Do Not Read The BIBLE!

Be ready…

I am not a regular news reader I just like to be kept informed and observe the direction the world is heading for. Many simple sentences make it to the headlines of newspapers and it amazes me, how it impacts people to run and read the breaking news. Most of the time the headlines are just meant to appease our unsatisfied curiosity. I have learned over the years, to not take at face value anything. To contain my curiosity and take a step back before pursuing it. I have been even more encouraged and intrigued at the same time, by what Peter said in his first letter, chapter 3 verse 15. (KJV) 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

Whenever I pose a question or claim that Christianity is the truth, most people will react to such a statement outrageously. Same as it happened in Jesus’ time. There is indeed, nothing new under the Sun. However, apostle Peter’s instruction is to be ready always to give an answer. Meaning, that whenever I am challenged and asked about my faith and hope, I am not to react but to respond. Humongous difference of which many fellow Christians are not aware. That’s one of the reasons why Christians fade away into being ridiculed and mocked. Because they are not contained and assured that the Truth does not need defending. Only to be proclaimed most honestly and sincerely. If the Truth was to live rent-free in our minds, souls and hearts, we would be effective witnesses and would be a fortress. Always ready to respond in the most accurate, eloquent and loving way. To promote peace and not discord. Will the reaction to the proclamation of the Truth be peace? Less likely! However, how people react to the Truth is a different matter to how they react to my witnessing. 

The headline! 

I guess, to be one peaceable witness, who is indwelt by the Truth, we ought to be fundamentally moved and intrigued by other types of statements, than what we see in the media. That’s what happened to me, a few years back, when I was just a young man, finding his way in life, work and ministry. I still remember the night and I will be forever grateful and praise God, for people dedicated to teaching the Bible. I remember sitting on the second row, on a Saturday night at youth Bible study, watching our next video on the topic. The preacher was a brother from over the pond and, living in Romania at that time, in a conservative church and family. Being taught to be cautious about what comes from America as teaching is to think twice and even thrice. In his teaching, the preacher said something that it stuck with me until today. But, reflecting on it, what made it have such an impact on me is what, in general, was proclaimed from the pulpit. Read your Bible daily, as it honours God and it proves we are true followers of Christ. It made me feel on many occasions I was sinning, and felt guilty many times, for not reading the Bible in a day. But the following statement changed not only my perspective on the Bible but on life and on how God dwells in me. Amongst others, the preacher said: “Don’t read the Bible. Study IT!” I guess the truth is that many Christians even today, read too much the Bible and never get to understand how to apply and live it in their lives. The Bible, first of all, is not a book, but a whole library, containing human history from the beginning of creation to the end of its history. Moreover, there are heavy-weight statements, which turn around hardened hearts and minds. An example would be Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Scientists and philosophers are struggling to disprove it, and how much harder to understand it. But when given the proper attention and time to reflect on this verse you get to conclude many things. I will list a few only. First, it tells me that God was before the beginning, outside of time, space and matter. Secondly, it tells me that the beginning was caused and decided by God. Thirdly, the Universe was created out of nothing – nothing from inside the Universe. Fourthly, something immaterial caused the material world we see and live in. And the list can continue, only by analysing and meditating on the very first statement of the Bible. Science is catching up on this statement and many philosophers are using their minds, something immaterial, to question how the immaterial causes the material. Nothing could be more ridiculous, sadly. The Bible sits above many books and libraries. Above the highest IQ and all human wisdom. 

Dig it! 

Am I taking seriously this ‘old’ book? Or I read it as a must-do tick box, but never taken to the heart, to the mind and the soul. I guess we ought to get real about it and let time with the book, mature and grow us to the likeness of God. You see, to find a treasure, you do not only read the map. You go and search and dig for it. The Bible says to do the same about the wisdom found in it. Proverbs chapter 2:1-5 clearly states that. Go, search, find it! Labour and do not give rest to yourself until you have not found it! However, that is the issue. The work and time to be given to God’s word is usually the leftovers. And by that, I mean, we tend to go to God’s word after we have satisfied all our fleshly needs. I am not saying, not to have a cup of tea or coffee or juice, prepared before opening the Bible. Or a sandwich or a snack. Let’s not be more ridiculous than we already are. But, am I ticking a box, or putting in all my energy, passion, concentration and strength to the Bible? I noticed in my daily walk, that I put so much energy and passion into work, yet when it comes to the Bible is less than that. Of course, we are not to neglect our daily jobs but to strive to be the best. However, do we strive to be better every day in living and understanding and satisfying the needs of our souls, at least as we do in our work? I guess this would require an honest reflection and time of prayer because it requires improvement. 

Too thick… 

Some Christians are put off by the fact that the Bible is too thick. And by that they mean it would require a lot of time to read it and understand it. Is there something better we can do with our time? And guess what, we can get to live only once the next second. Therefore, it better be worth it! Moreover, the best meat, the best wine or the best cheese, aside from the skill put in to make it, time has matured the wine, the meat and cheese to make them even better and to the highest quality and value. I guess, we should not expect to know everything from the Bible after a year of studying it. Or after ten years, or even after a lifetime. Because the Bible, is the revealed Word of the infinite God, as stated in Genesis 1:1. How much time would be sufficient to fully know the infinite God? I don’t think the eternity would suffice. Our mere earthly lives are only a taste of what we will get to know in heaven. I have wondered, same as many of you perhaps did, why is the Bible so thick. The answer was then spoken by the Book itself. Because the heart, soul and mind are so empty and in great need to be filled with truth, meaning and purpose.  

Don’t read the Bible! STUDY IT! 

Would such a statement make it to the headlines of the newspapers? I doubt it! It implies work and it asks for time and energy to be spent with it. Something which humans are not necessarily inclined to do, unfortunately. I hope that we can honestly repent and allow God to change not our motivation. That’s not what we need! But to change our minds and souls and hearts, because there is emptiness which only the living Word can and will fulfil. Our curiosity should be appeased by statements such as Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, or even John 18:38 – Pilate is asking a tremendously heavy question What is truth? While the Truth was standing right in front of him, in flesh and bones. What a contrast! We are like Pilate, many times when we struggle to understand hard truths. Our questions are directed wrongly, the same as Pilate. Perhaps the questions should be, not What is?, but Is it? In my search, the Bible was the only book which answered all my questions so far, and I had to humble myself, and start asking the right questions. Since I desire to walk and live by the truth, is it true, to study the Bible or to read it?