Comments on: Questions when I hate to read the Bible

By: Jim - Sample Personal Statement Essay

Jim - Sample Personal Statement Essay — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:20:07 +0000

I think you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. I believe most of us have undergone what you are experiencing right now. You should not think worse things about yourself just because you have difficulty reading the bible or if you are not interested reading it sometimes. As many would say, the bible is not your textbook, you should not force yourself to read it. Reading the Bible also needs divine inspiration.

By: Iris

Iris — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:15:18 +0000

I do not use the Bible primarily for learning. Oh I know it is our principle source as believers, but I read it to hear another person’s heart – His. It is not necessary that I understand, although I do study in order to learn and understand, but that is not principally my approach. I approach the sacred text to hear — not acquire knowledge. I know that sounds very strange. But at my age, and having read and studied the Bible my whole life (at times experiencing just what has been described here — as long as I was trying to learn something), I have read it more than 30 times cover to cover, and much I still do not understand. But our Lord Jesus is able through His Spirit to unfold Himself out of those dry pages and delight my heart in His person. Draw near to listen — that changes everything. I believe James says this in “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” That works through the pages of the book as well as in what is normally called prayer.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:30:46 +0000

Great thoughts, guys – thanks for sharing those!

@Peter – that’s a great reminder that even our study needs a sabbath.

@Gary – thanks for the support! I might quibble that “God is the foundation for it all”, but since the Bible is our chief revelation of God, I suppose that might be splitting hairs. I remain thirsty, however, for knowing how else Christians know God, other than the Bible.

@John – I will look for the Psalms link. I had thought about getting the Bible Experience edition of the Psalms for my Kindle, but I’m balancing the “fear” that they would become background noise if I’m not perfectly concentrating on listening.

@Ryan – yes, I love free association thinking starting from a Bible verse or passage. Many of my blog posts are the result of the links that occur to me during those times. Though I always wonder if I’m overlaying my interpretation over God’s intent and am missing the mark, reading things into the text that aren’t there.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:27:21 +0000

This may not be all that helpful but… when I am in a mood where Bible reading seems laborious, I simply close my eyes and remember some story, scene, verse, or Psalm that I love. I replay it a few times in my mind and think about what it might mean, about how God revealed himself in that story, about how we as people should respond to him. Of course the ability to this requires some level of memorization on the front end. But in my experience, Bible reading is only one step in understanding the Bible.

By: John Hobbins

John Hobbins — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:29:08 +0000

Did you catch the Psalms read on public radio in Britain I linked to a while back? I don’t know if they are still available, maybe someone put them on YouTube.

We need more really excellent readings of the texts. I will never forget hearing the entire gospel of Mark recited by a single actor with a minimum of props.

By: Gary Zimmerli

Gary Zimmerli — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:02:48 +0000

Wise words, Peter! I have experienced it in my own life.

ElShaddai, yes, do that first. But do the Bible as well. The Word is the foundation for it all.

By: Peter M. Lopez

Peter M. Lopez — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:07:57 +0000

If I may, I’ll pass along a little bit of wisdom I learned from one of my uncles who is a pastor. It changed my approach to the Bible. After about two years of intense, probably daily Bible reading, I hit a wall. I had a hard time reading, I had a hard time understanding, and I was very frustrated because it was the first time I had experienced this. I asked him to pray with me for breakthrough, and, as we prayed, he explained that my body physically needed time to digest all that I had learned and that it would take some time. I suppose if the Word is bread this makes sense. He also explained that there are periods where the key point of reading/study is not for insight or revelation, in an immediate sense, but simply to bind the word in our heart for the Holy Spirit to bring forth as needed. Why don’t I understand a particular passage in Leviticus today? Maybe because I’m not supposed to…yet. When the time and application are right, the Holy Spirit will bring it to remembrance. I pray this for you, my brother.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:02:34 +0000

That’s a very good point, Damian – I’ve had precious little time for blogging in the past few months and I can feel it gnawing at me. Thanks for the great reminder to try and stay focused!

By: Damian

Damian — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:24:18 +0000

E.S.,

Good stuff. But I have to say, my alternative to all of these is exactly this: Blogging. It gives discussion, it gives oral learning, it provides focus, and daily input. It’s why I keep it up, even when I’m busy – it keeps me rooted in scripture, even though I have trouble simply sitting and reading the bible.