A recent study (2013) by a Christian research organization shows that most churchgoers do not read or study the Bible on a daily basis. Doug Birdsall, president of American Bible Society, said he sees a reason for why the Bible isn't connecting with people.
Birdsall said. "People realize the Bible has values that would help us in our spiritual health, but they just don't read it." If they do read it, the majority (57 percent) only read their Bibles four times a year or less. Only 26 percent of Americans said they read their Bible on a regular basis (four or more times a week).
It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds. After the party had gone 300 miles, Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left--his Bible!
We know we should read and study the Word of God, but we also know this does not always happen in our daily living. We can look at it this way. Our spiritual lives are often like our physical lives. For example, we know we're supposed to read and study the Bible, just like we also know that we're supposed to eat right, get plenty of exercise, get plenty of sleep, brush and floss our teeth, etc.
Similarly, when it comes to reading the Bible, we have lots of reasons to put it off until later – or never. Maybe we don’t read the Bible because we're intimidated by it. After all, it’s such a big, big book. How could anyone ever hope to read through it? We shouldn't be afraid of the Bible, or intimidated by it. We should delight in it. We should savor it. We should study it and memorize it and carry the word with us throughout our lives.
Or perhaps, we read the Bible is because we think that the Bible is too confusing. We're are afraid that we won’t be able to understand it. Seriously? There are plenty of books out there that are difficult, or confusing to read, and yet we read them anyway. When I come to parts I don’t understand, that doesn't mean I turn my back on the whole Word of God.
Honestly, there are many things in the Bible that I don’t understand, but by and large, I’m able to grasp most of it. It's not a good excuse to say, “I don’t read the Bible because I don’t understand it.” If you find parts of it confusing, then just start with what you can understand. Simple as that.
Another reason for not reading and studying the Bible might be because you think, "The Bible is not relevant to my life." I can assure you that you're not alone in this. A lot of people look at the Bible that way. They say, "Things have changed. We live in a world so different from when the Bible was written – how could it possibly be relevant?"
This couldn't be further from the truth. We live in an age of fear about weapons of mass destruction. And yet, we read in the Bible prophecies that describe weapons much like we have today (Zechariah 14:12). We live in an age of terrorists who attack the innocent (Ezekiel 7:25). We live in an age of anxiety and stress (1 Peter 5:7). And these are only a few examples found in the Bible! The Bible is always relevant to our lives.
Here's another reason people don’t read the Bible -- The Bible is full of contradictions. Whenever I hear this, It's usually said this way: “Everyone knows… the Bible is full of contradictions.” Now, I have to admit that there are parts of the Bible that are poetic. In other words, they weren't meant to be taken literally.
When Jesus preached, he often used parables, and not many scholars believe those stories were literally true – they were stories Jesus told to illustrate a spiritual truth. However, there truly is a unity in the Bible. It's not the contradictory literature that some people expect to find. If we're going to be followers of Christ, if we're going to be His disciples, if we're going to commit our lives to God, then we have to listen for the Word of God.
The 19th century Christian evangelist, George Muller, put it this way. "It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The truth is that in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.
Do you read the Bible like you should? If not, what’s your excuse?
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:11; Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 3:1-2; Psalm 119:18
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for all you have done for me. You do so much and yet I still ask for more. Please forgive me and guide me to be appreciative for what I have and what is truly important.
-Special thanks to Dr. Maynard Pittendreigh
May God bless you!
Jorja
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