I recently read Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him by Amy Gannett. She mentions briefly a realization that she had concerning reasons--perhaps excuses--as to why more Christians do not read the Bible.
I honestly can't remember if her initial idea came from ministry circles or Bible college, but her initial idea was that it was INTIMIDATION that was keeping people from the Word of God. But she realized later that it wasn't intimidation--people being intimidated and overwhelmed with Scripture--that made them unwilling or "unable" to engage in any meaningful way. It was, instead, overfamiliarity with Scripture.
It was a striking moment for me in the book. One I sadly didn't bookmark or highlight. But it stayed with me for days. Is there such a thing as overfamiliarity with Scripture? If there is, what is the cure? What is at the root of this "problem"? How does one move forward?
What is at the root of overfamiliarity or so-called overfamiliarity? This is the question that has haunted me for a couple of days now. I think it's a blend of pride, self-righteousness, and arrogance. Before I go much further, I'll confess that I at times in my life have approached Scripture with a smug I-already-know-this-backwards-and-forwards smugness that can only come with so-called overfamiliarity.
It is exceedingly proud to assume that you know it all, that you have learned everything you need to know from the Word, that the Bible has nothing left to teach you. Some people may need the Bible. But not you. You've been there, done that. Yawn. How could it possibly hold your interest!
It is also foolishly arrogant to hold such a dismissive, disrespectful view of Scripture. Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." I could share dozens of verses that likewise prove believers NEED Scripture. But that isn't this post. (Though maybe it should be???)
The truth is every time in the Word offers something new, something fresh, something needed...for you today...where you are, right now in this moment.
So what is the cure and how does one move forward???
I have one spiritual piece of advice. Pray. Yes, pray. I know, I know, I know. Chances are if you hold the Bible essentially in contempt because of overfamiliarity, prayer may be likewise low on your priority list. But pray. Pray for fresh eyes. Pray for open eyes, open ears, open heart, open mind. Pray to have a hunger and thirst for the Word. Pray for the Lord to change the desires and inclinations of your heart. Pray for forgiveness. Pray for healing. Pour out your heart before the Lord. If you are having trouble "engaging" with the Word, talk to the WORD. Pray for a teachable, humble Spirit. Pray for the Spirit to guide you, lead you, teach you, minister to you as you spend time in the Word.
I have a couple practical tips as well. The first is to have several translations on hand. Don't be afraid to read from multiple translations. You don't have to be faithful to one and only one translation to grow deep roots. Have a blend of new translations and old translations. Have a blend of translation approaches and philosophies. Sometimes the very act of switching from one to the other, will shake you awake. Second, if it takes buying a new Bible to excite you to get back in the Word, buy a new Bible each time you read through the Word. Third, this might be the most unsettling....consider reading the Bible with an immersive, heavy-commitment approach. Use the Bible in 90 Days plan. Use the Power 60 reading plan. Use the Shred 30 Day plan. REALLY jump into the deep end. Go all out and go extreme. Sometimes that shock to the system--spiritually speaking--will show you HOW much you need the Word of God, and what an extraordinary thing the Word is. Plus, it gives you the habit, the discipline, of reading every day in the Bible. (It only takes about three to five weeks for a new habit to settle in and established.) By the end, the habit will be there. And you'll have a TASTE of the Word. It's HARD to give that up. Once your appetite for the Word of God has grown, you'll feel starved and unsatisfied. You will miss that time. You will crave it even.
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