The Importance of Comprehensive Bible Reading for Christians

Why Many Christians Avoid Comprehensive Bible Reading

Many Christians do not read the Bible outside of church services. This trend is concerning because it limits their understanding of the scriptures to what is shared during sermons and Sunday-school lessons. Churches often cherry-pick Bible passages to emphasize certain teachings while ignoring problematic ones, which can lead to a skewed perception of the Bible's messages.

Interestingly, some Christians make it a point to read the entire Bible on their own. However, they represent a small percentage of the Christian population. For many, Bible reading is limited to specific portions, often guided by devotional readings that focus on selected verses and meditations. These devotionals tend to skip over the more challenging or "boring" parts of the Bible, potentially omitting important context and teachings.

The Role of Bible Guides and Devotionals

There are accessible guides that help Christians read the entire Bible in a year, offering a structured approach to scripture reading. These guides can be particularly useful for individuals who find the idea of reading the Bible from cover to cover daunting. Devotional readings, on the other hand, often suggest reading small, selected verses and meditating on them. While this can be spiritually enriching, it may also result in an incomplete understanding of the Bible.

A Bible Camp leader advised that the Bible should not be read like a regular book. According to this leader, reading the Bible like a scholarly book could turn people away from God. Instead, the "right" way to read the Bible is to listen to appointed elders with specific insights. This approach emphasizes the importance of community and guided interpretation in understanding the scriptures.

The Impact of Selective Bible Reading

A Protestant individual shared that they were unaware of Biblical teachings on divorce and remarriage until reading the New Testament independently. This teaching is well-attested in the Gospels but was not emphasized in their church. This example highlights the potential gaps in knowledge that can arise from selective Bible reading.

Many Christians include Bible reading as part of their practice but often read only specific portions. Devotional guides and church teachings may avoid difficult framing of certain Bible stories. For example, the story of Samson is often simplified in devotionals to focus on positive aspects, ignoring more problematic details. This selective reading can lead to an incomplete and sometimes misleading understanding of the Bible's messages.

Encouraging Comprehensive Bible Reading

For Christians to fully understand and take to heart the teachings of the Bible, comprehensive reading is essential. This means not only reading the entire Bible but also engaging with its more challenging and complex parts. A more holistic approach to Bible reading can provide a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the scriptures.

The statement that Christians don't read their Bible often means they do not read it comprehensively or contextually, rather than never reading it at all. Encouraging comprehensive Bible reading can help Christians develop a more profound and well-rounded faith, grounded in a thorough understanding of their sacred texts.