02 Sep 2010, Posted by Joel B in CONVICTION,Faith, 9 Comments.
I don’t read my Bible
As a creative, I have always been more receptive to the audio & visual. This trait is all fine and dandy when creating & designing, but when your trying to learn new things a book isn’t always easiest way for me to learn. If you know me well you will know that not only do I hate reading, but Im also very bad at comprehension. I feel that the church community has put this expectation that a “good & healthy christian” wakes up every morning and reads their bible before work. I have always struggled with this concept and had quite a bit of conviction about this shortcoming. However, recently I have broken from this false conviction and have been experiencing God in all new way.
One thing I want to clear up is that I completely and whole heartedly understand and believe the bible as the word of God. My issue is when we limit the power of God to a 20 minute morning read through Psalms. I have been doing a weekly discipleship with the my pastor the past 6 months and we have discussed this topic and many others pertaining to this concept of “old-generation” & “new-generation.” It has been so liberating and inspiring to come terms with the fact that what works for my parents, doesn’t have to necessiarly work for me.
“So if you not reading you bible, what are you doing?” you might ask. Well I am reading my bible, but my daily time with God has been through music and podcasts/audiobooks. The main CD that has literally turned my world upside is “Beautiful Things”, by
Gungor. Their music is mind-blowing and their passion and expression of authentic faith has truly blessed me. Watch the video below to get a better idea of what I mean.
Second. I had been listening to multiple podcasts…..some entertaining, some theological, some biblical, but all thought provoking. I have found that this medium has also spoken to me and strengthened my faith through analytical thought. I guess my main point is not to be afraid to experience God in a way that is authentic and true to you. Spending hours in the Bible really doesn’t do much for me, but someone debating or discussing a couple chapters is exactly how my brain works. In the past 3 months, have I have spent more “REAL” time with God in my car streaming songs or podcasts than I ever have reading my bible half awake before work. Feel free to comment if you think im crazy…..Im just hoping to share my experiences and grow.
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9 Comments
September 2, 2010 6:38 pm
MommyTopics.com @MommyTopics.com
Joel,
I love this post. My husband is exactly the same way. The most reading he ever does is online… never in an actual book. Even when we’re in church on Sunday mornings he uses an interactive Bible on his phone. He’s a software engineer, so I’m sure you two may be wired quite similarly. He’s been commuting for his jobs for four years now and he spends all his time in the “Word” while driving, by listening to Christian radio broadcasts.
I don’t think you’re crazy. The demands on our lives as we get older is crazy. So many of us are so busy these days, it can be hard to fit in quiet moments alone in the word. Just try to find quiet moments alone, with eyes wide open, and a brain ready to process reading, as a mother of several small children… it doesn’t really happen. I’ve learned to soak God in all day, in every moment, however I can. Spontaneous worship, prayer without ceasing, podcasts, and even just grabbing a moment to look at one written verse and spend the whole day twisting, turning, mashing, and rehashing it in my mind, finding every way I can to apply it and sink it into my heart forever.
It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality.
And it’s not about paper and ink, it’s about the Living Word.
September 2, 2010 6:52 pm
Name @Twitter Name
What about, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”
September 03 2010 05:53 am
Joel B @joelbeukelman
Thanks for your reply. I guess I think my argument is the same. Yes, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, but its not limited to that. Im just wanted to to share all the other ways I have been experiencing God and the freedom I felt once I could loose the burden of the churches expectations. I still believe in the Word of God, and its production of Faith, but I also believe that the Word of God is a lot more dynamic than just the paper and ink.
September 03 2010 11:40 am
Andrew Woolsey @joshuabreed
Not to pick a fight, but to bring up an interesting point.
In Deuteronomy 4:12 it says that they saw no form, only heard the “sounds of words”. In Exodus 24:7 the Hebrew reads: “N'Asseh v'nishmah”, we will do, and we will HEAR. Meaning they agreed to the covenant before they even heard it all! Such faith! Only based on hearing the "sounds of words", and not reading them, since the Torah scroll had not been completed yet (the first five books of the Bible).
Your quote above implies that the “Word of God” means the Bible. But, in it's truest essence it means that hearing comes from God's 'speech', literally. When God 'spoke', “Let there be light”, there was literally light. Our faith comes from hearing. We do not learn much by just reading and I believe that there is power in the balance of Joel's method of learning. I mean, seriously...how has the church been run since it's inception? (a gathering of people to HEAR one person give a lecture on the Torah portion of the week.) Even the Israelites at Mt. Sinai gathered together to HEAR the Word of God. Meaning that they learned from Moses, and from the "sounds of words" what HaShem wanted to teach them.
It is much like music. Much of learning it doesn't come at all from the dots and lines on the page, but from how we learn from the greats before us how to interpret those dots and lines. That kind of technique cannot come from reading about it. So, reading is good, but the true wisdom, and faith, and understanding comes from hearing people wiser than ourselves teach us about it aurally.
Sorry this was so long. I just thought this was an interesting subject to bring up. I think about this a ton, because I am the same way. I am a musician, not a reader. I get more out of lecture than reading, so I thought I would pipe in with a little (lotta) bit. ;)
Thanks for reading!
God bless.
September 2, 2010 7:26 pm
Andrew Woolsey @joshuabreed
I am in full agagreement with you. I get most out of audio lectures and less out of reading analytically on my own. Life is evolving and changing constantly. Why shouldn’t we use every new and progressive means to worship and learn about our Creator?
On another note. I do believe that the fact that the population has lost the ability to concentrate on something so valuable and simple as a book is mostly due to the mainstream society and media keep teaching us that there is no need to spend too much time on any one particular thing ESPECIALLY educating ourselves.
The best thing to do is incorporate both into fighting against this system that taught us God isnt worth our time.
Good post my friend! Much love!
September 4, 2010 11:16 pm
Philip Davis @phillysoul11
Interesting thoughts,
I am inclined to disagree.
The words of man can’t even begin to compare to the words of God. I love preaching, songs, podcasts etc. as much as the next man. I often times find it difficult to set aside time to read God’s word. However, I strive to delight in the Word of God as David did:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” – Psalm 1:3-4
The Bible is God’s special revelation to humanity.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
It’s important. Please don’t take it for granted. Read it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy2okgNXhEk
September 09 2010 19:48 pm
Joel B @joelbeukelman
Hey Philip,
Thanks for your insight. I completely agree with everything you are saying and I didn't mean for this seem as I am taking the Bible for granted. I guess my main revelation was that God works in many different ways for many different people. Like you mentioned,
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night"
.....I have found my self meditating and pondering the truth of Gods word through these different mediums. I still think studying the Bible is invaluable. However I also think that our church culture has developed an expectation of what the Christian lifestyle looks like, and some times that can be limiting and put God's power in a box.
Hope this is making sense. Thanks for your thoughts. God Bless.
September 11, 2010 11:31 pm
Philip Davis @phillysoul11
Joel,
thank you for the response.
I hope my comment didn’t come across as condescending. If it did please forgive me, it’s just something i’m pretty passionate about. I don’t think anything can substitute for the life changing power the Word of God contains.
Good to hear your thoughts -
In Christ,
Philip
January 8, 2011 8:44 pm
Strength Finder 2.0 | joelbeukelman.com | creativity + conviction
[...] there is no 1 perfect way to experience God. (You will see some more of my thoughts on this in my last blog post, “I don’t Read My [...]
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