What is a Good Strategy for Bible Reading? (Part 3)
In our current blog series, we are discussing spiritual disciplines. A spiritual discipline is a Christian practice, or habit, that develops one’s character and maturity. In other words, spiritual disciplines are practical ways of walking as Jesus walked in our daily life. Prayer, Bible reading, and sharing resources are perhaps the most commonly referenced spiritual disciplines among Christians today. We are particularly focused on Bible reading in this section of the spiritual discipline series.
Last week, we began to strategize about how to read the Bible in effective ways. We especially talked about what not to do in Bible reading. Let’s pivot in this post and reflect on more positive ways to engage the Scripture. Here are a few positive, strategic reminders for developing the spiritual discipline of Bible reading.
- Read the Bible as an inspired book. The term “inspired” does not simply mean “inspirational.” There are certainly inspirational passages in the Scripture. That the Bible is inspired means that God’s written word is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That is, God loves us so much that God desired to reveal himself to us. A record of that revealing work of God is the Bible. In fact, one cannot really help but to observe a consciousness of God when reading the Bible. Even atheists and skeptics who deny that there is a God are not so much denying the existence of God as they are denying God a right to rule in their lives. If one had no consciousness of God, then he/she would not be so adamant to renounce God.
- Read the Bible as a relevant book. By “relevant” we mean that the Bible has value for us in our contemporary times. The Bible explicitly talks about human nature and God’s dealings with people. We consequently are empowered to come into fellowship with God. The great Baptist theologian, W.T. Conner, said that the Bible is like a snowball rolling down a mountain. The past is carried into the future.
- Read the Bible in relation to the context of the passage. We will always get more out of our Bible reading by reading a passage in relation to its original historical and social environment.
- Read the Bible as a progressive series of events. When we use the word “progressive” here, we’re not referring to a political or social philosophy. We mean that God progressively brought his revelation to a climatic point in Jesus Christ. C.H. Spurgeon use to say that reading the Bible is like the road system in England. Just as every road leads to London, so every route in the Bible progressively leads to Jesus Christ. In other words, when you read the Old Testament, take note of how the passage in question points to Jesus.
- Read the Bible with a concern for salvation from sin. The Bible is not simply concerned with theology or promoting a philosophical system. It is also not a simple collection of old mystic literature. The Bible records and shares divine truth about our need for redemption and the God who made that redemption possible.
- Read the Bible with a discerning eye on doctrine. The Bible not only provides a wealth of information on doctrinal matters, but it is a measuring stick for all doctrinal and philosophical ideas. If a doctrinal idea doesn’t square rightly with the Biblical revelation, then such doctrine should be disregarded.
Next week, we’ll talk more about the specifics of each section of the Bible and practical methods for developing a habit of daily Bible reading