Isn't it the case that when you already live in a largely christian community you sort of get the gist of bible by osmosis? Does actually reading it change you view of the world in the most massive wa...
At the urging of my uncle I began reading the Bible every day, twice a day. I was 12 years old when I began.
I would read and then pray and contemplate.
I read and contemplated so much more than was ever discussed in my church, family, or community.
Over the next 6 years, until I graduated high school, I read the Bible cover to cover twice, and then the New Testament 3 more times.
One of my daily prayers was to be given the wisdom to understand. In time I started noticing that my interpretations weren’t always the same as everyone else’s.. but in my heart I knew they were for me.
By the time I was in my early twenties I stopped going to church. It was clear to me that I the God I knew was taking me beyond the community. It was so disorienting at scary at first. But in time as my intimacy and understanding continued to develop and expand I knew I was on the right path.
By the end of my twenties I could no longer call myself a Christian. I couldn’t abide by the label or all that came with it.
My journey has been deep and dark at times, and yet my intimacy and faith has only grown more rapidly than I could have ever imagined.
My understanding has overlaps with Christianity. I absolutely love and continue to model myself after Jesus. But my understandings are often heretical, and are impossible to unsee for me.
So should you read the Bible for yourself?
I believe so, and do so without letting any man, woman, or institution tell you how you should interpret it. Let only God speak to you through it.
I would read and then pray and contemplate.
I read and contemplated so much more than was ever discussed in my church, family, or community.
Over the next 6 years, until I graduated high school, I read the Bible cover to cover twice, and then the New Testament 3 more times.
One of my daily prayers was to be given the wisdom to understand. In time I started noticing that my interpretations weren’t always the same as everyone else’s.. but in my heart I knew they were for me.
By the time I was in my early twenties I stopped going to church. It was clear to me that I the God I knew was taking me beyond the community. It was so disorienting at scary at first. But in time as my intimacy and understanding continued to develop and expand I knew I was on the right path.
By the end of my twenties I could no longer call myself a Christian. I couldn’t abide by the label or all that came with it.
My journey has been deep and dark at times, and yet my intimacy and faith has only grown more rapidly than I could have ever imagined.
My understanding has overlaps with Christianity. I absolutely love and continue to model myself after Jesus. But my understandings are often heretical, and are impossible to unsee for me.
So should you read the Bible for yourself?
I believe so, and do so without letting any man, woman, or institution tell you how you should interpret it. Let only God speak to you through it.
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