Can you Grasp the Word of God?

There’s a story that used to make the rounds about the German theologian Paul Tillich. Tillich’s theology was considered dangerous by many Christians in the U.S. Supposedly one time after delivering a lecture on the authority of Scripture, he was approached by a passionate seminary student. The student held tightly in his hand a large, black, leather-bound Bible and challenged Tillich, asking,

“Do you believe this is the Word of God?”

Tillich glanced at the student’s clenched…