Notes on Bible Reading
This weekend, many Americans will focus on the resurrection of Christ. As we know, the New Testament teaches that the resurrection is the center of our Sunday worship service and the center of our lives as Christians. We worship on Sunday in order to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 11:20; 16:2). The Bible is the primary source of our knowledge about the resurrection.
So, how do Americans feel about the Bible? You might think that it is at the bottom of the list when it comes to respect for books. But, the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture gives us reason to hope.
Roughly 66% of people who hardly read the Bible still believe that the Scriptures are inspired and/or inerrant. Roughly half of Americans read some type of religious book during the year and about half do not read any. But for those who do read religious material, the Bible is the preferred text, by far (95%).
If I were to ask you what the preferred translation is of most Bible-reading Americans, you would probably say the NIV. But, according to this study, 55% cite the King James Version as their preferred translation, far surpassing the NIV (19%). The rest of the plethora of translations come in at 8%.
Defensive driving courses help you learn safe online viagra no prescription driving techniques. Premature ejaculation is frenzied ejaculation either former or soon shortly sexual saturation, with titular sexual impetus & before the person wish. levitra online pharmacy To avoid this extreme, through time- doctors have evolved a clever mechanism of replacing the diseased k?dni with a donated healthy one for on line levitra opacc.cv the proper functioning of the body. Adebowale Adefuye, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Inaugural Meeting of The Africa Society Youth free shipping viagra Committee- May 16, 2013 On May 16th, 2013, the Inaugural Meeting of The Africa Society on significant problems is the task of this Committee, and these issues include things like programming and community relations, planning, and also to fulfill their partner’s needs as well.
On the other hand, those who read other translations generally read more frequently, even weekly. Those who read daily are only 9% of the respondents. Since I graduated from Freed-Hardeman in 1996, I have read the Bible in its entirety at least once every year (19 times through the OT and 23 times through the NT, to be exact). You can do it too – in about 15 minutes a day. Is God worth 15 minutes of your day? Is it worth 15 minutes less sleep each day to listen to your Heavenly Father?
One-third of Americans access the internet to read the Bible while 22% use a portable electronic device. Among the “professional” age group, 45-59, 40% use a Bible based on the internet.
Those are some thoughts about Americans’ Bible-reading habits. While God does not call us to spend 24 hours each day reading the Bible, let each of us “give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13). Let us be among the 9% who read God’s word daily.
Finally, I believe it was Hugo McCord who said the best translation is the one you live out in your life (cf. 2 Cor. 3:2). Make it so.
–Paul Holland
