The word, the word, the word, the word, the word. Ad nauseam. That’s what I hear if I ever check in on the people I used to do church with.

And I used to go there, I used to drink the Kool-Aid.

And I still desire reconciliation with them. But they refuse even decent conversation. They refuse intelligent discourse about our differences. And I’ve tried repeatedly. But been shut down by almost everyone there.

So, as recorded in their Bible that they worship, Jesus said, “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen…”

“deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved”

I don’t call them out because I want to hurt or shame them. I call them out in hopes that it will stir them awake. That really having to face the words they are saying will help open their eyes and ears. Even as Holy Spirit doesn’t need my help.

But maybe at least other sheep who suffer like I suffered will find this in their searching after they have the courage to buck the system like I did. And maybe at least they will be encouraged. Have hope. Real hope.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.”

So in that, again, my old folks constantly talk about “the word”. And in most cases I think they are referring to their Bibles. But I would like to ask them, if they would ever have the decency to respect me and take me seriously, if they didn’t see themselves as better than me, “What verses in your Bible do you use to support your claim that your Bible is THE Word of God?”

And maybe those verses exist. Honestly, I have had a good long break from the Bible since my transformation started. So surprisingly, after being inundated almost daily with it for forty years, it’s not as fresh in my mind as it used to be. So, humor me and tell me again, all-knowing preachers, refresh my memory.

But the way I read it now:
“In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God… And Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Your Bible does NOT say:
“In the beginning was the Bible, and the Bible was with God, and the Bible was God… The Bible was in the world, and the world was made through the Bible, and the world did not know the Bible… And the Bible became flesh and dwelt among us…”

And John further makes the point:
“For THE LAW was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

And then Jesus Himself, the One you sing so many songs about, the One you swear you are trying to lead people to day after day, even He, the Word of God, says:

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

“For men will be… having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth… but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all…”

Jesus is THE Word of God. Period. Actually, exclamation mark!

I do not worship the Bible anymore. I see the Bible as one of many invitations to a real relationship with THE real and Living Word of God: Jesus!

But God certainly couldn’t tell me differently than your thinking, eh? Especially because I am fat, single, and homeless. Right? The evidence of Truth is in your physical fitness, financial resources, and how many people want to fuck you? Is that why you dismiss me so flippantly?

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? …He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised… we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted… He was oppressed and He was afflicted, …And He was numbered with the transgressors…”

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Your Bible further records Jesus’ response:
“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men… Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven… For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in… you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation… For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves… For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness… Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.”