Why do you think we should study the Bible?
Part I Objections
Over the years I have asked people at a various colleges and universities, from students to professors what they thought about the Bible. During those conversations I usually received an ear full of hostility. I would get responses that dismiss the Bible as an antiquated book of rhetoric, that it has no meaning for us in our modern age. Some of the Professors believe that the Bible was responsible for the problems of darkness and disgust of ages past.
Students who were more savvy would challenge me with all kinds of rhetoric, such as: Why should we study such an antiquated book in an age of science and reason? Why study a book that cannot possibly be understood, where highly educated people fight against each other for its meaning? Where so many churches split, causes divisions, change and form denominations and have such different thinking, that varies so much, and has wounded so many? Why study the Bible when for centuries people have used it to fight against each other in wars and violence? Why study a book that has caused countless thousands of people to die in its crusades? Why study a book that is filled with so many myths and contradictions? Why study a book that is boring and has no bearing on us today?
I also asked the same question to different people in various churches and denominations and would you believe I received so many different answers and even some hostility for asking such questions. They usually believed in the merits of reading the Bible. Even at liberal churches I would find people in support of the Bible. But what amazed me was that some Christians did not see any relevance in reading it! In fact some people got mad at me for even asking them if they read the Bible on a regular basis. As if it were not worth reading, as if there were far more important things that need that space of time such as sports, TV, parties, going out, reading romance novels and so forth.
I wondered if the responses from the secular colleges were so different from many of the Christians who believed that daily Bible reading or study did not matter. One group says emphatically that they refuse to believe in the Bible's precepts, while the other group may believe in it; however, they do nothing about it. You see from my perspective both groups were doing nothing about it and only one group was honest about it!
To the secular historian, their thinking is that throughout church history Christians have fought amongst themselves and shown no unity or proof that the Bible is the Word of God. They see the same answers echoed from Christians as that of the atheists who cry with antagonism. That Christians fight and disagree, and atheists are honest and simply refuse to believe. This is truly sad. The Word of God becomes a tightrope that displays the acrobatic skill of its defenders oration, and then becomes the rope of a pulling contest to see who is right. Of course the Bibles defender is the Spirit of God, it stands by itself and defends itself. The Bible does not need our oration or rhetoric.
Christians who claim the Bible's truths and carry her under their arms to church, may never venture into her pages, thus an insult may occur to their will and intellect. Even the best intended disciples are under the duress of finding themselves incased in fatigue and mood in its reading. That scatters them from its pages. Then there are those who refuse to admit they do not know the Bible. They do not know how to study the Word and for the sake of pride they will refuse to learn. They think, "I grew up in the church, I know the Bible!" Yet they do not. Pride is an excellent way to lift yourself up, and arrogance makes an effective cover to the truth.
So who would dare venture into her arms, a book that seems to represent so much hate and strife? Why indeed do we study the Bible?
Is the Bible really the ground that produces the crops of strife and division? Are its fruits bruised and rotten with contradiction and myth? Are her crops indigestible and have no place in the produce stand of reason? Are her pages filled with meaningless stories that bore us to sleep?
That is the principle arguments that the atheists give. It is also the same reasons why most Christians do not read their Bible. Most Christians may not say that the Bible is full of contradictions, but they are being contradictory by claming Christ and ignoring His Word. Most Christians may not personally believe that the Bible was the cause of societies problems, but they do not use it to solve theirs. Most Christians may even believe that the Bible is for us today full of treasures and goodness, but they do not harvest her crops, or use her treasures for their table.
When we ask people in our seminars why they do not read the Bible, we get four primary categories. 1. It is boring. 2, it is too difficult to read and understand. 3. The Bible is too old to have any bearing on my life. 4. People fight over it too much. Although response 3 and 4 are rare, I believe most Christians have experienced number 1 and 2, first hand.
Yet the Bible has always been true. We may attempt to dismiss it's claims and it's intrusion into our lives. However the Bible has been the light in darkness, the strength in our weakness, our comfort in our troubles, and our guide for our life.
Because God's Word is, 'more precious than gold, than much pure gold; and is more sweeter than honey" (Psalm 19:10)
When we try to live the Christian life alone without the guidance and support from the Word, we are like a Doctor performing a operation without ever going to medical school.
So what about all the objections?
There are three primary objections to the Bible. They all fall under the premise that people generally do not want to venture into her because of a fear of being convicted. I had a good friend who is a committed Christian who said he did not like to read the Bible. His fear was he would be convicted to become a missionary in a far off place and be miserable. I told him that God would never call you to something that you are not gifted and suited for. That if he did indeed received a call to go to Outer Mongolia, he would also have the burning desire to go there too. But we like to cover up our fears of being convicted with arguments of reason and logic. That is to say if we can prove our point we do not have to listen to it. If we can put down the Bible, then we can elevate ourselves, so we can think and do as we please. We do not need to be convicted by a book that is untrue. As for my friend he dove into the Bible, and learned all that he could. What I find so funny is he ended up in Russia, and he loved it!
You may not have the expertise and savvy to answer such objections, that is OK! I get stumped occasionally and have to research it. That is why there are so many good books out there on Apologetics. Such as Josh McDowell's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict", and we have lots of great links for apologetic websites on our 'Links' channel.
The objection I have heard over the years is, "the Bible is for pastors, I just do not understand it". When I ask them to tell me about the Bible that they are reading, I find as it was as with me, the translation is too old and the print too small. And sometimes they start with Revelations and get confused. Yes there are parts of the Bible that are hard to understand, but over 95% is as crystal clear as the daily newspaper. So if you can read the newspaper, you can read the Bible!
The Bibles objections are neutered, castrated from any threat to the reasonable mind. There are no contradictions in it, and it is as readable as any magazine and it is definitely not boring. The question is what is stopping you?
It is when we are comfortable and complacent that our lack of willingness clouds us from growing in our Lord. The problem is our neglect. The problem is not the Bible!
So why should we study the Bible?
Ó 1989, 2000, Rev. R.J. Krejcir excerpt from the upcoming book 'With the Word' www.intothyword.com