Does Proving the Bible Increase Faith....or Remove The Need For It?

There was once a shepherd boy who was watching his sheep in the countryside when he decided to have some fun with the members of his village.  “Wolf!” the young boy cried. “There’s a wolf chasing the sheep!”

Hastily the villagers came running to assist the boy only to find him laughing and giggling at his prank.  Annoyed, the villagers returned to the village scolding the boy for his antics.  Later that day the boy repeated his prank and the villagers returned to aide him but again only found laughter and delight to their response.  After another scolding, the villagers grumbled back to their chores.  

We all know what happened next, as a real wolf arrived and the boy’s desperate cries for help went ignored, all the villagers dismissing him now as a liar.  

The moral of this story has been passed down for generations in regards to its lesson about lying, that even the truth is seen as a lie when spoken by a proven liar.  But imagine if someone were to question whether or not the story was historically accurate?  And what if that person then concluded if the story didn’t happen.........then the moral in regards to lying is completely irrelevant since it isn’t literally true?  Imagine if someone began telling lies for pranks, and when cautioned with the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, simply dismissed it, accusing it of being a made up fable and therefore pointless.  

Would the practical reaction to such a skeptic be to launch archaeological expeditions in an attempt to discover if the account actually took place and bring validation to the moral of the story?  And, should no proof arise supporting it as a real event, would the point of the story in regard to not telling lies be rendered hollow and of zero benefit to society?  Or is it more likely that people would dismiss any attempt to prove the literalness of the story as a sheer waste of time...for should anyone lack the ability to see the clear moral of this story, then it is unlikely even proof of the actuality of the account would be enough to convince them anyway.  

Many see the story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf as something that could have happened but probably never did.  Yet even if it didn’t, the wisdom and moral it contains is so profoundly clear, it doesn’t really matter if it took place or not.  There may be some people who may have “faith” that the event is literal, while others might openly acknowledge their skepticism regarding the validity of the facts of the story.  Yet, in that instance, people of both positions should be able to agree on the POINT of the story and its caution in regards to lying.  

For some reason, when it comes to the Bible, this bilateral clarity is not often sought or agreed upon when it comes to some of the events depicted in the Scriptures.  Rather than seek out the point of the stories and the messages contained in them (some of which are harder to see now that thousands of years have removed us from the culture of the day), we instead attempt to prove the literalness of the events.   

To attempt to prove the Earth was made in seven days is not only difficult, it also detracts from the true focus of the story of Genesis, explaining man’s propensity to reject one’s self in pursuit of attempting to obtain status and power.  To focus on “proving” the resurrection of Christ detracts from His overwhelming message of the transforming power of love and forgiveness.  While as Christians we may believe certain elements of our Bible to be literal, to expel energy attempting to “prove” them is not an attempt to increase our faith but actually an effort to dispel our need for faith all together.  For once something is “proven” to be true, then faith is no longer needed and can be replaced with certainty.  

If the moral of the Boy Who Cried Wolf can be seen so clearly in regards to lying that it can be appreciated by both those who find it literally and allegorical alike.......then why can’t the overpowering message of the Bible in regards to the benefits of love, forgiveness, charity, patience, and service be seen the same way?  Why can’t these principles also be agreed upon universally by both those who accept the literalness of the Scriptures and those who don’t?  

Honestly, if someone is unable to see the benefits of how the power of love can transform the world, then is proving the Earth was made in seven days likely to be the tipping point in their ability to embrace that truth?  Is it possible one of the obscuring elements to the message of the Bible can actually be a result of its very followers?  Who instead of focusing on the wisdom it presents, sometimes spend great amounts of energy attempting to prove the events rather than attempting to live out its precepts?  

Is it possible that faith can actually provide us a time and energy saving tool to remove our need to prove every element of the Bible, and instead exert that energy learning to apply these tenets?  

It is likely that the most convincing evidence for the validity of the Bible will not be unearthed by an archaeologist’s shovel but will be unlocked by a life of love lived out in its followers.