I Don't Know How to Read the Bible
That's what I realized this morning. I read and all I see is material for theological debates. Shouldn't there be something more?
Technorati tags: Bible Reading Bible Reading
Technorati tags: Bible Reading Bible Reading
posted by Freethinker at 4:58:00 PM
5 Comments:
Yes.
Honestly, I think many folks go most of their life (or perhaps all of it) without realizing that. Sometimes it's cloaked in high theology talk. Sometimes it's cloaked in sweet devotional thought. In each case, the words really don't sink in.
One practice we've done as a community before you came was to read a passage (usually a verse or two) repeatedly, asking the Holy Spirit to emphasize a word or phrase that you should focus on. This process of meditating on God's truths, no matter how it's practiced is a helpful way to dig into passages we subconsciously think we already know.
Lately, I've signed up for a verse-a-day e-mail from the NLT folks so that I consistently have a reminder to meditate on a verse or two in addition to more study-type reading.
It is a process that I'm still learning though. As you pursue this, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm pretty sure I have something to learn from you.
I have been there many times J, and even tend to go back more often than I would like. I think it's part of the process of learning to take our faith to a more relevant level (you know the incarnational stuff).
One of the things that really really really helps me when I am feeling like the Scriptures aren't coming in like I know God would like is to read The Message. It's a paraphase/translation (that we have actually used a bit at Mosaic) that really brings the Scriptures back to a place of life. The Bible was written as Story (it's all true...but it's still a story). It wasn't meant to be a History book. It was meant to be lived more than studied. Read more than debated. The Message helps me keep all of this mind.
I have an extra copy of The Message if you would like to borrow it sometime.
I will be praying for you (and hopefully you for me) as together we continue to grow in this journey of faith.
See ya tonight at the game!
Thanks for the comments.
Parke - would you mind expounding on how you meditate?
Stephen - I've read from The Message before, and I'd have to say that most of the time I just find it annoying.
I'd be happy to, dude, though I'm still learning a lot myself. I'll blog a few thoughts on it tonight or tomorrow.
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