read the Bible

today i preached about the importance of reading Scripture- let me simply say this- the Christianity of this nation suffers from ignorance - so few actually read the Bible it is no surprise that so few have an impact- ultimately i believe- just my opinion- that believers that know how to read and who can get their hands on a Bible ought to read it through AT LEAST once a year- this may seem arbitrary but in reality it could be much more than this- but in the words of Paul:

For people will be lovers of self,...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...(2 Timothy 3:2-4)

we love our leisure too much to "have time" to spend in the Word that has changed the world and that can change us- instead so many assume they know the Bible without having read it and end up propagating Christian culture and the traditions of men rather than the book that, is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart(Hebrews 4:12).  Many assume likewise they know God but do not know the Bible- this is simple DO NOT ASSUME YOU KNOW THE BIBLE IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT AND DO NOT ASSUME YOU KNOW GOD IF YOU DONT KNOW THE BIBLE

if you are interested there are some great reading plans on our website as well as a sermon on this topic-Acts 17:1-15- my habit has been to read the Bible through three times a year- it has helped me so much and changed me in more ways than i can recount- read without stopping and don't try to get to the "deep truths" of every passage simply read it- even if your mind wanders simply keep reading -after awhile you will see that so much is more caught than taught- there is a flavor that you will have in your mouth which will be of great help using discernment in the world- in short just read it again and again and let God change you- I promise that He will 

www.whoisbarabbas.com

Comments

[Kevin]

I choose not to read the bible, because it contradicts modern knowledge and many of its stories are morally appalling. For example the earth was almost certainly not created in 6 days. Modern science contradicts this. This is a fallacy that the bible commits on page 1. There are a myriad of other things that modern knowledge contradicts. There are also many morally horrible passages in the bible. For example here are two appalling cases one of unjustified murder of someone who has not committed a crime and genocide of a group of people. This is morally appalling.
"But if the charge is true and there is no proof that she was a virgin, then they are to take her out to the entrance of her father's house, where the men of her city are to stone her to death. She has done a shameful thing among our people by having intercourse before she was married, while she was still living in her father's house. In this way you will get rid of this evil. "If a man is caught having intercourse with another man's wife, both of them are to be put to death. In this way you will get rid of this evil. "-Deuteronomy 22:20-22

"And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword"

[budi tan]

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[matt smith]

hey Kevin you make a ton of claims mainly that the Bible is beneath your standard of morality- curious help me out, from whence comes this exalted morality of yours-
further, it is apparent that you have not read the Bible- it is ok to have a beef with it but please let me know what you think the theme of Deuteronomy is since you are quoting it or at least how this passage fits into its context-

finally modern science is not really about history at all and the origin of the earth is conjecture at best- the scientific method is of great benefit with repeatable testable evidence but in terms of history you stretch the realm of science too far to completely reject the Biblical premise-there are a ton of top level scientists the world over that hold to a young earth-check out the book "in six days" not sure the editor but it will give you more to work with than misguided certainty
also you might want to read the Bible-at the very least you can be a bit more coherent with your criticism of it