Great observation. Coming to the Bible for an emotional charge leads people to find things that aren’t there.

Drop me a DM on twitter with your address. I’ve got an edition of the Bible I think you’ll like.

Amen and amen. A mentor [before that was the hip term] use to say reading the bible is like eating. Not every meal is a feast, sometimes you’re just sitting there eating and not thinking about much of anything.

I am always amazed when something I’ve just glanced over comes back time and time again during a day.. that’s a God thing to be sure.

Alan

“God is speaking in many ways to the believer”

I wish more people would realize that and live it. The Bible is crucial, but it is not the only way. Living contemplatively, searching for wisdom in all things and through others God speaks. In creation, god speaks.

Good thoughts.

Great thoughts. Though the “but often you will get no emotional response at all” phrase bugs me. I write this mainly about those who have been Christ Followers for a while – with the “solid food” references in mind from 1 Corinthians and Hebrews (I have been guilty of this just as much as anyone).

If we believe God’s word (all of it, not just the “pick-me-up” parts) is useful teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work; then, ALL of God’s Word should promote an emotional response (maybe we have too small a view of emotions OR too limited view of the life-changing aspect of God’s word).

One final thought. Maybe we are wrongly satisfied in simply “reading” the bible instead of “studying” it…marinating on and in it…truly digesting and applying it – like we do many other things in our lives.

Thanks Tyler!

I think the difficulty when encouraging others to read the Word is that they don’t know how to read it. Most churches just teach reading the logos but not many teach reading the rhema. Each are important for both understanding and revelation.

But you are definitely right that the church has somehow made Bible reading a checkoff or a daily devotion. It kinda loses it’s gravitas when you simplify it into a chore. I love reading the Word but when I read it, I want to get as much as I can out of it. If I am not getting anything out of it, sometimes it’s better to just put it down and try again later.

Good post as always.

the answer is both/and
or neither/nor…..

i think it just depends on where the heart of the person is at the moment reading that particular passage and there is no real way to identify what the “majority” do…b/c we can all identify w/ both responses when reading the Bible

Definitely. It’s a transformational process, not instant. The Bible tells us so