Have You Actually Read The Bible?

Back in January, in an effort to do something a little differently with the stereotypical resolution thing, my husband and I decided to complete the Bible Project’s One Story That Leads To Jesus reading plan on the YouVersion app. Basically, it’s reading the Bible daily for one year sprinkled with devotional videos from Bible Project.

Today was day 232 and we are slogging through 2 Chronicles (each day topped off with Psalms). In a nut shell, 2 Chronicles is a synopsis of the chronicles of the kings leading up to David and thus to Jesus. You will find an endless string of “he did or did not do right in the eyes of the Lord” along with a massive amount of blood shed, gore and burnt offerings. I must say I have been relying heavily for the last few books on the “read to me” feature of the app where I can set the speed at 1.5.

Throughout this journey, I can’t help but ponder whether very many people have actually read the entire Bible. I know I sure hadn’t. Clearly, what I have been dished up most of my life was all the G-rated, follow-thy-God scripture and verses heavily favoring the New Testament.

With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.

-Lamentations 4:10 NIV

You shall acknowledge no God but me. . . . You are destroyed, Israel. . . . The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.

-Hosea 13:4,9,16 NIV

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son….

-2 Kings 6:28-29 KJV

And I haven’t even mentioned what God did to Job yet.

Have you read the bible in its entirety? What did you think (beyond its historical context)? Did it change how you felt about God, the Christian religion or your faith?

For me, my faith is strong. But I do wonder what these depictions tell me about human nature and the history that lead up to Jesus. So much violence in the name of God. Violence that still continues today. What does it mean to be Christian and what is my responsibility now?

How about you?

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Matthew 26:52 NIV

Is Yours a God of Walls or Doors?

“The message of Jesus is not offensive because of who gets left out but who gets let in.”

 

I can’t remember who said this quote but I have it written in my prayer book.  I tried to do a Google search but came up empty-handed.  If you know its source, please let me know!

A lot of people who claim to be Christian (a follower of Jesus Christ) seem to spend quite a bit of time talking about walls and building them lately.  Actually, it probably isn’t a new thing, Christianity has been used over the centuries to keep “those people” out from wherever those who deem themselves worthy dwell.

But this was not the message of Jesus.

Jesus did not care for status or anyone’s past. His death on the cross meant that we no longer have to earn God’s love.  Jesus was about opening doors and breaking down walls.

If what you think about Christianity feels like a wall and there is no room for you at the table, then it is not Christianity.  Jesus made a table with a seat for everyone.

If you spend more time thinking about getting people to change their ways instead of loving them simply for being a child of God, it is not Christianity. If you are not trying to welcome everyone in the door of God’s house with open arms, it is not Christianity.

 

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go out and find pasture.”  John 10:7