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I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.
Showing posts with label studying Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studying Bible. Show all posts

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Battling Bible Fatigue

"[H]earken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness" (Isaiah 55:1-2, KJV).   
"Your words were found, and I ate them.  Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart..." (Jeremiah 15:16, HCSB).     
"I rejoiced over Your promise like one who finds vast treasure" (Psalm 119: 162, HCSB).  
"Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction" (Psalm 119:165, HCSB). 
"... I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food" (Job 23:12, HCSB).

As an introduction, realize that God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform (cf. Isaiah 45:15) and through general revelation such as creation, as well as through propositional and written revelation in the Word of God--on this, I'll focus.

Bible fatigue refers to the syndrome when the Bible seems to have lost its original pizzazz or zing, no longer inspiring us to do good deeds or mediate on or know God.  Boredom is a phenomenon that only humans are truly capable of, in that we get bored with ourselves and our environments.  Someone could have everything to live on and nothing to live for. Anything can become blase! Sometimes the verses we're reading may seem overly familiar because of repetitive reading and resorting to the same passages over and over again--over-exposure!   In one way this reflects on our relationship with God and that God may be becoming a bore to us (we feel less amazed or in wonder at the beauty of the Word).

Remember the principle that familiarity breeds contempt and that's why we should seek illumination and not just depend on eating leftovers of the previous day's meal of the Word. This doesn't mean that there are staples we never tire of, such as the gospel message: we will always need the milk of the Word, but should grow to comprehend its solid food. 

There are many cures to this phenomenon:  we can change translations or versions to give new insight; we may fail to see the forest for the trees; we can start putting into action what we already know or apply it to ourselves; the more we understand, the more we'll gain; we can see what commentators or teachers have written about it; we can get a new interest as in a newfound interest in theology as a systematic way of seeing Scripture--rightly dividing the Word of truth.

 Remember:  You don't always need some so-called existential encounter in the Word or experience God in it to have a genuine, beneficial, blessed reading session--you don't need a new revelation either, but maybe a gentle reminder.  As we mature in the Word, we learn to see "Aha!" moments and appreciate them like one who says "Eureka!" or "I found it!"  Great spoils in the Word are there to be had by hard work and faithful reading (cf. Psalm 119:162), inspired by God (cf.  Psalm 119:18). 

But no one is immune to becoming blase about the Bible if they let it become routine or perfunctory, as a matter of fact, or of duty.   This is where seeing the big picture is necessitated and mandatory for the correct interpretation of the Word.  There are no short-cuts to a thorough understanding or comprehension of the Bible's main message. One cannot look truly into Scripture without looking truly into his heart, so it is we must be attentive to the illumination of the Spirit and our convictions, not confusing them with our prejudices.  We must also realize mankind is basically empty without God on some journey or quest to find fulfillment, and his soul is a vacuum only God can satisfy, according to Pascal, and the only contentment is in knowing God, not just knowing He exists or about Him, as Augustine said, our souls are restless till they rest in God. 

When we diligently approach the Word, we ought to be spiritually prepared and with an open mind, obedient will, open mind, expectant attitude, willing spirit, and needy heart, being teachable and reverent to the Word, or we will get nothing!  Above all:  READ WITH A PURPOSE!   God chose to speak to our hearts in the Word and we must be ready to echo its prayers and to be convicted by the Spirit or to be prompted to do His will.  Then divine order is to prepare with prayer, being ready to pray during reading, and to thank and praise in prayer afterward, keeping the message spoken to our hearts in mind as we go about our activities.

CAVEAT:  NEVER READ THE WORD OF GOD FOR MERELY OR PURELY ACADEMIC REASONS, FOR ENTERTAINMENT, OR WHEN YOU AREN'T SERIOUS ABOUT GOD SPEAKING TO YOUR HEART AND YOU BEING WILLING TO APPLY IT!       Soli Deo Gloria!