Twenty-Five Years of Avoiding the Bible
Perhaps ‘avoid’ is too strong. That makes me sound really bad. How about ‘passive non-committal’? Uh, or ‘disinterested religiously-fatigued ex-sunday-school perfect-attendance-award-winner’?
I’ve been a professing Christian since I was around three years old (ish?). That’s twenty-five years, people. That’s a very long time. I have grown spiritually in many ways since then, and have read a whole lot of the Bible. I even earned a four-year bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religious studies from a Christian university, and took a number of courses specifically studying various books of the Bible, as well as theology, philosophy, spirituality, and so on. I’ve studied the Bible, I’ve enjoyed verses here and there, and sometimes even a sermon or two. I’ve even memorized little bits. But, to be completely honest, I’ve never really dug in to the Bible as eagerly as my latest novel or favourite blog. Oh, but every good Christian reads the Bible every day, right? Praying and reading your Bible every day are sure-fire ways to ensure your salvation, are they not? Well, I’ve struggled with that type of legalistic thinking. And, also… other than small exceptions here and there, I’ve usually found the Bible to be… (gulp) a little boring…
I don’t remember how it happened, but a few months ago I found myself devouring Proverbs. Like, ‘couldn’t-put-it-down’ kind of devoured. If ever there was a practical book of the Bible, Proverbs is it. For whatever reason, at that time I loved reading it, and started underlining like crazy.
Fast-forward to last month, when Honey and I decided to make another go at establishing ourselves in discipline of daily Bible reading, figuring it would be really good for our marriage, etcetera etcetera. I’ve tried countless times before, and failed each and every time. I think the longest I’ve gone before it just kind of fizzled out was maybe three weeks. We’re currently at one month and counting…
I haven’t successfully done my reading every single day, but when I’ve missed a day (or two), I’ve ploughed ahead and gotten back into it, catching up on missed readings. I’m getting a daily email telling me the chapters to read each day in order to read through the entire Bible in a year. One thing that I’m doing differently this time around? I’m not using any devotional or supplemental materials at all (the photo above, from the top down, is my Bible, journal, memorization work, and gratitude book). I have my Bible, a new journal bought specifically for this purpose, and a blue ink pen (always blue!). I am recording whatever I feel like writing as I go, whether it’s questions, favourite verses, or other related personal thoughts. Sometimes I record prayers and needs and wants and hopes… and I breathe deep in the pages that are slowly being filled, one by one, with the evidence of a journey that is soaked in grace and a desire for more.
The more I read, the more the words come to life. The more the words are life. Funny how that works.
It’s interesting, this feeling. This is goodness and mercy, right here, in my living room, in the form of a cup of tea and the Word that has been so near to me my whole life, but not as my whole life. It’s been within arms-reach, sitting on my shelf. Words of life, wisdom, and comfort. Grace-breathed to a weary soul tired of trying and failing, and trying and failing again. This time, it’s about the words in those pages, not about the number of pages I check off the list.
For you, then, here are three things that I want to share with you that I think have been the key thus far…
- Accountability. I’ve signed up to be a part of this, and it started two days ago. After flying halfway across the country on Tuesday, we are still getting over jet lag (ie. the kids are still waking up at 4:30-5:00am every morning!), but I’m finding the encouragement on twitter from my group members to be a perfect little boost for getting my reading in every day, and checking in and being accountable with my time in the mornings. Even though I’m not a morning person, it still seems to make my day go so much smoother when I can do my reading in the mornings. Even if it has to wait until Aliza’s morning nap, I am still trying to be purposeful in making sure it happens! (And sometimes, I will make Isaac a cup of tea as well – see the small blue tea cup in the background of the above photo? – so that he sits quietly {sort of} while I read).
- If you’re going cross-eyed and your lids are getting droopy, try changing up your translation. The Message is a lovely work, but I know, I know, tell a Conservative Evangelical that it’s a translation, and you’ll get some dirty looks. Nonetheless, that’s what I’ve oft been reading as of late. It’s been a totally fresh way of looking at so many of the passages I’ve read so many times before. I find myself reading beyond “just to see what happens”, which I love!
- Write your thoughts. Record your journey through the scripture so that you can look back the next time you read through the entire Bible again, and see how God can really speak a fresh word to your heart each and every time you open those pages. Different things will strike you at different times. You can do it in blog-style, or in personal journal-style. Either way is good, just make it intentional!
After so many years of praying that I would find a passion for His word, I am finally falling asleep at night excited to wake up and see what I will find from my morning scripture portion. How cool is that?!
I’m curious – am I the only ‘bad Christian’ out there that has not done daily Bible reading since becoming a Christian? What do you do for your daily time with God? (If you have it at all?) What has helped you establish the habit?
no sweetie, you are not the only one–I too have struggled with daily scripture-same reasons as you! You have truly inspired me–if you can do it with three small children, I should be able to do it in my empty nest!! thank you-I enjoy your posts very much–they take me back to when my babies were young! Bless you, Joan Millard,
Will DEFINITELY come back to this post, have some thoughts to share.
Krista
Looking forward to it!
I have really struggled with the idea of being bright eyed and bushy tailed to read the Bible every day. But worship? That’s a whole different story. I have some worship time every day. I particularly like songs that incorporate the scriptures in them…whether contemporary, gospel, or a sacred aria. I am working to read the Bible more daily, though. Part of this has been focusing on the passages rather than reading a whole bunch at once. I try to treat it like food – get a sense of when I’m hungry, read, and stop when I’m full for the day, if that makes any sense. Hard to try to go intuitively, but I feel better about my walk with the Lord when I do. I forget the name, but there’s apparently a new project that’s come out with famous actors reading the Bible (I think it’s called The Bible Experience?). I was thinking of getting it, because I thought it might help me think of the Bible in a fresh way hearing someone reading it rather than always reading myself. I thought it might be a good supplement.
Really hoping I get to the place where reading the Bible feels as exciting or more exciting than reading a novel! Right now I think I’m going through a dry patch and need to shake things up….:)
I totally get what you mean about worship being easy, but actual Bible reading being difficult. I’ve been that way my entire life. It’s bee tempting to say that’s “good enough”… but I think I’ve missed out on a lot by not just reading the Bible as it is, straight-up like a book. So many ways for God to speak right to me are bound up in those pages!
Oh, AND I love your idea of journalling alongside… I’m excited to try it!
Oh, I understand more than I’ve ever admitted before! That was/is me… but I’m learning to pick it up and actually absorb, and LOVE it! I enjoy the Life Application Study Bible personally but I usually will look up various translation online and compare… I do enjoy the Message, especially from the standpoint it’s not boring and it’s in modern English… growing up KJV was the One True Translation and I have to be honest, it’s not a fun read in the King’s English…
Ya know, I’ve never really read the KJV much. I’m curious to check it out a bit more… but I have to say – claiming it as the one true translation just seems rather silly
Thank you for sharing your authenticity with us. I’ve been there too. This year I tried to read the Bible in 90 days. I got through the Old Testament. My goal this fall is to read the New Testament and then next year to read the Bible chronologically next year. I really like you ideas on journalling through the Bible. I’m going to try that.
I have to admit that I am one of those Conservatives regarding the Message, but I do love to read it and it has enable me to read tough scripture and gain new insights into it.
Wow, even just the OT in 90 days is impressive! Do you feel like you really “got something” from it? As far as The Message goes – I don’t necessarily think that it can be called a translation (nor am I quick to say that it can’t)… I just think it’s helpful in my devos
Ah, nope…you’re not alone. Sounds a lot like my Bible reading history. I read through the Bible in 3 years when I was a young teen, but I really didn’t take much in because I was trying to keep up with the deadline. I’ve read passages since then and said, “this happens in the Bible!? I thought I’d read this whole thing before!?” So I am really hesitant to set specific goals…especially the Bible in a year (since 3 years was hard at the time…when I had no kids!). On the other hand, when I set no goals, I don’t usually pick it up and when I do, I have no idea where to start. It’s one thing when you’re reading through psalms or through the gospels which have a story line. But passages like the measurements for building the temple in Exodus….let’s just say that’s a little bit dry! I know it has it’s place, but when I’m studying for daily inspiration it doesn’t really fill the need.
My husband and I have been enjoying the teaching of Les Feldick (www.lesfeldick.org). He’s just a regular guy and in his teaching he just goes line by line through the Bible, backing up scriptures with other scriptures until you get a big picture of things. There have been many longstanding questions answered for us listening to those, but still, I would like to dig into the word myself. In fact that’s what he encourages listner’s to do.
Thanks for this inspiring post. You’ve given me hope that I will also be able to hunger for the scriptures like I do a good novel!
I know what you mean about the drier passages in the OT. I’ve loved The Message for that especially. It’s been amazingly helpful in following along and staying awake
So glad you’re finding something that works for you. Everyone is different. I usually don’t use anything other than my Bible, though sometimes I include a Christian living book in my devotion time (but not related to my reading). Also prayer lists – the church sends out a weekly list, the school sends out a monthly list, you can make your own – gets your focus off yourself. But I go up and down about doing it as a duty and enjoying it – I think everyone does. Just keep it up
. And keep using your creativity!
I like the idea of doing a prayer list… I’ve thought about it before, but never actually done it. Perhaps now is a good time to add that in!