Why I stopped using the Bible:
(yesterday I posted this on the Liquidthinking site, but I wanted it here too.)
I want to stop using the Bible. I use it way to much and frankly I'm tired of people I encounter using it too. I hear people talk about using the Bible.... a lot. As a pastor there are people who expect me to use the Bible. If I give a sermon, but don't quote the Bible, they will quickly tell me I'm not using the Bible. So as any person faced with that kind of stimuli I started putting quotes in my sermons. I'd tell the same funny stories, then drop a verse it. Of course it was always on topic. After those sermons, people might say, "Thanks for using the Bible." I loved the reinforcement.
I've read books recently which in their promotion materials say things like, "Uses 1,200 Bible verses for support." Support? Did they just say, support? IS that what this the Bible is for? Support? I'll refrain from jock strap and bra referrences here, but something doesn't seem right. It might just be me.
Look I'm not against people quoting the Bible, I just have a problem with them using it. Let the Bible speak. I have this hunch that the Bible is not some kind of tool kit or arsenal for me to use on something or against someone. Maybe I should support the Bible. Maybe God .... should.... use.... me.. ?? Something seems out of order here.
I have a car. I use it. It transports me to somewhere else faster than I can walk. I use gasoline to fuel my car. I use these things and it costs me something.
I have a TV. I use it. It entertains me. I use it for news, and amusement. I use electricity to fuel my TV. I use these things and it costs me something.
In high school I used girls. I used them. For whatever my selfish motives were as a horny 17 year old boy, I used girls for my satisfaction. Maybe they used me too. It cost us both something.
I use my Bible. I use it and when I use it, it costs me something.
So maybe you can get why I don't want to use the Bible any longer.
The Bible too often as become a weapon in the hands of people with agendas. They believe the agenda is God's agenda, so there is something ultimate about their perspective. The ends seem to justify the means. Their ends support their means.
I'm not giving up on the Bible. I'm not telling you to stop quoting the scripture. I'm not telling you to know the scripture.
Just stop using it. If anything... let it use you. Let it read you. Live the scripture.
Live into the story of God.
(yesterday I posted this on the Liquidthinking site, but I wanted it here too.)
I want to stop using the Bible. I use it way to much and frankly I'm tired of people I encounter using it too. I hear people talk about using the Bible.... a lot. As a pastor there are people who expect me to use the Bible. If I give a sermon, but don't quote the Bible, they will quickly tell me I'm not using the Bible. So as any person faced with that kind of stimuli I started putting quotes in my sermons. I'd tell the same funny stories, then drop a verse it. Of course it was always on topic. After those sermons, people might say, "Thanks for using the Bible." I loved the reinforcement.
I've read books recently which in their promotion materials say things like, "Uses 1,200 Bible verses for support." Support? Did they just say, support? IS that what this the Bible is for? Support? I'll refrain from jock strap and bra referrences here, but something doesn't seem right. It might just be me.
Look I'm not against people quoting the Bible, I just have a problem with them using it. Let the Bible speak. I have this hunch that the Bible is not some kind of tool kit or arsenal for me to use on something or against someone. Maybe I should support the Bible. Maybe God .... should.... use.... me.. ?? Something seems out of order here.
I have a car. I use it. It transports me to somewhere else faster than I can walk. I use gasoline to fuel my car. I use these things and it costs me something.
I have a TV. I use it. It entertains me. I use it for news, and amusement. I use electricity to fuel my TV. I use these things and it costs me something.
In high school I used girls. I used them. For whatever my selfish motives were as a horny 17 year old boy, I used girls for my satisfaction. Maybe they used me too. It cost us both something.
I use my Bible. I use it and when I use it, it costs me something.
So maybe you can get why I don't want to use the Bible any longer.
The Bible too often as become a weapon in the hands of people with agendas. They believe the agenda is God's agenda, so there is something ultimate about their perspective. The ends seem to justify the means. Their ends support their means.
I'm not giving up on the Bible. I'm not telling you to stop quoting the scripture. I'm not telling you to know the scripture.
Just stop using it. If anything... let it use you. Let it read you. Live the scripture.
Live into the story of God.
posted by mark at
8:14 PM
4 Comments:
"live the Scripture" nice
I was struck by the simplicity of Jesus saying that we study the scriptures...and yet ignore Him.
that sure sounds like me much of the time...
Mark,
Good call. I often find myself looking for verses to add to notes or cards because, as a Christian, I am supposed to do that. I think we need to remeber that the stories and thoughts of modern day people can have as much meaning and can as easily express an idea as biblical (Biblical?) stories can.
ben
So let me get this straight, are you having a problem with the term "use" or do you just not like to quote the bible now in your lessons?
When I first read, "I want to stop using the Bible" I winced, but then as I read through it I agreed exactly with what Mark was saying. People prooftext all the time to justify their sin or their legalism (also sin). If God's word (and it is) living and active and sharper then any two edged sword, to just use it with out it first using us is dangerous. Though if we use it after letting it use us (i.e. "live the scripture") then it can be quite powerful in helping others find life in Christ. The problem is we think just because we have read the Scripture that we have let it read us and that is not true, and I am as guilty of this as anyone. The girl analogy was great because I think we try to use our "quiet time" as the "hot girl on our arm" with God and other believers so that they might think we are the "cool kids" in our fellowship. That is nothing but a superficial relationship with Scripture. Mark, thanks for calling me/us to a deeper more satisfying relationship with Scripture, one in which God will be glorified more through our actions and not just our knowledge.
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