C.H. Spurgeon

Sinners, let me address you with words of life; Jesus wants nothing from you, nothing whatsoever, nothing done, nothing felt; he gives both work and feeling. Ragged, penniless, just as you are, lost, forsaken, desolate, with no good feelings, and no good hopes, still Jesus comes to you, and in these words of pity he addresses you, "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Have You Read This Book?

I would just like to ask you one question.

You call yourself a Christian and you haven’t even read the entire Bible from cover to cover yet?

What does that say about you?

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This is the question I asked myself today. I am personally ashamed.

Why is it that we can spend the majority of our time reading all kinds of books, but do not find time to read God’s Word all the way through? We complain that “It is really big”, but we don’t have a problem with all of the “Lord of the Ring” series.

We even find time to read books about Christianity. Why do we spend more time reading books about the Bible instead of just reading the Bible? What’s even worse is most of the Christian books we read are really a waste of money. Not that they do not teach us truth, but honestly how often do we buy a book to really learn something? Usually we pick a book [1] that teaches what we already believe, [2] that gives us ammunition to attack another, or [3] that we really only want to read to criticize and say how wrong the author is and all that follow their teaching.

Acts 17:11 says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

But really how often do we actually pull that Bible off of the shelf to verify the scripture and context of what the author has written in the book?

How many times do we pick a book based on the author, without thinking, putting faith in them that they can never be wrong? Believing every word they say without testing it against the Book.

I am not saying that these books are not good, but I, myself, must from this day forth make sure that they do not take the place of my personal Bible reading.

Bottled water is nice, but just think if you could get it fresh from the source.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nope. I haven't read it all the way through from start to finish. For most people they wouldn't even understand if they did try to read it and others would be turned off by a lot of what they didn't understand.

The Catholics were right to a certain extent in that they understand that not everyone would be able to "get it". However, they were wrong in discriminating against the laity.

Splinters of Silver said...

But do we not read, watch movies, listen to music that we walk away not truly understanding, yet still say that we have enjoyed them? Why not with scripture?

Can we not pray for the Spirit to open our eyes and read the words of scripture over and over again to learn new things each day?

If not, I say then, why read any of it at all?

Anonymous said...

Scripture is nothing more than a history and how many people do you know who read and understand history.

Christianity has its own aristocracy. Most Christians, like most of the world are stupid. It's the bell curve and it pervades the church because the church is made up of those in the world (but not of the world).

(see Steve Sailer at vdare.com for the stats)

Splinters of Silver said...

So where do you find yourself on this bell curve of stupidity?

Anonymous said...

At lunch, you never said were you think you stand. Well, where?

Splinters of Silver said...

As for the bell curve?

Higher than some and lower than others.

Bobby Cohoon said...

Great post brother Tim. I have read it cover to cover adn I try to always read thorugh it while I am studying one book or one topic...I still save some time just to read through.
Keep it up brother!

Bobby

John Bunyan

To be saved is to be preserved in the faith to the end. 'He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.' (Mt. 24:13) Not that perseverance is an accident in Christianity, or a thing performed by human industry; they that are saved 'are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation.' (1 Pet. 1: 3-6) But perseverance is absolutely necessary to the complete saving of the soul…. He that goeth to sea with a purpose to arrive at Spain, cannot arrive there if he be drowned by the way; wherefore perseverance is absolutely necessary to the saving of the soul.