Can I Read The Bible?

Written by Joe Watson. Media by Max Gensler.

Can I read the Bible? This might sound like a ridiculous question, but it is worth asking. Many people think reading the bible is an easy task. However, there are others who find it to be a daunting task. The truth is the Bible is a very complex book, and it is not something you can just pick up and throw around as you wish. Yet, it is not so hard to understand that we can’t read it at all. Considering how deep and intricate the bible is, we should approach it with a deep and intricate mindset in order to understand it. Otherwise, we will find ourselves believing things about the bible which are simply not true, or even contradictory to what we would actually believe if we gave the Bible a fuller look.

Many consider reading their Bible to be a tedious part in their walks as Christians. As a bible reader, you ought to think of the Bible as the race you will never finish. In this way, you won’t get it in your head that the Bible is something you can master. The race should not be something that discourages you. Instead, you should take the race as a challenge to get better at reading the Bible. In the end, the finish ought to be the same for everyone trying to read the Bible faithfully. You will get to know God more intimately through your reading, and your walk with Christ will be a fuller experience.

It must then be said that reading the Bible is not a solo experience. You cannot read the Bible in a vacuum of your own thoughts. This will lead to many blunders when reading the Bible. The Bible has always been read in a community of people. From the beginning, when the Jews first read the Torah as sacred scripture, to when the first Christian communities read the letters of Paul and subsequently the Gospels, the Bible has always been read in a community. Now, of course, this doesn’t mean you should drop the Bible and only hear it read on Sunday when you are with others. This idea could also lead to you being misdirected in your faith. For example, for many hundreds of years, it could be said that the Catholic Church kept its members from examining and allowing other voices to be heard concerning the scriptures. Which, if you don’t know, lead to the reformation giving us most of the protestant denominations we have today. This is why it is so important to hear from a group of people who may have differing opinions on certain issues. The Church, pastors, mentors, and friends should all influence your faith and theology.