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Getting Back to the Source

"Whisper Down the Lane” is a favorite childhood game. It involves passing a secret from one person to another. By the time the secret reaches the last player the message has obviously become distorted in the constant re-telling. The further from the source the secret travels, the more distorted the story becomes.

How far from the “source” have Christians become? Some recent statistics show a disturbing pattern. The Barna Group indicates that only 32 percent of Lutherans read the Bible.¹ Seventy-five percent of all Americans believe that the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves.² A Gallup poll indicates that only half of Americans can name any of the four Gospels, and of that group, only 37 percent of that group could name all four.³

This is a great concern because the Bible is where God is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther once stated, “The Bible is the manger wherein Christ is laid.” How can we tell others about this incredible love story of grace, forgiveness, and salvation if we don’t know it? We are called to witness to the gospel.

Aside from knowing the story in order to witness to our faith, there are other reasons to make Bible reading a regular part of our routine. As we get to know the passages and stories, they become part of our daily lives to help us endure the rough edges of life and to give greater depth of meaning to the joys in our lives. At a Lutheran youth gathering in the early 1980s, a couple of Americans who were among the Iranian hostages held in bondage for 444 days spoke to the assembly. One of the striking things they shared was how their faith helped to keep them going. In particular, they were able to recite and meditate on Bible passages. Being able to do so was a source of strength and comfort to them — especially during the days when they were kept in complete isolation from others. Their familiarity with the Bible kept them rooted in their faith and gave them strength to endure that which they might not otherwise have been able to endure.

We need to read the Bible regularly because the passages speak to us differently every time we read them. The angels’ command “Do not be afraid” and Paul’s message of hope that nothing will separate us from the love of God meant something totally different to me before September 11, 2001. After that date, it took on an even deeper and more significant meaning. The Bible does that. It speaks to us — meets us — where we are at any given moment. It speaks to us from the past, speaks to us in the present, and points our way to the future.

Additionally, through reading the Bible we are united with the “great cloud of witnesses” of the faithful of all times and all places. So, how can we encourage members of our congregations to take up the challenge of making Bible reading a healthy habit?

Getting the Word Out
As Christian educators and leaders, it is imperative that we constantly lift up the importance of regular Bible reading, even as we commit ourselves to such a practice. We cannot remind people too often. There are several places in congregational life where the idea of regular Bible reading can be lifted up.

Worship is one place where people can be encouraged to read and study the Bible. Parishioners can be invited to bring their own Bibles to church each week and encouraged to make notes in the margins of their Bibles and underline passages that speak to them. Encourage members to use the Prelude as a time to prepare for worship by reading the lessons ahead of time. Then, they can reflect on the question: What do the Scripture readings say to them? This will prepare them to listen to the lessons and the sermon later in worship. Another way to lift up Bible reading at worship is to simply write a gentle announcement in the bulletin on a regular basis — something like “Have you read your Bible this week?”

All around us we have a variety of support groups, everything from study partners to walking buddies and book clubs. The idea of having prayer partners has also taken off in recent years. We can support one another as Bible reading partners, too. As part of its youth ministry program, one congregation invites youth to be paired with seniors in nursing homes. They meet once or twice a month for prayer and Bible reading. They decide together which book of the Bible they want to read and then take turns reading aloud. The Bible reading partners are invited to share what the reading means to them. How does it apply to their lives? This sharing has transformed lives of both young and old.

Committees in congregations could be encouraged to read the Bible as part of their opening devotions. One suggestion is for committees to start with one of the books of the Bible such as the Gospel of Mark or Acts. A member of the committee could read two or three chapters for the opening devotion while the other committee members reflect on what’s being read, jotting down words and images that speak to them. Then, committee members can be invited to share their reflections with a partner.

Sunday school is another wonderful place to encourage Bible reading. The Christian Education committee of one congregation in which I served decided to promote Bible memorization in Sunday school. Each class was assigned some Scripture to memorize. Younger children were given shorter Bible passages to learn. Older ones were given more challenging passages to memorize, such as the Beatitudes. Letters were sent home to parents to let them know what passages their children were assigned and to request that they help their children learn them. Children who memorized the Bible passages within a year’s time were given certificates.

There were several positive outcomes of this program. First, it helped the children know the Bible, and second, it helped make the parents partners in teaching Scripture to their children.

What other settings are possible for helping church members to practice regular Bible reading? The ideas are limitless. By helping church members become regular Bible readers, we are helping them to say, along with the psalmist, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Happy Bible reading!

Karen S. Matthias-Long, an associate in ministry, is Director of Ministry Resources for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Wescosville, Pennsylvania. Prior to this, she served Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield, Pennsylvania, as the director of congregational ministries.