What is a Good Strategy for Bible Reading? (Part 2)
Last week we introduced the spiritual discipline of Bible reading. We mainly examined the value and authority of the Bible as it is a record of God’s revelation. In other words, the Scripture points directly to Jesus Christ, and (as H. Richard Niebuhr put it) Jesus is the most intelligible revelation of God who makes all other revelations intelligible. Jesus puts everything into perspective, and life finally and utterly makes sense because of him! God desired to reveal himself in Christ so much that the record of this revelation is given to us in the inspired Bible.
So, what may our approach be to reading the Bible? Volume upon volume have been written to answer this question, but let’s use this (and following) articles to get into some of the nuts-and-bolts of practical Bible reading for daily edification, evangelism, and obedience to God. Let’s specifically focus here on how NOT to read the Bible.
Sometimes the best way to learn a task is to examine negative or wholly impractical approaches to that task. For example, one of the best strategies for operating a lawn mower is to refrain from getting one’s hands near the blades! When it comes to reading and applying the written word of God, let’s keep a few of these negative approaches in mind.
- If one reads the Bible rarely, then one may fail to see the practical importance of God’s word. Having a regular Bible reading plan greatly helps a person to see the overall picture of God’s salvation story. In fact, there is an overarching narrative to the entire Bible. Reading it in bits-and-pieces can never quite give us a satisfactory appreciation for all God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Do you have a plan for daily Bible reading?
- The Bible is not meant to be read as a science, math, or history book. Our contemporary culture has been impacted and shaped so much by Enlightenment thinking that we often categorize information by its utilitarian importance. Utilitarianism is a philosophy which suggests that we use categorized, logical tools at our disposal to make life easier and happier. The Bible, however, does not often fit into basic categories and therefore can be confusing to some. It is not helpful simply to label the Bible as a specific subject and file it away. It is meant to be applicable to the whole of life.
- The Bible will not make sense if it is read out of context. Context refers to the setting, authorship, and audience of a specific text. For instance, the Gospel of Matthew was written by a First Century AD follower of Jesus named Matthew who wrote from a uniquely Jewish perspective. If we do not adequately understand the context of a biblical passage or book, then we are much more likely to read our own opinions or values into a text. We are not to make the Bible say what we want it to say.
- Reading the Bible outside of the church community can be harmful to one’s faith. There is absolutely nothing wrong with individual Bible reading. In fact, it is greatly encouraged! One’s life is greatly and positively impacted by learning to read the Bible for oneself instead of taking someone else’s word for it. However, when one studies the Bible alongside other Christ-followers, the Spirit uses these occasions for expanding our understanding. You can gain great insights from others who come to the Bible from different perspectives.
Next week, we’ll examine the more positive strategies for Bible reading.