Thursday, January 31, 2008

Bible Reading

Sunday I'm talking about how our fear of the LORD fuels our desire to be in His word and therefore I was digging around my files on Bible study. I came across a stat from George Barna that blew me away. First of all he said that only 54% of Protestant adults read the Bible outside of church during any given week. And if you think that is bad, I think the number within the Catholic community was like in the 20's. Pretty sad if we really believe the Bible is from God.

But what really caused me to raise my eyebrows was when Barna pointed out that Mormons (67%) are more likely to read the Bible during the week than are Protestants - even though most Mormons do not believe that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God.

Are you kidding me? We supposedly believe it's the authoritative word of God and yet only half of us pick it up during the week. Please tell me you've read your Bible today. I think God has something He wants to say.

7 comments:

Just Jonna said...

and frighteningly, the Jehovah's Witness community is near 100%. They really know their stuff. Sad that they know the wrong stuff, though.

Anonymous said...

The greatest story ever told, often times, is sadly the greatest story never read.

Anonymous said...

I was working on my ABF study the other night and fell asleep in the bed reading Hosea. Woke up in the middle of the night with my head laying in the Bible.

That is what I did in college. Not the actual studying but sleeping with my head on the book and hoping it seeped in. :)

Anonymous said...

I am ashamed to say I do not read the bible everyday, my husband does. We have our bible on our bed,,,,,,,no excuse is there!!!!!!!! Great topic
aunt Sandi

Anonymous said...

Good post, however the Mormons do accept the authority of the Bible. Also, please remember that even the early Christians did not read the Bible neither did Jews in the Old Testamental period. Neither groups had access to an actual copy of the Bible and most could not read. So don't get too discouraged about the lack of Bible reading.

Reading the Bible individually is a Post Reformation phenonmenon.

Anonymous said...

Keith does the same thing on Sunday mornings too...

Anonymous said...

About the early Christians "not reading the Bible".....they were actually living out the teachings of Jesus on a daily basis by meeting in one anothers homes, and serving, sharing with each other as part of their daily living. We on the otherhand seem to "fit Jesus" into our busy schedules as if He were just part of our to do list. I see and I have been guilty of the same or worse, that we are so bogged down living in the world, that most Sundays we collapse in the pew just to catch our breath, take out last week's bullentin, in hopes to do better next week. However, the same busyness consumes us and the words of encouragement and advice the Lord has to offer us thru His word collects dust till next Sunday.

It's not about "guilt" if we do or don't, it's about what guidance and peace we miss when we don't dig into His word.