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Introduction

We all know that reading the bible is important.  But sometimes we feel like we just can’t get to it.  Like there are big barriers holding us back.  Busyness and even fear.  Why should we read the Bible?  And is anything holding you back from doing it?

The Source

There has been a recent trend in Christian communities, to rather leave the reading of the bible to the pastors.  The theologians, textual critics, and scholars of antient Greek and Hebrew. But, only receiving biblical texts from second hand sources, has a big problem.  What if they are wrong?

We are all human.  We all make mistakes.  Theologians included.  Moreover, if you only rely on modern interpreters of the text, they will all suffer from their modern perspective biases.  The only way to protect yourself from others interpreting biblical texts wrong, is to interpret it for yourself, from firsthand knowledge.  Then, to protect yourself from running away with your own false interpretations, to weigh them against other interpreters.  Modern and old.  Then, when you are well read enough, you can see through the people, to the mere Christianity behind their writing, as C.S. Lewis put it.  The only way to protect yourself against false teaching, is to know the Gospel for yourself.

“Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

– Matthew 16: 12 (NIV)

I paraphrase as C. S. Lewis said, in his defence of reading old books.  “There is a disturbing trend in his time, that the reading of old texts should be left to the professionals.  The armature should content himself with the modern books.  Therefore, if anyone wants to learn about Platonism, the last thing they do is take a translation of Plato from the shelves.  They would rather read some dreary modern book ten times as long, full of isms and influences, and only once every twelve pages telling him what Plato actually said.”

I think C. S. Lewis hit the nail on the head.  Today we would rather be spoon-fed scripture, rather than going to the source.  But often, they make it more complicated and more difficult to follow.  People act like turning to the bible is like turning back to theological ABC’s.  But that’s not true.  If you want to know God, you can go directly to his words.

Humility

A week ago, I prepared to read Chesterton’s Orthodoxy.  An important book from an influential theologian, originally published in 1908.  I was quite frankly, scared.  I brewed my tea with determination.  I wiped my glasses clean, like a soldier might clean his rifle.  I was ready for a fight. To struggle for a shred of comprehension.  But what I found was grace and understanding.

I think this is how a lot of people must feel when they want to read the bible.  This is by no means an insult, nor do I think it’s a bad thing.  Because I think this feeling comes from humility.  How can lowly me understand the biblical texts?  People are half scared to meet the great people, apostles, kings, prophets, and God himself face to face.  They feel themselves unequipped to understand.

That might be why some people prefer to receive the gospel through an intermediary.  But the God behind the texts, created you personally and wants a personal relationship with you.  Just because He is a personal God and He knows your heart, you will find understanding in His words.  Moreover, you will also find yourself.

Sometimes us theologians might overcomplicate the gospel.  You just might find that reading the word of God for yourself, would not just be easier that receiving it from others, but more delightful.  Are you afraid to meet God face to face?  God will give you understanding.

“10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

– 1 Corinthians 2: 10 -12 (NIV)

Busyness

Our world is becoming increasingly busy.  We are pulled in a hundred different directions.  We need to be good parents, productive workers, absorbed students, active church goers, upstanding community members and after everything we need to nourish ourselves and our souls.  If we have a hundred different priorities, naturally we will pit them against each other.

Everything we do needs to justify itself.  If it can’t, it gets discarded as something that only steals time from something else.  Reading the Bible might get tossed aside as we are far too busy for that.  This is a false equivalency.  We say that, but that’s not how we live.  If it were, we would also say why eat, we will only be hungry again later?  Why sleep if tomorrows’ fatigue looms in the horizon?  Then these downplayed needs would make their importance known immediately.

Just because something takes time, does not necessarily mean it steals time.  If you didn’t shower and make breakfast in the morning, your day would be much less productive.  They equip you for the daily challenges ahead.  So too, reading the bible and praying does not steal time.  It gives you the right undivided focus, to see what’s really important.  To rest and build your strength and confidence in God.  So that you can reach new heights, that you would never be able to in your own strength. Martin Luther put it this way:

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

– Martin Luther

Then the shame might set in.  We need to move at a breakneck speed.  We have too much to do.  “I suck that I need to take a break.  Why do I constantly need clarification and strength from God?  Shouldn’t I be able to do this alone?”  We are much harder on ourselves that we are on other people.

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

– Matthew 4: 4 (NIV)

You wouldn’t shame a starving man for trying to feed his soul.  Don’t shame yourself for it.  Don’t get caught in the lie of busyness.  The primary tool of the enemy is distraction.  Slow down, refocus and feed your soul.  You need it more than you think.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Why Read The Bible?

“2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

– Genesis 1: 2- 3 (NIV)

In Genesis 1:2 the earth was “tohu vabohu” in the original Hebrew.  This means formless and empty chaotic waters.  But in verse 3, God speaks into the chaos and creates order.

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

– Isaiah 55: 11 (NIV)

Is your life empty?  Do you feel like you are constantly living in chaos?  Is your life bleak and dark?  The same voice that spoke order into chaos in Genesis, is longing to speak order into your life.  The word of God transforms.  And you have access to that word today, in the Bible.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

– Hebrews 4: 12 (NIV)

The word of God is a double-edged sword.  The word of God brings conviction and revelation.  We don’t often want to talk about conviction.  Like a fruit tree being pruned off the branches that don’t bear fruit.  Or a person taking chemo to kill cancer cells.  Conviction is painful.

“1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

– John 15: 1- 4 (NIV)

I’m by no means perfect.  I, have areas in my life where I fail.  Where I can do infinitely better.  But God, in His word, convicts me daily.  Showing me the areas of my life that are not bearing fruit.  God’s word convicts, and cuts those areas away, to make room for what He wants me to be.

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

– Ephesians 6: 17 (NIV)

We live in a spiritual battlefield.  The word of God equips us.  If we are under attack from the enemy, the word of God is our refuge.  To resist the temptations and schemes that seek to destroy our lives.  The word of God equips to fight for His will.  We all know life is a fight.  Don’t enter into the battlefield unequipped, you have everything you need.

“2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

– 2 Peter 1: 2- 3 (NIV)

Conclusion

“1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers.”

– Psalms 1: 1- 3 (NIV)

Let the word of God blow through your mind like a refreshing sea breeze.  Jolting you awake and pointing to the kingdom of God.  Blowing out the roaring fires in your everyday situations.  Make room for God’s word and you will know God’s heart.  Don’t let the distractions take God’s word from you.  But let it guide you.

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John

Hi I'm John, a twenty something pastor dedicated to learning Theology and teaching it to everyone. That's why I'm here. Lets stick together, grow closer to God and escape the ordinary!

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