The Biggest Road Blocks to Daily Bible Times

 

Why do so many Christians supposedly not read their Bible regularly?

I have pondered this questions many times.  Mark and I have had discussions on it.  And I think that I have narrowed it down to six main reasons.

1. “The Bible is corrupted by man and manmade.  It’s not of God.”
2. “The Bible is no longer relevant, important, or needed anymore.”
3. “All we need to remember is Jesus is love and to love one another.”
4. People do not want to be convicted and change their lives.  (Happy Bubble!)
5. There is consistent sin in a person’s life.
6. They are not a true believer.

Ideas and Guidelines for Prayer

 

As I mentioned last week, the post about prayer became so long that I decided to split it up into two posts.  So without further ado…

No, I do not know everything!

If you were to ask me if I am very sure in the beliefs that I have, it would be a resounding “Yes!”  It’s not that I think I know everything, but that I have spent many years reading amazing works by the saints, studying my Bible, and listening to godly men preach the Bible.  I am most assured of the most important doctrines of faith and salvation; I know my salvation is secured.

And if you were to debate me on many other things, you would have to do a mighty job of convincing me with the Bible that your conflicting view is the correct one.  This does not mean that I am not open to admitting that I am wrong, but I have spent much time learning about the things that I speak of to be able to be almost sure that what I believe is correct.

There is a term that you probably haven’t heard: seminoid.  It describes a person who enters seminary.  Their whole focus in life becomes learning about theology and how to accurately argue those points.  However, this particular person becomes so puffed up with pride that they argue and often cause problems based on their attitude of arrogance and condescension.

I don’t think that this just applies to people within seminary but to anyone who makes it a goal to really study theology.  It is a pitfall that must be avoided when trying to learn more about the things of God.

“Never be wise in your own sight” (Romans 12:16b).

While I love, love, love! theology and discussing theology, I am also very aware that I don’t know everything.  There are parts of the Bible that I am not as familiar with as other parts.  Just like most people, there are certain books of the Bible that I gravitate more to than others.  And then there are other books that are harder for me to deeply understand (I’m calling out you, Isaiah and Revelation!).

I also have certain presuppositions that I am not always aware of consciously.  Recently, one of these presuppositions came to my awareness.  Many times when studying theology, you will come across two opposing view points.  The particular ones I came across, I couldn’t understand why each side thought they opposed each other.  I also didn’t understand how either could be correct.  Part of this, I believe was because I didn’t (and still don’t) understand fully what each was trying to purport.  However, as I searched for the answers to my many unanswered questions, I realized that I had some presuppositions that were clouding my very honest search for the truth.

Now, let me be very clear.  I do NOT define my beliefs on what theology is out there.  When I look into and learn about theology, I try to understand how my beliefs fit with what many others have agreed on is the Truth.  This is a way for me to try to “prove” what I believe is true to myself.  If many other true saints have decided that this one truth is the Truth, and I disagree… Well, how do I know what I believe is the Truth?  It’s not that I then change my belief, but I had better be able to back it up with Scripture.  It is a way to check out what I believe, and not to just keep believing something I heard from someone somewhere that I really can’t remember.

Now, this particular presupposition had no affect on my beliefs of salvation, the way I should live, or anything of utmost importance.  However, as I read the Bible, I see now that some areas have more meaning or are more understandable now that I am aware.  So, while I am always trying to provide only the Truth on my blog, I understand that I am not perfect.  I don’t get everything.  I don’t understand everything.  And for that matter, I will never get everything.  It is just a fact of being a human in this fallen world.  This is why discernment is still important.  Please understand that while I try to keep my beliefs and my interpretation of the Bible as pure as humanly possible, I am still that, human.  And that is also why I would love to hear from you if you disagree with me on something!  Please, don’t keep silent if you don’t believe exactly what I believe.  While I expect all comments to be made respectfully and with Scripture to back it up, I welcome what you have to say.  I hope that my blog becomes a place of learning, of challenging, and of understanding.

And for those of you who think that all you have to do is just read your Bible some and that’s it, I challenge you to consider looking into theology.  I challenge you to read some books by the true saints (beware, there are many out there right now that are false teachers, who spin Bible verses to fit what they want or are bringing in beliefs from other religions to affect their version of Christianity).  Yes, you can get everything that you need out of the Bible, but you come with your own culture, your own upbringing, and your own presuppositions that may cloud how you interpret the Bible.  Use it as a way to challenge yourself to know that what you believe is the Truth.

through His grace alone!

Sarah

Don't Hope for the Easy Life!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  (Psalm 34:19)

In today’s world, it’s hard to find anything that doesn’t speak to making life easier, relaxation, free time, or doing what you want.  We’re told to put money away for retirement, so that we can have tens of years of free time to our leisure.  Technology is always for the next big thing of making things easier or doing our job for us.  Our entire world seems to be focused towards having a happy, easy life of doing exactly as we please.

Don’t get me wrong, I also wish life could be simple, easy.  If money only grew on trees.  If that certain person would just be nice.  If I didn’t have to do…  If I didn’t have to feel…  If only I…

Modesty—Corrupted by the World

When Adam and Eve sinned, not only were they cursed, but everything else in this world was also placed under the curse.  So it should not surprise us that modesty has been corrupted by the world.

The world tells women that they should show their bodies for pride and self-confidence.  It’s freeing and liberating.  Playboy is for the power of women.  Dressing sexy is to show our confidence in ourselves and how good our bodies look.  We do not need to cover up from the world, but expose ourselves to not be controlled by the world.

Modesty — Cares About Others

 

I know that this week’s topic can be kind of controversial.  Usually there is much heated debate on blogs and Facebook about this subject.  However, it is very important to modesty, and one of the many reasons we are called to be modest.  So, I cannot write without addressing the topic of dressing with a concern towards others’ weaknesses in sin.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  (Matthew 5:27-28)

This is not to say that the person who wears skimpy clothing is responsible for that guy’s sin of thought. 

Modesty is Self-Control

 

Self-control.

Those dreaded words that are not used so much anymore in our society that is more concerned with bigger and better things than what we presently have.  Those dreaded words when we want something that we know probably won’t give us what we want, but we take it anyways; we act on it anyways.

Is this how God calls us to act?

Modesty — Prescribed by God

 

Whenever I start with any topic, especially ones that are not so clearly laid out, I also check to make sure that it is something that God cares about through His Word.  Modesty is no different.

Modesty is used a decent amount of times in the ESV translation (and others), yet it’s when you really dig deep into the Word that you see it throughout the entire Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation, I am almost positive that I could find some sort of mention in each of the sixty-six books.  That’s because modesty is so much more than just how we dress, and it is most definitely prescribed by God.  That also means that it applies to women of all ages, not just the teenagers or 20-somethings as most of our society is concerned with today.

Will we always understand?

I think that’s always the question I want answered every time I come up against something.

“Please let me understand, Lord!”  I cry.

But will we always understand why we go through trials?  Will we understand why bad things happen in our lives?

Our Response

I have found in almost all situations we are in that there are three stages.  First, there is whatever has happened.  Second, there is the initial gut reaction.  And then there is our response.

Our true response comes from the heart and it is what we are judged on:

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?  (Proverbs 24:12)

This is why it is so important.  We have been talking about coming up against difficulties when we have felt that we are following God’s will.  First, we have the closed door or blocked path.  Then, we have the initial, “is this what I’m supposed to be doing?”  But the most important thing of all in this is our response.

So what should our response be?