mirror or portrait?

we are currently studying through 1 Cor. 13 and before we got into the definition of love presented there, we had to deal with an all-important question: who is this text primarily about?  you or God?  in fact, this question should be asked and answered by every person about the whole Bible.  who is this book primarily about?  to use an illustration, do you see the Bible as primarily a mirror or a portrait?  many christians see the Word of God as being primarily a mirror to examine ourselves, to note and attempt to fix our shortcomings and faults.  but this understanding of the Bible will ultimately lead to despair, because we are focusing on our own wickedness.  and if we are in despair, we will never be transformed.  the effect (probably sub-conscious) is a growing resentment and distaste for reading the Word.  and with good reason!  who would want to spend large amounts of time standing in front of the mirror bemoaning all their faults and attempting to pop spiritual zits?  and though we may continue to do it out of a sense of duty or guilt, it will not transform us.

but if we see that the Bible is primarily a book about God, a portrait of His glory and beauty, the effect will be the opposite.  it will not lead to despair in ourselves but joy in God.  which in other words is worship.  the effect of this is that we will be transformed into His image, since Scripture says we always become like what we worship.  our attitude toward the Bible will also become one of growing desire and thirst for God's glory rather than resentment.  and conviction and transformation will come by way of contrast and thanksgiving, rather than by macabre navel-gazing.

now, the Bible does use the analogy of a mirror about itself in the book of James.  however, the comparison there is that a man who sees himself and goes away and forgets what he saw is like one who hears the Word and does not do it.  but though this "mirror" aspect does exist, it is not primary.  in fact, the Bible says in John 1 that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory... no one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son has revealed Him."  so we see in the nature of Jesus Himself, who is the Word of God, that His primary mission was to reveal the glory of God to us.  it should be no surprise then that the Bible, the written Word of God, has this very same, primary purpose.

how do you view the Bible: mirror or portrait?