Why Do You Read Your Bible, Bethany?
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Welcome to the second installment in the series I have come to call, “Why Do You Read your Bible?” In this series, we are asking people from the church this simple question, getting them to answer it as personally as they can. If you missed the first post, you can find it here.
This week, we have our very own Bethany Sawatzky on deck to share her answers with us.
This was the question posed to me this week…and it made me really think. Why DO I read my Bible?
The thought that kept coming back to me was this: I read the Bible because I “should.” It’s what Christians do. It’s what I’ve been taught and have seen all my life. At first, that felt pretty raw and sheepish coming out of my brain, but I don’t think that’s the only reason, and it maybe isn’t necessarily bad. Yes, it is great when there are seasons of my life (days, even) where reading my Bible seems natural and desirable, but lots of times it is a habit that I either neglect or force myself to keep.
Sometimes, the Bible seems confusing, scary, and disturbing. Other times it can be hopeful, encouraging, and inspiring. I know that my specific location, gender, race, upbringing, age, culture and geography really impact how I read and process the words in the Bible. So, this blog post is just from my own experience. Maybe that goes without saying, but I thought I should still say it :)
Like most good habits, it is hard to start and hard to keep going at the beginning, but then as it becomes part of daily rhythms and routines, you settle in and appreciate all the good benefits. Like, taking your vitamins, or lifting weights, or going to therapy, or drinking more water, or eating your greens. For me, reading my Bible is one of those sorts of things (I am trying to resist any shame in sharing that)! I do a lot of things that I essentially force myself to do, or do begrudgingly because I KNOW it’s good for my mind, body, or spirit. Lots of human life (especially adult life) involves that.
When I was a kid, I thought there was a direct correlation between how “good” of a Christian I was (what a bizarre phrase), and if I read my Bible consistently. It seemed like that was the benchmark of devotion and piety. But what a roller coaster ride if you skip a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, and feel terrible, like God is mad at you! I realized that I had a tiny view of what spiritual discipline could include, as well as too much weight on my devotion rather than God’s devotion (God is always present, and I am invited to connect and dwell in that. I don’t make God more present by reading the Bible, but perhaps I become more aware of the presence already there). I think it is healthy and necessary for Christians to read their Bibles as part of regular time with Jesus. I don’t think there’s any getting around that. But tying your worth solely to if you read your Bible today; it just doesn’t seem healthy to me (most conversations about faith are nuanced! No formulas here).
My husband Dawson and I have started reading through the Bible chronologically, in one year. We started on January 1, 2021, and I read it out loud before bed. So far, we are still deep in the Old Testament. And honestly, some nights it has felt like a chore. But that’s ok. I don’t love reading the repetitive chapters about specifics on sacrifices and tabernacle protocol. But not everything in this world is for me specifically, to enjoy or be entertained by. And it makes me all the more thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice once and for all on the cross so that we no longer have to appease God through animal sacrifice. All the graphic and horrible stories about evils done by and to others make me acknowledge that we need Jesus and His Kingship so badly because humans are….well, we need help. Not every verse will be a “make it into wall art” kind of inspirational quote. But it all, collectively, tells a story and paints a picture of the world, God, humans, and how that all works together. Just like one conversation or photo can’t capture who you are, one verse or even book of the Bible can’t fully explain the story or the character of God. I think we need the whole thing to see fully and holistically.
I also read the Bible to remember. I forget the miracles of God. I forget his faithfulness. I forget my need for Jesus. I forget that I am loved. So, I read the Bible. I forget that God is present all around me, I forget there are seasons of silence and waiting, I forget that there are times of amazing restoration. So, I read the Bible to remember.
These words are ancient, sacred reminders that we are part of a bigger story, and that there is a God who has not forgotten about creation. That God is restoring all things to Himself and will make all things new in due time. Jesus is the centrepiece of it all, and the Holy Spirit challenges and encourages us with the words in that massive, sometimes confusing, and beautiful book.
I honestly don’t know much about translation history or how the Bible came to be. But I know that God has inspired those words and has used this specific collection of stories, poems, songs, and letters, to bring people to Himself. And even if I trudge along some months and just read the Bible like I eat my greens, I hope and pray it will flourish and produce a more healthy and whole version of myself and my perspective throughout my entire life.
