A Mountain Really Real

“…say unto this mountain, Be thou removed.” I previously wrote of the danger of being a strict literalist when reading the Bible. In this article, I want to caution against the spiritualization of a vast number of its texts. We cannot, whenever we feel the whim to do so, spiritualize scriptures, disregarding the context. Interestingly, at times we find both the literal and spiritual within one text. The above is a good example.

I personally believe Jesus wanted His disciples to take what He said about moving a mountain in a spiritual sense. The reason I lean this way is because of the fact, you do not find the disciples going around moving literal mountains or even attempting to. But we do see them moving a great many obstacles that were mountainous in their and others lives.

But, as I said, the text can still be taken literally, for literal mountains are moved in scripture. For example, we are told “…every mountain and island were moved out of there places.” And Zachariah tells us of a mountain cleaving in the middle. Paul certainly believed in literally removing mountains. And David says, “…and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

And what does all this teach us—the literal and the spiritual? Simply that if God can move physical mountains, it’s a very little chore to take care of the spiritual ones facing us today!

“If the plain text makes sense, seek no other sense.”