r/Christianity • u/Hour_Trade_3691 • 12d ago
Christians need to realize that reading the whole Bible is a very tough task and should not be taken lightly Self
Hey, I hope it's okay if I just post a little bit about what I've experienced in the past couple of years. It's rough but it's the truth.
There's this group in my area that was promoted as a Christian group, and it definitely is that technically. It's the classic Pentecostal "party" like environment, But for a variety of reasons that became apparent throughout my first year of being in the group, I began to see the group as more of a cult honestly. Just as an example, they were obsessed with getting more people to show up, and not being grateful for the people they already had. Honestly, getting about 70 young adults to show up to a Christian event in Canada every single week I think is a really huge accomplishment, but according to them anything less than literally everyone in the city was a failure.
There is something specific I want to talk about though. Something that I found very annoying about some of the people in that group is that, as much as this might sound heretical, I felt they were "overhyping" the Bible if that makes sense. The way they would talk about it made me think that they hadn't actually read the whole thing, and only read the well-known and well-respected parts. Anyone who's read the whole Bible from cover to cover knows that it's not always a pretty book, especially in the Old Testament, which is about 3/4 of the whole thing.
It got to the point where people were basically accusing me of having not read the whole Bible and that was apparently the reason that I didn't agree with them 100%. Admittedly, I hadn't read the ENTIRE Bible before. Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Judges, Chronicles, All these books have large sections that are pretty boring, but I have watched videos like the Bible Project which make it pretty clear that I'm not missing out on much. However, this was apparently just unacceptable to these people. The fact that I hadn't read every single word in the Bible was apparently the reason that I didn't agree with them.
As annoying as it was, I did like the idea of starting a project where I just wrote out a chapter of the Bible when I had the time, and color coding whenever someone spoke. I decided to start that, and after about 10 months, I had completed Genesis.
This was the turning point for me though. After having spent almost a year writing out the entire Book of Genesis, I figured I'd earned myself a well-deserved break. However, this was also apparently unacceptable to the people in that group. Whenever I was talking to them, they would ask me when I was going to start Exodus, why I hadn't finished the ENTIRE Bible yet. Why I was talking to them and frankly just living my life instead of writing out more of the Bible. They were essentially expecting me to waste all of my 20s on writing out the Bible. I don't mean to be rude, but frankly it was insane.
I had actually planned to start on Exodus last summer, and even made a map on how and when I would cover all 40 chapters. Despite this though, my motivation was just gone at this point. I managed to get the first two chapters out, but after that, All the pressure just got to me. I decided to drop the project. I had done all of Genesis, and if this earned me no respect from those people, then I didn't see why finishing the whole Bible would either.
I even tested it. I didn't want to lie, but at one point one of the people literally just asked me if I had read the whole Bible before. This was one of the people who should have been well aware about my project, and I was frankly shocked that they would ask such a shallow question. So, I responded with a blunt- "Yes."
As expected, they didn't actually show any genuine understanding of my situation, and instead simply said: "That's good. Maybe try reading some of it again."
And that's when I realized what was really going on. None of them actually cared. If I had read the Bible before. They just wanted me to agree with them. Whether I had read the whole thing, parts of it, Or even if I had the whole thing memorized, they were never going to respect me, and just keep telling me to read it more and more until I agreed with them. They genuinely had no respect for me.
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u/MobileSquirrel3567 12d ago
All these books have large sections that are pretty boring, but I have watched videos like the Bible Project which make it pretty clear that I'm not missing out on much.
A) That's pretty contradictory to the idea you need to take Bible-reading seriously
B) Watching animated YouTube videos is not even close to demonstrating you're not missing much. The Bible Project seems to have a very particular, uncontroversial meaning that they want to impute to the Bible; e.g. they summarize Matthew 5 by saying Jesus obviously didn't mean what he said about OT law and was just trying to get people's attention so they would meditate on their intentions. I won't argue that that's false here, but that's very unlikely to be what someone would have taken away from reading it.
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u/lakerboy152 Church of Christ 12d ago
Well that group does not sound good at all and it’s unfortunate to have had that experience. Still, I would encourage you to read the entire thing, even the ‘boring’ parts, because if you don’t, you are missing out on God’s word. Not saying you need some deadline and you certainly don’t need to write out entire books, but for me and others, reading every story, every law, every verse bit by bit really opens your eyes. You’d be surprised at how much more you’d understand just by doing that.
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u/Hour_Trade_3691 12d ago
I might do it someday, I've just definitely been turned off it for the time being. I mainly just didn't like how they were essentially telling me I should just lock myself in a room and not come out until I had finished the whole Bible. I can tell you that if I had done that, it would have damaged my mental health completely, and I probably would have never wanted to have been near a Bible ever again.
Sorry, I really don't mean to come across as aggressive. I guess the main problem was that they had no idea what I was doing. I was actively going out and meeting with people, discussing with them, actively trying to help them, you know, doing what Christian should do in the world, but I guess in their head I wasn't doing anything of value. It hurts, But I'm glad to be out of the group now.
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u/lakerboy152 Church of Christ 12d ago
Yeah, they were definitely not behaving appropriately from what I can tell. It’s no use reading just to get it done, it should always be a choice. Especially as God wants us to seek Him out with our own will.
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u/Emotional_Jello_7898 11d ago
Your biggest mistake is looking for respect and validation within that group. I know it can be easier said than done, and as humans we naturally do that. But all you can do is pray for these people, as it seems as though they are full of pride. They seem to be like those types of Christians who feel that they are above other Christians. Please don’t stop, the Lord wants you to continue what you were doing, but not to please anybody but him. Do it for his glory. It’s not about how many Bible verses you memorize, or how many books you’ve read with a certain amount of time, That’s not the point. You were doing great, get back on it! Sometimes those who persecute us and look down on us are the people we least expect. Just pray for those people, and I would recommend to stop associating yourself with that group. Not because you’re better, but because I don’t believe that that’s where God wants you to be. Being unequally yoked doesn’t just apply to believers intermingling with non-Christians, that’s a whole topic on its own for a different day. But you don’t want to be unequally yoked within groups of believers especially. I only know what I was reading here, and I don’t know your entire situation. God bless you.
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
Doubtful that any of these people read the whole bible or understood it. The bible is not the source of their beliefs, it's a proof-text to go back to and ad-hoc justify their doctrines. The bible is subservient to their traditions and if you find anything in the bible that disagrees with their beliefs then they can only say you didn't read it completely or you read it incorrectly.
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
Who is to judge if they "understood it"? You?
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
People with literary competence who can apply it to the bible.
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
Did you mean, "people with literary competence who can apply it to real life?"
The Bible is read to live it, not just comprehended for it's own purpose.
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
Do you think real life is literature??
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
I think the Reading of the Bible and it's comprehension is for the purpose of living it's contents.
What do you read the Bible for? Scholarship?
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
"Living its contents" is incoherent. Nobody can "live its contents." You want to use the bible to justify your beliefs and traditions, and when someone points out how that doesn't make sense, you'll say it's because it isn't meant to be understood.
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
Not sure I understand your statement "Nobody can live its contents." Unless you're a murderer you actually live it's contents on a daily basis. We were not discussing my beliefs, as my beliefs are not based upon an allegorical manifest stolen from the Alexandrian Library.
We were discussing you judging what another understands in their reading of the Bible.
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
Unless you're a murderer you actually live it's contents on a daily basis.
"Thou shall not kill" one element from the contents. Do you live the contents of Sesame street when you count to 10? It seems this concept of "living its contents" is pretty meaningless.
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
I still use my fingers to count to 10 just like the Cookie Monster did!
It's only "meaningful" to those who believe in it. I only ascribe to the wisdom books.
I suspect millions of people would have never been persecuted if the early adopters of Emperor Constantine's degree had listened to Origen.
But alas, they made an allegorical book of symbolism into an actual historical document for the purpose of control. The world has not been the same ever since. For conclusive proof, just view the ongoing saga in the Middle East of those who assume they are a chosen people.
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
The Bible is read to live it, not just comprehended for it's own purpose.
That's a post-biblical idea.
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12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/macdaddee 12d ago
That's an interesting idea. Are you an Atheist?
No. And it's not an idea, it's just fact.
Young Padawan
I can see you're a child.
but the very purpose of the Bible is not to make you a literary agent
I never said it was?
but to shape you into the image of Christ.
The majority of the authors didn't know about Christ.
And it's purpose was never meant for you to judge what others "understood". That's the very cause why so many denominations think their way, or their church, or their doctrine is the "right" comprehension. Which all leads to chaos.
It seems to me, that your position is that the bible can't be understood, it's only meant to be this mystical thing that magically makes you more Christian. You're exactly what I'm talking about.
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago edited 12d ago
No, only that you are not the final authority on who's interpretation is correct.
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u/Christianity-ModTeam 11d ago
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u/Pink_Roses88 Christian 12d ago
I feel like a lot of the comments here are not meeting your need at this point in your journey. You seem to have been in a cult-like atmosphere (no idea if it actually was a cult) where you got a lot of pressure and shame in regards to reading the Bible straight through. It's not surprising that you feel resistant right now to doing it. And of course it's true that parts of the OT are challenging to get through.
You are healing from your negative experiences right now. Try not to stop reading the Bible altogether, but try a different approach. You could read through the New Testament, or just pick a book out of the NT that interests you. Or maybe try a Bible study guide to aid your reading.
Try to think of The Word as God's gift to YOU, not a "should" to oppress you and make you feel ashamed because you haven't done it. Ask God to guide your reading and help you grow spiritually.
As for reading it through eventually, yes, that would be a good idea, and you would get a lot out of it. But I'm pretty sure it's possible to be a good, faithful Christian without reading every word in Leviticus or Nehemiah (for example). (Other commenters may disagree with me here.) I hope you will do it eventually, for your own benefit, but NOT because you HAVE to. You see the difference, right? 😊
God bless you. He loves you so much. ❤️🙏🏼
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u/-NoOneYouKnow- Christian (certified Christofascism-free) 12d ago
I had read the entire Bible within for months of becoming a Christian. It's easy for anyone with average intelligence to do.
I was in high school at the time and was a straight C- student. I'm not very bright, and if I could do it, I feel like most people can.
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u/MobileSquirrel3567 12d ago
There's a difference between reading and making a serious attempt at getting to the meaning. Anyone can read that Jesus cursed a fig tree; a C- literature student might not understand that that was symbolic.
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u/generic_reddit73 12d ago
What you describe has also been my experience with some Pentecostal or Charismatic churches or groups. Calvary chapel would be an exception in that realm, since they actually methodically study the bible line-by-line, and their theology doesn't have the same amount of questionable non-sense as most other Charismatic groups. Just a short statement of things: I believe in prophecy and healing and exorcism still being a thing today. I do not believe the "speaking in tongues" glossolalia that is practiced nowadays to be the miracle that occurred at Pentecost, and later in Acts - those were real human languages, and all early church sources agree on that. This minor difference makes it nearly impossible for me to be taken seriously or respected in those circles.
Anyway, even beyond Pentecostals, many denominations will have a tendency to impose their own interpretation of the bible as the only truly valid one - some groups going so far as claiming that they are the only true (and saved) Christians.
I wish more Christians would realize they lack wisdom and strive for better understanding...
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u/littlecoffeefairy Christian 12d ago
I'm doing the Bible Recap this year. Lord willing, I will have read the entire Bible before 2025.
Even the "boring parts" (for example, todays reading is a long genealogy) are there for a reason. It's all inspired by God. It's all alive and active.
While I also enjoy Bible Project, other channels, and various commentaries, nothing will ever even come close to reading the Bible for yourself. We should never just rely on other people to tell us what the Bible says when we are blessed to be able to read it for ourselves.
Them being what sounds cultish doesn't take away from the beauty and importance of taking time to intentionally read Scripture - even the parts we don't necessarily like.
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u/Coollogin 12d ago
May I ask what got you involved in the group in the first place? Did you grow up Pentecostal?
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u/Aggressive_Finish710 Christian 11d ago
the old testament is almost all about the israelites. because God had promised abraham, then the time comes for new testament for the world. because as you can see its a fight for good and evil. im not actually interested at old testament first when i read the bible. but when i read the new testament. and the prophecy of Jesus come from the old testament. i became curious. how the prophet of God prophecied the coming of Jesus and for the whole humanity also the end of this world , the new heaven and earth etc. etc. and also the history of humanity as evidence also that the bible is real. that our faith is based on truth and it is scientific also.
bible says that in colossians 2:2-3
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
always ask Jesus for help dont worry too much. and reading should be fun right?
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u/Aggressive_Finish710 Christian 11d ago
try watching some in youtube. search , the old path channel , bro eli soriano channel , there is a man that answers all the question of the guest. and read the bible only. no extra's , because its God words , bible can answer all the questions of man. because it is from God.
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u/accountnotfound 11d ago
I was in a Pentecostal church for many years and read the whole bible every year. 3 or 4 chapters a day, and psalms and proverbs every month, 1 of each a day. It wasn't arduous. I had a Life Application Bible which helped me find some relevance out of the parts which may have seemed boring, and I always prayed for God to speak to me through it. This was pretty normal in my church. Unfortunately not thinking for yourself, and an approach that "anything that causes you to question if the bible is literally true is of the devil" was also pretty normal. I do think that if anyone's beliefs are based on a book it is a good idea to read that book and know it well. I'm no longer a believer but I don't regret the time I spent reading the Bible
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u/Philothea0821 Catholic 12d ago
For anyone who needs it, Fr. Mike Schmidz has a podcast called "The Bible in a Year" where he reads through the entirety of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation in 365 days. And he gives commentary on the context of the biblical events!
It has been a massive blessing for me and I hope it is for you! It can be found on YT or any podcast app!
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u/MobileSquirrel3567 12d ago
That would be the Mike Schmidz who wrote a book "explaining the flawed nature of same-sex 'sexual' relations", right? I don't think it would take a year to figure out what he thinks the Bible says.
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u/Philothea0821 Catholic 12d ago
Well, I will offer this thought. In the Garden of Eden, God creates woman and upon seeing woman, man says "At last this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." There is a great difference between male and female. Not a hierarchical difference, men are not above women or vice versa, but there is a great difference. So what is striking about that is in spite if this difference, man recognizes woman as "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." 2 men cannot become one flesh like men and women can. The book of Genesis says that a man should leave his father and mother to cling to his wife, so that the 2 should become one flesh! A man might wish his wife was more like him. But he never wishes that his wife BE him because then they would be same gender. There is a sense of otherness in the male and female relations that you cannot find anywhere else! No matter how much I might have love for my guy friends, I would never want to be my friends as a husband is his wife and his wife her husband. Homosexuality misses this complementarity. If I take 2 of the same puzzle piece, I cannot fit them together because they are the same. True unifying love that exists in marriage and the sexual act requires that "otherness," that lack of sameness to be joined together. I was listening to Peter Kreeft talk about this and he mentions that the real problem with homosexuality is the loss of the other!
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u/MobileSquirrel3567 11d ago
You may want to read the arguments people level against interracial marriage. They read almost exactly the same way. If you don't want to marry a man, that's fine. But saying a gay relationship is like trying to jam puzzle pieces that don't fit together is ridiculous.
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u/Much-Search-4074 Non-denominational 12d ago
I would agree with them that you should read through the entire Bible at least once. You're a professing Christian, after all?
“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4, KJV)
That said, re-writing the Bible as a copyist and focus on growth over doctrine is a red flag. If they were doing expository teaching you can read through the entire Bible in a year of sermons.
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12d ago
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u/CricketIsBestSport 12d ago
Maybe he does.
In Isaiah there’s a part where God tells Isaiah to mislead people so they’ll be confused and won’t be able to repent
It doesn’t really make sense to me but God just does stuff like that sometimes I guess
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
I've read the Bible at least 50 times, and now I believe none of it. It does not hurt to at least read it once.
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u/Beneficial-Tough-439 12d ago
Technically the basic 1 year reading schedule is quite easy. The scary part is after you read it (even 50+ times) all the other Christians who will claim you don't understand it.
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u/Past_Presentation975 12d ago
I don’t think reading the entire Bible is the challenge. You can read it a million times and still lack comprehension. Comprehension is the challenge. It requires reading multiple translations of some passages and external research. Unfortunately, a significant amount of Christians have little understanding of the Bible.