Christians revere the Bible. That's understandable. After all, it is God's Word, the authoritative source for truths we affirm, errors we deny, and the sort of character we strive to develop. Consequently, its sacred status might cause us to flinch at the suggestion that we should question what it says and scrutinize its contents. It feels like we are judging a book that ought to judge us.
Is our hesitation biblical? And, dare I ask, it is rational? Frankly, the answer is "no" in both cases.
The Bible has been fulfilling the roles described above for millennia despite repeated and relentless attempts to destroy it. But it is still here. In fact, today there are more Bibles in circulation in more languages than at any time in world history. How could we possibly harm it by asking it to make sense and then pursuing that goal?
The response that subjecting the Bible to critical analysis hurts us is equally incoherent, primarily because the Bible itself encourages its own scrutiny. Ezra is esteemed for his commitment to study (Ezra 7:10). Luke regards the close examination of the Scriptures as a virtue (Acts 17:11). Biblical writers not only quote Scripture but take care to observe minute details like the specific form of words (Gal. 3:16).
We are God's image-bearers. God is the most rational being there can be. We share in his attribute. We are not commanded, nor does the Bible suggest, that we read Scripture irrationally or without the intellectual abilities for rational thought that God shares with us. Have you ever tried to read anything irrationally? It sort of defeats the purpose of written communication.
Critical thinking is akin to any other human ability - speech, strength, creativity, resourcefulness, - and it is ours to employ in loyal service to the True God. Approaching Scripture with a passive, anesthetized mind will not protect Scripture from criticism. It needs no protection. Intellectual laziness in search of truth is no virtue.