A question was raised in a recent discussion in ‘of all things,a bible study’ of how to read the bible. Should we read the bible in a manner of just to read the bible, say in one or two years, or should we try to comprehend it in more of a thorough way in studying it in deeper way of systematics.
Does it matter? Does first impressions matter? Yes.
I for one can attest to it. I took to heart and practice the things that ‘I had just read’ and took them to mean as I read them in a ritualistic it was what it was thing. My understanding of this was very naive for my part not knowing for one, the context of the verses, the audience, the connecting story, the why, the when, the dot in the storyline of the bible.
“It wasn’t until I took the time and effort to dig into the word that I was really missing the ‘meat’ of the scriptures and the underlying messages of God’s word. I have now been studying this way for eight years now, and truthfully say that it is one for rewarding to read it this way, two it has lead me into continuing in this manner these years, and thirdly I have come to the realization that maybe the wrong message has been sent out in various ways that have led us down the wrong paths.”
The last statement is very important to my belief, but I feel that there is another reason that effects this rationale is even more important for us.(this is referring to “I for one can attest to it” paragraph)
The reason that it is harmful and totally wrong is because it is used as “this is all I need”, or it will never lead to the other, in dept studying.
For all you ‘readers'(of anything) out there, you know what I am talking about. A book is such a thing that exemplifies the same thing. For if it wasn’t for the author’s broadening the storyline of telling you the reader the ‘who,what,when,why’s’ of the story, the book would only be a paragraph long!
As a side note to this discussion, I will say that this should not limit ourselves to just the scriptures to study the scriptures! This should lead us to alot of outside material that is helpful in our understanding. Don’t be afraid to follow the journey wherever it leads you. It has led me to alot of materials and people that I would of never thought of, but it was well worth it
My conclusion is that we as believers need to know ‘why we believe’, just to say that we ‘read the bible’ shouldn’t cut it to say the least. Are answer should be why,when,where,who and all those other questions that led us to believing!
The Eternal Purpose 