When I look at the Bible, my heart turns—almost with a heavy reverence—not as a pious reaction, but simply as an acknowledgement of what it claims to be and the power it has exerted upon the world. It’s not just any regular book.
History will tell you that. Culture will tell you that. Governments will tell you that. Christians will tell you that. Individuals will tell you that. And I’ll tell you that, from personal experience.
It’s changed people’s lives in ways that other books have not; it’s changed mine—and it continues to do so. And yet, I so often don’t give it the respect it warrants and the priority it demands in my life. I get so annoyed with myself that I don’t read it more.
Do I really treat it like it’s really the Word of God, as it claims?
Dr. Bart Ehrman, a New Testament professor at UNC Chapel Hill, asks his students the same question at the beginning of every semester, “How many of you believe that the Bible is the Word of God?” He says about 1/2 of the class raises their hands. He progresses, “Ok, you can put your hands down. Now, how many of you have read the Bible all the way through?” He says that only about 2-3 people in the entire class raise their hands. He motions, quite poignantly, “All of you who raised your hands the first time—you don’t believe the Bible is the Word of God. Because if you really did, then you would have at least read it all the way through.”†
Whether you’re a Christian or not, he makes a compelling point. Do we really approach the Bible with the gravity it deserves? And for Christians especially—who believe it to be the Word of God—why do we so often neglect the Bible, not reading it like we ought?
I think most of us could point to any number and combination of things. Perhaps it’s busyness or distraction; not having a place to enjoy ‘peace and quiet;’ not knowing where to start even if you do; or simply struggling to understand it in the way it’s meant to be read. I don’t have the time. I don’t have the space. I don’t have the training.
Additionally, it doesn’t help that there seems to be this expectation in church culture that your ‘Bible reading’ or ‘quiet time’ must be some sort of emotional, magical experience as well. And if it’s not, then obviously you aren’t doing something right. And so, you feel like you can’t even open up God’s Word until you’re mentally, emotionally, or spiritually ‘primed’ for such a weighty undertaking or transcending experience.
But the reality is, if we wait until we’re ‘ready’ anyways, then we’d never open up the Bible after all. A couple days’ streak without God’s Word will extend to a week. And then a week-long’s streak will extend into several weeks. We feel overcome by our inactivity, and even embarrassed by the amount of time-debt we’ve accumulated to the Bible.
And so, it becomes a vicious cycle of distraction, guilt, and non-reading—ad infinitum.
What’s wrong with me? we think. Life is busy. Distractions are real. Peace and quiet does feel impossible at times.
I wrestle with all those things—on a weekly basis. Hardly a day passes where these pressures don’t weigh on my spirit in some form or another. And I’m not going to tell you that every time I do open the Bible that it’s a magical, emotional experience, either—because it’s not.
For many Christians, we’re often caught in the tension of juggling expectations and managing pressures daily—all the while knowing that our souls desperately need the Bible.
So, what needs to change? We need to see our situation; we need to see what the Bible says about itself; and we need to see what God offers to us through the Bible in our situation.
See Our Situation
First, it’s important for us to realize the Bible’s place in our feelings. Contrary to popular culture, the Bible doesn’t primarily exist to be an emotional catharsis for us. It doesn’t promise to make magical, spiritual experiences for us; however, it does make promises about real world experience to us.
This should compel us to pour ourselves into God’s Word, regardless of how we feel before or after we’ve even read it, regardless of how busy or distracted we are, and regardless if it qualifies as ‘peaceful’ or can be categorized as ‘quiet.’ The Bible will change us, whether or not it’s packaged in peace and quiet or wrapped in a cathartic experience.
I’m afraid many of us think that we need to tidy up the chaos of life and make it smooth before we read God’s Word; but it’s often the reading of God’s Word into our chaos that makes us smooth, especially when life is not.
This is because the Bible is fundamentally words and promises, which are objective, not emotions or mantras or experiences, which are subjective. This means it doesn’t merely operate within the context of our circumstances or our feelings, but oftentimes in spite of them. Perhaps they don’t always inject us with a transcending, emotional experience, but they will always give us truth and promise, which transcends our immediate emotions and experience. And that should give us great hope in the chaos of our daily lives.
See Our Bible
Words are powerful in general, and even more so is God’s Word in particular. These are not just words on a page; if this book is what it says it is, then it is quite literally the inscriptions of laws, truths, and powers that govern our existence and the reality we live in.
Listen to what the Bible says about itself and it’s place in our lives.
It’s “spirit and life” (Jn. 6:63)… it’s “alive and active” (Heb. 4:12). It’s “perfect, reviving to the soul”… it’s “sure, making wise the simple” (Ps. 19:7)… it’s powerful for today (Ps. 119:105)… and in a world of chaos, fake news, and information overload, it’s “everlasting truth” (Jn. 17:17).
It’s timely and timeless (Is. 40:8).
It’s coherent and reliable (1 Tim. 3:16).
It’s incisive, yet comforting (Heb. 4:12).
It’s simple, yet profound (Mt. 19:14).
It’s old, yet relevant (Rom. 15:4).
It’s humbling, yet empowering (Ps. 119).
It’s sanctifying, yet satisfying (Jn. 17:17).
It makes the heart think and the mind feel (Ps. 19:7).
It’s offensive to my pride and counterintuitive to my logic (1 Co. 1:22).
I approach it with questions, only to realize I’m not asking the right ones (Mt. 19:16).
I approach it with objections, only to realize I’m not following its own logic (2 Tim. 3:15).
It reveals itself to humble admission, and it shrouds itself from ulterior motive (Mt. 16:4).
It gleams like gold in times of suffering, and it stands like bronze in times of success (Hos. 13).
It’s “wise unto salvation“ (2 Tim 3:15)… it’s “God-breathed” (2 Tim 3:16)… it’s something God himself wrote to us and through us and for us (2 Pe. 1:21)… and it’s “so that we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).
And the entire Bible all strongly points to the epicenter of all meaning, the logos made flesh, Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1-5). Every bit of meaning anchored in our existential reality is not found ultimately in a book or in a principle, but in a Person and in relationship with him. This is what the Bible speaks to in every way (Jn. 5:39).
It’s not just a book.
I’ve heard it said that reading the Bible is like looking through the peephole on a door—only to find an eye looking right back at you. We’re not interpreting the Bible so much as it is interpreting us.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” We don’t need to defend it, nor does it need our help. If anything, it defends us, and we need its help. It stands on in its own, and with lion-like eyes, it stares into our souls—bidding us to take refuge in its power, or else.
This has been my experience with the Bible. It has certainly provided me a lens for the world, but that hasn’t come without exposing my heart, revealing my blind spots, and challenging my preferences. On my best of days, I’m a mongoose staring into the eyes of a lion; submission is always in my best interest.
Circular Reasoning?
However, perhaps you’re a bit skeptical (like me), and thought to yourself, “Wow, the Bible describes itself as the greatest thing ever. What circular propaganda!” Your objection is an understandable one; and you’re right, it could mean that. Or, it could mean the very opposite.
If the Bible is, in fact, true, then its description of itself would not be circular propaganda, but an appropriate plea. If the Bible is true and exists for our ultimate well-being, then it would be unloving for it to not exalt itself in this way in our lives. If that’s the case, then it’s not saying so for our constraint, but for our freedom. Either the Bible is self-inflated nonsense, or it’s true and it’s pleading with us to “come and live!”
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. (Isaiah 55:2-3)
Just as our bodies are dependent upon the nourishment of food and drink, so also are our souls dependent upon the Word of God. What the Bible is not, therefore, is a ‘supplement pill’ that you’re free to take or not. It’s not a pill—it’s your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This book is your sustenance, there is no other. Don’t fast yourself, feast!
What This Means
Christian, what does this mean for you, then? Do you worry? Do you despair? Are you afraid? Are you bitter? Do you doubt? Are you suffering? Do you struggle with forgiveness or injustice? What are your real world experiences right now?
Pastor J.C. Ryle says that through the Bible…
“God is continually holding out inducements to man to listen to Him, obey Him, and serve Him… He has… shown His perfect knowledge of human nature, by spreading over the Book a perfect wealth of promises, suitable to every kind of experience and every condition of life… There is hardly a step in man’s life, from childhood to old age, hardly any position in which man can be placed, for which the Bible has not held out encouragement to every one who desires to do right in the sight of God. There are “shalls” and “wills” in God’s treasury for every condition. About God’s infinite mercy and compassion,—about His readiness to receive all who repent and believe,—about His willingness to forgive, pardon, and absolve the chief of sinners,—about His power to change hearts and alter our corrupt nature,—about the encouragements to pray, and hear the gospel, and draw near to the throne of grace,—about strength for duty, comfort in trouble, guidance in perplexity, help in sickness, consolation in death, support under bereavement, happiness beyond the grave, reward in glory,—about all these things there is an abundant supply of promises in the Word. No one can form an idea of its abundance unless he carefully searches the Scriptures, keeping the subject steadily in view. If any one doubts it, I can only say, “Come and see.”‡
Everything you need, the Bible offers.
Truth for the mind.
Hope for the heart.
Rest for the soul.
Freedom from the past.
Power in the present.
Promise for the future.
Approval in the Spirit.
Acceptance by the Son.
Affirmation from the Father.
You can’t put a price on these things! In fact, John Piper says it best: “Say you had access to 500 million dollars. And you said to me, ‘I will give you 500 million dollars to not read this book for a year.’ I wouldn’t take it. On my life, I wouldn’t take it. You can keep your money, and I will have my Bible. The only authoritative communion I have with God with any certainty comes through the words of this book. It is precious beyond measure.”
The sobering thought is, can we say the same thing?
In Our Hands
A couple weeks ago, I relocated a small, back-pocket-sized Bible that my friend, Caleb Shrum, gave to me 11 years ago at Orange School, Super Summer, in Clarksville, TN. The Bible had been stowed away in the bottom of my bedroom dresser drawer for the past several years, but when I took it out, my spirit moved—almost viscerally—within me.
A powerful mixture of emotions welled up in my heart and vivid memories flash-flooded to the forefront of my mind. It was somewhat overwhelming, emotionally. 11 years of experiences—pleasure and pain, conviction and revelation, along with the many people and places—raced before my mind’s eye like a movie reel set on 100x speed.
I texted him recently, saying I had relocated that Bible—and that since receiving it—I couldn’t possibly have anticipated all the new mercies I’d see 11 years from that point. And his response was even better, “New mercies we didn’t even have a category for 11 years ago. Gets me stoked about the next 11.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to cash every check that has my name on it. But it’s even truer for all the promises and truths written in this book. Christian, let’s know and access everything that this book says is at our disposal. We need this book, there’s so much in it for us.
______________
† Although I graduated from UNC, I was not present for Dr. Ehrman’s illustration. I have heard this story in several sermons from J.D. Greear, lead pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, NC.
‡ J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979, orig. 1883), 382.
