( For those of the Christian faith the Bible, the unalterable written word of our Lord, is our strength, our very authority to proclaim the Word of the Lord, and to teach it to those who would hear, without fear or favour. Yet even among churchgoers there are those who place their church above the Bible. Who adhere to the teachings of the Bible only insofar as they are deemed relevant to the modern world and serve, and further, the purposes of the organised “church”. As if, somehow, man had been given authority to amend that written by the Lord. Yet I find no such authority in my Bible, only dire warnings should we try to do so.

The Bible, the Word of the Lord, likens itself to a sword and it is indeed a sword, a two edged sword of strength. Capable of great things when handled with the wisdom of the Lord. But its purpose is to divide and sever right from wrong, good from bad, righteousness (rightness) from sin. We cannot choose where the cut is made - only what side of it we are on.)

The Word is a sword untarnished by time
That grows only sharper with use.
Paper thin, razor sharp
It buckles neither left nor right
Cutting straight, slicing true .

A blade of righteousness forged not by man.
And beyond the protective hilt of the Holy Spirit
A steadfast grip made not for the hand of man alone.
‘Tis a two edged sword of strength in the hand of the wise,
But cuts deepest those who seek to wield it unaided.
Who would deny it its true ownership,
And, with all manner of devices, seek to bend it to their own design.

D.J. Ludlow Copyright 2003.