  This book of religion, is the devout and inspired word of faith, coming from sincere, godly men and women confident that God really existed, and that God had moved in marvelous ways to give people, the ultimate creation, an abundant, happy life.

Not all truths came to them at one time!  That never happens.  Like all of us today, we start with a simple understanding, and move step by step to a higher comprehension.  But God was real to them...very real!  Like children in a nursery, they had to learn...piling up the blocks, experimenting, asking, "What is the will of this God we worship?"  "How is life meant to be lived?"  They learned the simple ABC's first: "There is but one God!"  They learned the higher mathematics later, "Love your enemies!"

It took time, lots of time!  The prophets came along, and slowly like nurse‑maids coaxing little children, they said, "Try this on for size: God is just!" and then, "Now try this: God is merciful!"  And would you believe, "God is love"?

Through it all, God never changed: "the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb. 13:8)  But man's understanding of God changed.  Some growing did take place!  Very little, it seemed.  Now and then, they took a half‑step forward, then fell back a step and a half.

But finally, in the fullness of time, when humankind was ready, Jesus came!  This was MAN, man the way God meant him to be: perfect, sinless Jesus, the "Word become flesh".  That WORD which God had been speaking from the very beginning, but which fell on ears unprepared, became Reality.  "This is it!" the few sensitive ones proclaimed!  "Finally, God has become clear!  All that God is, and means, and wants us to be has finally become specific in Jesus."  "Savior" they called Him, "Lord", "Messiah", "Son of God", the "Christ", "God with us".

After the Old Testament, a New Testament came to be, a living, breathing testament of the devotion of men and women who discovered that the God who was, also still is, and always will be.  The God, whose Spirit breathed upon the waters at the time of creation, is also the God whose Spirit became flesh to dwell among us and share our mortality.