Book Review - The Bible Tells Me So

I just finished reading The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns, a college professor who writes and lectures on the Bible and Christianity.

I first heard of Enns in association with BioLogos, a faith-based group with "an evolutionary understanding of God's creation."

The subtitle of this book is Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It.  I like that Enns criticizes the popular evangelical approach to the Bible as a book of rules and knowledge that needs to be defended.

However, even though he has some good things to say, I disagree with Enns's academic and intellectual approach.  

First, in each short chapter, Enns throws out all types of ideas and objections to traditional Bible teachings and history.  He pulls verses out of context, makes some things sound dumb, and just trivializes parts of my Bible.  This approach can be harmful and deceptive to anyone who reads the Bible but isn't aware of the Bible's set-up, it's overview, and it's many genres.

Second, Enns blames the Bible's writers for wrongly portraying God and His character.  Enns wants to "let God off the hook" in dealing with tough Biblical issues...as if God can't handle it!  

Third, Enns touches on the gospel message, but not enough for me.  In every book I read and in every sermon or talk I hear, I'm always looking for a clear gospel message.  For a Christian, that's the main thing. 

Finally, after throwing out all sorts of doubt, in the last chapter Enns does an about-face and shares some real truths about Christianity and the Bible:

It is a book where we meet God.  It brings hope, encouragement, knowledge, and deep truth...struggling in some way seems like something we should expect on our own spiritual journey.

But for me, that last chapter was too little, too late. 

From the beginning of the book, Enns should have emphasized the following:

• When reading and critiquing old and historical texts, benefit of doubt is given to the text. 
• The Bible is a book of abundance and depth.  It's God's very Word, and it's powerful.  It affects people.
• The central focus of the Bible is man's sinfulness and how to get right with God.  It's about Jesus dying for our sins.  It's about God's love for us.

Ultimately, the Bible isn't meant to be a history lesson, especially a lesson that causes doubt and confusion.  

For God's Word is a diagnosis of our heart.  

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

While I appreciate some of the things that Enns writes, I don't appreciate or agree with his approach or the tone of his book.