186 - Should the Scriptures Be Taken Literally? | Church History Matters I Science & Religion Series

The holy scriptures are sacred records written by real people—prophets shaped by their culture, language, and historical moment—yet inspired by the Holy Spirit. In this video, we explore how God works through imperfect humans to communicate eternal truths, and why the scriptures were never meant to function as scientific textbooks or literal play-by-play histories in every detail. Instead, the scriptures are primarily concerned with why we exist: our relationship with God, our divine identity as His children, and the purpose of life. They use poetry, symbolism, metaphor, and narrative to teach spiritual truths that transcend time and culture. Taking every verse literally can sometimes cause us to miss the deeper message God intends to convey. Science, by contrast, excels at answering different questions—how the universe works, who was involved, what happened, and when and where events occurred. When properly understood, science and scripture are not enemies but partners, each addressing different aspects of truth. This video invites viewers to adopt a faithful and thoughtful approach to scripture—one that honors inspiration, welcomes scholarship, and allows both revelation and reason to work together in the search for truth.