{"id":1060,"date":"2012-04-22T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2012-04-22T14:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=1060"},"modified":"2012-04-22T14:27:27","modified_gmt":"2012-04-22T19:27:27","slug":"why-christians-dont-read-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=1060","title":{"rendered":"Why Christians Don&#8217;t Read the Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Opened-Bible.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-1061\" title=\"Opened Bible\" src=\"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Opened-Bible.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"251\" height=\"226\" \/><\/a>Every poll from Barna to Gallup indicates most Christians are illiterate when it comes to the Bible. \u00a0I won\u2019t bore you with the statistics.\u00a0 It has become common knowledge, but the answer to simple Bible questions has not.\u00a0 \u00a0One would think people who base their lives on the Bible, might want to know what it says.\u00a0 Yet, obviously, Christians aren\u2019t reading their Bibles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Why is that?\u00a0 Perhaps\u2026 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They feel they are too busy.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>They are lazy and would rather be fed by others rather than feed themselves.<\/li>\n<li>They think it really doesn\u2019t matter as long as they are good people.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Although important, it\u2019s not as important as the football game or Desperate Housewives.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Reading has become pass\u00e9 and almost a lost skill in our society.<\/li>\n<li>The Bible is a big book and it\u2019s overwhelming to think about reading the whole thing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>They feel intimidated because they don\u2019t think they could understand it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whatever the reason I do feel the Christian community has exacerbated the problem instead of help solve it.\u00a0 Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reading It for the Wrong Reason\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Christian leaders want people to read the Bible all the way through.\u00a0 To them this is an important goal.\u00a0 However, although this would give one a lofty sense of accomplishment would it truly bring them closer to God?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Now don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s great to read the Bible cover to cover and I\u2019ve done so a few times.\u00a0 From a historical point of view it\u2019s interesting to read who begat whom even if you can\u2019t pronounce the names, but a more valuable reason to read the Bible is to know God and his son Jesus Christ.\u00a0 The stories in the Old Testament were recorded as examples for us and we can learn from them, but the real purpose of the Old Testament is to point to the coming of Christ and what that means for mankind. \u00a0If one is to grow into a spiritually mature Christian the Bible should be read to know who Christ is and have a relationship with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Studying Instead of Reading\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pauls-Letters-Workbooks5.bmp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-1069\" title=\"Paul's Letters Workbooks\" src=\"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pauls-Letters-Workbooks5.bmp\" alt=\"\" width=\"335\" height=\"286\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are myriads of translations and scores of Bible dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, and handbooks.\u00a0 No longer is merely reading the Word of God enough, we must dissect it like an autopsy, giving the impression that one can\u2019t understand the Bible without a degree in theology. It\u2019s a wonder any of our biblical forefathers came to know Christ without a study guide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Now don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I love an intense Bible study and especially finding a trivia tidbit to astonish others with my superior knowledge, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily bring me closer to God.\u00a0 Believe it or not the Bible was not written for scholars. \u00a0It was written for everyday people like you and me.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need a diploma in theological studies for God\u2019s Word to bring us closer to him.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reading as a Chore\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some Christian leaders approach the concept of reading the Bible as a chore, something on a \u201cto-do\u201d list to mark off when we are done so we can feel better about ourselves.\u00a0 Once we get that job done we can go about doing the things we want to do with a clear conscience because we have done our duty.\u00a0 They even suggest if we aren\u2019t reading the Bible daily we are not engaging with God.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Now don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I do try to read from the Bible daily, but not because I feel God will curse me if I don\u2019t.\u00a0 I actually enjoy reading it.\u00a0 There are benefits to daily Bible reading but I do not feel guilty on days that it\u2019s not possible.\u00a0 Reading the Bible is not the only way to connect with God.\u00a0 We can commune with God through prayer and meditation, which can even be done while driving to work.\u00a0 There is honoring God through our actions, spending quiet time in reflection, and being in a spirit of worship.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Just Reading Is Not Enough\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the deal \u2013 reading the Bible is important but just reading it should not be the main objective for the Christian. \u00a0The main purpose of the Bible being written was not to give us moral lessons, but help us look to Jesus, so we can delight in him.\u00a0 Our motive should be to know God and his son Jesus Christ.\u00a0 The focus should be on building a relationship with Christ.\u00a0 It is not enough to merely remember scriptures; they should be internalized, written on our hearts, and lived. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Christians who approach Bible reading as some project to complete will probably never finish it.\u00a0 They\u2019ll drop out the minute they hit all those genealogies.\u00a0 Those who do finish might feel a sense of pride in getting a job done but might not come to know the wonder of Christ.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People might be more eager to read their Bibles if they looked at it like a spiritual meal to savor and enjoy instead of a duty to perform.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a thought!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every poll from Barna to Gallup indicates most Christians are illiterate when it comes to the Bible. \u00a0I won\u2019t bore you with the statistics.\u00a0 It has become common knowledge, but the answer to simple Bible questions has not.\u00a0 \u00a0One would &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=1060\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}