Reading

I presented our preacher, Brian Mashburn, with a problem about reading Scripture I was having. My problem was that I have grown to not like to read the Bible and I hate that. He referred me to a few books to read and we discussed them together. After my discussion with him, I was truly able to see the root of my problem, not just the symptoms. That was really cool but difficult to admit and face. He had given me another book to read and it was a great book. However, this sentence was the one sentence that has stuck with me now for a few weeks.

"...;an ancient book of incredible spiritual value for us, a kind of universal and cosmic history, a book that tells us who we are and what story we find ourselves in so that we know what to do and how to live.”-Neo, in Brian McLaren's book A New Kind of Christian


I was then discussing with another great friend of mine, Jhansi, this issue and my journey to where I am currently. She shared with me a blog she found from March of 2006 where the guy was talking about the biases that he approaches Scripture with. It was actually an assignment he received in class and was asked to a write a 30 page paper on.

So here is my attempt, after a few weeks of reflection and study.
#1-I read it as if I have read it thousands of times before and know the beginning, middle and end of every passage I am reading. What I have actually learned is that while I know just about every good Sunday School story there is to know and can finish many New Testament passages without thinking, there is so much more the Bible than just those stories.
#2-I read it as if there is nothing new to learn from it. What I have learned is that there are men and women out there who everytime they pick up the Bible, the find something new, amazing and refreshing.
#3-I read it looking for rules and to-do lists. I have learned that when I stop worrying about lists and focus relationships, my burden is lifted and I don't view myself as such a horrible, disgusting person.
#4-I read it from a non spiritualist point of view using logic and reason instead. I have learned that there is very little logic in Bible. I mean serioulsy, what story really makes any earthly sense? The creation? The Flood? Egypt? Jericho? David? Jesus? Paul? The list can go on and on. And from what I see, there is no logical reason for any of it.
#5-I read it as a child listening to her Father tell her what to do. Yes, my Father has a certain way He wants me to behave but not because He wants to control me or punish me. It really is because if I do what He wants me to do I will be blessed beyond my imagination here and now. And He really wants me to behave that way not out of fear, obligation or necessity rather He tells me that if I really let Him take over my life, I will normally react that way to Him.

My quest now is to let go of those biases and pick my Bible back up and find the story God needs and wants me to hear.