Do Christians Read Their Bible?

 

When I was preparing for my driver’s test many years ago, I studied the state's driver’s manual. I needed to know the answers to the questions they would be asking. It was also needed for knowing the laws concerning driving on public roadways and streets. Years later, I had a job which required me to know a variety of policies which I had to follow in order to perform my duties correctly and efficiently. I would constantly refer back to those policies so I would be able to do my job in the way required. Another situation included a contract agreement between a company I worked for and a labor union to which I belonged. I never wanted to be involved with the politics of being a steward or any other union position, but I made it a point to know the book containing the contract agreement. That was for my own benefit and to help others.

As a Christian, I consider the Bible the most important document in my life. As for the situations and items I mentioned above, as important as they were for the requirement, the Bible supersedes them all. The Bible tells us everything we need to know about God, His Son and His Holy Spirit. It doesn’t leave out anything God wants us to know or something we need to know. He has given us His word so we can live our lives in the manner He wants us to live. The Bible tells us how to be saved and why we need to be saved. It tells us of His love, His unconditional love for us. But do Christians read their Bible?  

In a recent Barna poll, only 11% of adults (did not identify as Christians or not) read the Bible daily and only 5% read it four to six times a week. The numbers of adults who read the Bible once a week and once a month is 8%. The poll does not say if these people are Christians or not, but I don’t know many non-Christians who read the Bible. Either way, the numbers are not encouraging. In any given church, if a person was to take a poll and ask those in attendance how often they read their Bibles, the answers could be very surprising. Now, I am not referring to in depth study but simply reading the Bible by following a daily reading plan.

I had only been a Christian about three years when the pastor in the church we were attending laid out a simple Bible reading plan for daily reading which would take you through the Bible in a year. He told the church if we read three chapters a day during the week and four chapters on Saturday and four on Sunday, it would take us through the Bible in a year. So, on January 1^st, I began the reading plan in Genesis 1, and I have been following that reading plan ever since. But what I discovered as a young, in the faith Christian, there were people who had been Christians for as many as thirty years or more who had never read through the Bible or even parts of the Bible. One was overseeing the adult Sunday School classes and a church board member.

I have heard just about every excuse for not reading the Bible in the morning, in the evening, during lunch break or any other time. I would tell these people to just get out of bed about twenty minutes earlier in the morning and take the time to read. It is the best time to read and more times than not, the house is probably quiet. The answer many times was, “I just can’t do that.” Or “I don’t want to get up any earlier than I have to.” Well, Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross either, but He did. Other Christians I have spoken to about reading the Bible make it sound like it’s a chore or boring.

If they think it’s a chore, then they need to back up get on their knees and start praying. And if they think it’s boring, I would advise the same thing, start praying. I understand reading through books such as Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy can be a slow go but there is some very interesting stuff in those books which relate to Jesus and the New Testament Church. There has to be an interest in the Bible and in what Jesus wants to do in our lives. Salvation is through faith and God’s grace. It’s not a fire insurance policy but so many treat it as such. There are many Bible reading plans available, and most study Bibles have at least one included in the material provided. The most important thing I discovered about reading through the Bible every day and in a year is how it brings familiarity of the Bible to the reader. It’s not only a learning tool (the read through) but also a teacher. When a person reads the Bible every day, the Holy Spirit helps to understand what is being read and also helps to remember it.

A major problem with Christians today is they are too involved in the culture outside of the Church. And that also is a problem that comes into the Church by way of these people. Far too many Christians (and nonbelievers) believe that the culture should direct what the Bible teaches or what the Church should be doing and saying. Pastors are within that group. Not all pastors but I did read about one that thinks the Church needs to renew its thinking and teaching because the culture is changing. He’s right, the culture is changing but that has nothing to do with what God’s word says or teaches us. God never changes and neither does His word or its message. The culture outside the Church doesn’t get to dictate what the Bible should say or how we should live our Christian lives.

This is how a lack of Bible reading and study affects certain Christian lives. If a Christian is listening more to what the world is saying than what God’s word is saying, they will naturally be in for a big stumble and fall. Of course, there are many local churches where the Bible may not even be opened during a service. No one is ever encouraged to read their Bible. This is how certain Christians end up with more of the world than God or His word. Reading the Bible should be the most important part of a Christian’s day. It’s our life manual. It’s our instructions for how we should live. It is the most all-time selling book, yet people fail to read it.

We are at the end of another year. January 1^st is only days away so find a reading plan for daily Bible reading and begin the new year off right. Start it with God’s word. Pray and ask Him to help you with this plan. A Christian has the Holy Spirit within them, and He will help you to be disciplined to follow through with the daily plan. If you miss a day, move on and don’t try to make up. Keep on reading and you will be surprised at how much you will begin to learn and also grow closer to God. Reading God’s word daily will definitely enhance your Christian life. Don’t get stuck in the culture of this world. God has so much more for you. Just read His word and find out for yourself. And when this new year ends next December, read the Bible through again and again and again.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.             2 Tim 3:16-17

Bill Petite