Even in a church like this, many people struggle to do what they believe they ought to do. Still being a strong believer in God who has chosen to give up reading the Bible on a regular basis and who no . I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in todays digital world. 6 Days. 5 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. The lies begin to form in your mind. 1 Corinthians 2. Today, its easier than ever to read what the Bible says. Today, it's easier than ever to read what the Bible says. First, make it your assumption that when people come to church on Sunday, many or even most of them have not read the Bible or even thought much about it since the previous Sunday. But that doesn't mean he agreed with either of them. Open with scripture, read scripture, confess sin through scripture, provide assurance of pardon through scripture, pray scripture, preach scripture, sing scripture, and send people on their way with scripture. Even the New Testament authors such as Peter and Paulwho wrote their letters in Greekwere constantly thinking in Hebrew, communicating the ideas and principles found in the Old Testament into the Greek language. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full chapter. 10 Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. Proverbs 5:6 in all English translations. The goal of this reading plan is to shed light on the Hebraic thought behind 5 crucial words found in Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament. So if you dont understand Shakespearean English, you certainly cannot say that you fully understand the King James Version. The fact is over 82% of Christian Americans only read their Bibles on Sundays while in church. Also, nearly 100 percent have the level of literacy and the access to resources that would make it possible. To the Christian Who Doesn't Read Their Bible. There was only the Old testament and the Book of Enoch. I have now blogged for 6,943 consecutive days. Dedicated to your stories and ideas. Growing up in a devout Christian household, I was always taught that the Bible was the only possible way of connecting with God and that people who didn't read the Bible or go to church were "fake Christians.". If you think youre gonna have a talk with someone to try and force them back into that lifestye, forget it. God is also not unchanging in the sense that what he said way back then applies forever. The Bible in and of itself is not the word of God; it merely contains Gods word in some parts. One example is the word fornication. This word came from the Greek word porneos, which did not simply mean sex before marriage. Read Shakespeare and youll soon realize that there are a lot of things you dont understand. Patricia McCarty. Preaching should never be trite or silly, but it can be simple even while accurately communicating what is true and good and pure. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. On a whim, they can open it and begin reading any chapter or verse from any book they want in their very own language. We often use Bible verses to support why our opinion is correct, but the Bible also contains many verses that support opinions we may disagree with. Just a little bit of digging can open up a new world understanding of what Scripture teaches and help us understand what God wishes to reveal about himself, creation, and our place in it. This leads me to a few points of personal application that may be helpful to you as well. YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. You hate to admit it but you don't read your Bible. What translators cant do for us is transfer the cultural backgrounds and deeper meanings of the Greek and Hebrew concepts and ideas. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy. The Bible has been around for centuries, but your average person didn't have a way of learning to read or write. (Read full chapter Be a minister of the Word! A recent study sponsored by LifeWay Research and highlighted by Facts & Trends shares some unfortunate but unsurprising results: "A third of Americans who attend a Protestant church regularly (32%) say they read the Bible personally every day. All rights reserved. I assume you think you are a 'bad Christian'. From beginning to end, from call to worship to benediction, soak your people in the Word. 1 Corinthians 1:10 in all English translations. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. What this means for us modern Christians is in order for us to think biblically, we must also think Hebraically, just as all of the biblical authors did, not to mention Jesus himself! A recent study sponsored by LifeWay Research and highlighted by Facts & Trends shares some unfortunate but unsurprising results: A third of Americans who attend a Protestant church regularly (32%) say they read the Bible personally every day. Then, as you converse with people after the service and through the week, continue to give them scripture that encourages and equips them. Most dont need to be taught advanced lessons but reminded of basic truths. On a whim, they can open it and begin reading any chapter or verse from any book they want in their very own language. Pastor, remember that you are a minister of the Word. Dont look down on other Christians who dont read the Bible and go to church because everyone connects with God in a different way. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy. Read the Bible, discover plans, and seek God every day. The Bible was also written in three different languages, which all have connotations of their own. Around a quarter (27%) say they read it a few times a week." They divide the results demographically and provide lots more information, but the . Divisions at Corinth. We need to scratch at the English words we read and find the rich Hebraic roots underneath. When most Christians pick up a Bible, they rarely realize that they are holding a miracle between their hands. Site by Mere. The longer the pastor spends in the Word and the more hours he commits to study, the more he can be drawn to the minor nuances and small details of his text. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our. For less than $5/mo. Learn about us. Finally, preach simple sermons. As far as we know, every author of every book of the Bible was Jewish, and either knew Hebrew as their mother tongue or learned it from an early age. In my case, I stopped doing these things because I learned to use the Bible as a weapon to harm others and church only ever reinforced that power. That has been tried and found wanting. The acclaimed Bible scholar and author of The Historical Jesus and God & Empire-"the greatest New Testament scholar of our generation" (John Shelby Spong) -grapples with Scripture's two conflicting visions of Jesus and God, one of a loving God, and one of a vengeful God, and explains how Christians can better understand these passages in a way that enriches their faith. Romans 16. You have every right to believe whatever you want to believe, whether its a fundamentalist belief or not. In fact, I believe this makes the Bible even more fascinating. Translating everything word for word would not make any sense. Second, give the congregation lots of Bible in your worship services. Thou shalt not bear false witness is often used to condemn lying, but how many of us grew up with our parents telling us the lie of Santa Claus? It meant sex as a form of worship to other gods, prostitution, or sex used to harm others. I think any act is not inherently good or bad, its simply the heart with which we do something that determines the morality. Whatever else you do, however else you help people, be sure youre at least faithfully ministering the all-good, allsufficient, all-powerful Word of God. No. Dont discuss to change someone. But that doesnt mean its just as easy to understand. "You don't love the Lord.". YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. The way I was raised, the Bible was Gods ultimate authority and was Gods perfect, divinely inspired word. Just like a mom ministers comfort to her sad child or a doctor ministers healing to a sick patient, you are to minister the Word to your people. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. You dont know everyones situation or relationship with God. Today, its easier than ever to read what the Bible says. Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. We often forget that the English words we see are translators best efforts to reflect the language, grammar, and syntax of the original biblical authors. But Ive long since learned this isnt the case. Christians Don't Read Their Bible. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our. In lieu of a comments section, I accept and encourage letters to the editor. I pray that he would close his eyes and pray, even for just a few minutes. While I receive some requests about difficult circumstances and advanced matters of obedience, the most common by far are the simplest: Pray that I would read and pray. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, you can do so here. Yes. Like I said, the issue is not that Christians dont know that they should be in Gods Word. It would be tempting to believe that in a church like this the majority of people would be in the Word just as much through the week as they wish to be on the Lords Day. Beneath the surface of each passage we read in Scripture, there is an entire world that is completely foreign to modern readers. A little over 20 years ago, Gallup released the results of a major study indicating that 86% of Americans claimed to . But that was the backdrop, not the command. This means that there is not one right way to do things, and definitely not one right or wrong way to be a Christian. Shakespeares life was the same time period as the publication of the King James Version. When Christians Just Dont Read the Bible, Ask Me Anything (Parents, Porn-Free Families, Studying the Bible, Worship Services), Two Years Later: What Aileen Is Thankful For, 8 Sins You Commit Whenever You Look at Porn. 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