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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ask the Matriarch - Introducing New Christians to Scripture


Today, it is more common than ever to welcome persons into our faith communities who have little if any experience with scripture.  How do we do that?

 I have a curious new member who has taken it upon herself to read the Bible cover to cover.  I just received a distressed email from her as she heads into Judges and keeps bumping up against what she perceives as verse after verse of violence and hate.  I'm not a fan of reading the Bible this way, myself, and I have urged her to attend our weekly Bible study, but she has very legitimate reasons why it does not work for her.

Here is my dilemma.  On the one hand, I don’t want to say to her - or to any new Christian -  "don’t read the Bible."  On the other hand, I really DO want to advise her not to read it.  What advice/guidance do you offer new Christians re scripture?

Jennifer writes:

I would never suggest to anyone that they not read the Bible. Reading it cover to cover may prove confusing, as would reading an anthology of any sort and expecting everything to connect and make sense.

Perhaps suggesting a commentary would help, or finding a mentor who can help her understand the theology and sweep of the Biblical story.


Kathryn responds:

What advice/guidance do I offer to new Christians who want to read the Bible? I tell them to start with a Gospel, preferably Matthew, Mark or Luke. I remind them it is living and active, powerful and challenging. No ONE understands it all, and they should be open to the idea that they won't either.

Seriously? I would tell her to stop reading it cover to cover. It is not a manual of operations or a novel. She's right in her description of where she is in the reading, there's no arguing that, but the case can be made that she is reading it for the wrong reasons/purpose. "Stop reading it. Don't read another word until you come in to see me."

If she continues to plow ahead, that's her choice. Don't get sucked in there.


What would you suggest to this new member?  Let us know by posting a comment below.


May you live in God’s amazing grace+
revhoney

19 comments:

  1. I'd agree that Judges is a hard place to read and comprehend WHAT was going on. I'd help her find a devotional reading schedule that is more balanced. Bible Gateway has several reading plans where she can try a balanced read (OT/NT/Psalms) or even a topic one (biographical). http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/

    YouVersion is another on-line source, and I like their topical studies (for instance, joy, hope trust, forgiveness)
    http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans

    If she doesn't have computer access, you could copy and print a plan out for her. If she's bumping up against cultural issues now, just WAIT until she gets to Paul's opines on women!! :-P

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  2. I'd agree that Judges is a hard place to read and comprehend WHAT was going on. I'd help her find a devotional reading schedule that is more balanced. Bible Gateway has several reading plans where she can try a balanced read (OT/NT/Psalms) or even a topic one (biographical). http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/

    YouVersion is another on-line source, and I like their topical studies (for instance, joy, hope trust, forgiveness)
    http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans

    If she doesn't have computer access, you could copy and print a plan out for her. If she's bumping up against cultural issues now, just WAIT until she gets to Paul's opines on women!! :-P

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  3. I read the Bible cover to cover long before I ever stepped inside a church, so my perspective is a little different. I think there is something to be said for gaining the broad sweep of the history of God's people, and she should keep reading. But remind her, over and over, that God's people have always seen things only from limited perspective, just as we do now, and that reading those "history" books requires reading between the lines of human thought/activity to look for God. And that sometimes God may not seem to be so present (other than in the way God is still present in our public discourse today--as a way to legitimate what we want to do) but if we keep on going through the story, we can look back (just like in our own lives) and see glimpses in retrospect.
    The most important thing in a cover-to-cover read is to not get bogged down in between Exodus 18 and Esther. (yes, that's a lot of books, lol) Keep going, because you're looking for the big picture.

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  4. I recommend the one year reading plan from the Center for Biblical Studies (I'm on the board). It uses a lectionary-style approach: One chapter from each testament and one Psalm a day. People find that even when they're in a vicious text - and kudos to her for making it through Numbers, Leviticus and Joshua! - then know that a Psalm and NT are a few verses away. Those tend to be more familiar and more comforting. http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/pdf/One_Year_Bible_Read.pdf

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  5. I'm with Wil - we are using that approach in our diocese, and it is linked to commentaries for each day - http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/category/daily_meditations/

    Another resource is Bible briefs, which gives a user-friendly but scholarly-sound overview of each book: http://www.vts.edu/biblebriefs?rc=0 .

    I also think Kathryn's words are wise - starting with the Gospels, which are generally more familiar to our modern ears and tell the story of Jesus, is a more helpful way to start.

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  6. I'm with Kathryn in recommending that she read a gospel first (preferably Luke), but if this is what she really, really wants to do then offer that the Bible was a text spoken out loud in community long before it was written down. The aims of each book are different and the whole only works together through the Spirit. The aim of the book of Judges is, in part, to reveal that people do not learn from history and only God can save, even though the people will ultimately misunderstand God's role and power and ask for a human king. Perhaps she will be willing to meet with you a couple times a month, if this is her preferred method of reading, to talk about what she's reading. Don't encourage her to skip ahead to Job. That won't help anyone. :)

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  7. I'm impressed that your members, new or otherwise, want to read the Bible. (Which is in part why I did not answer this.)

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  8. If she's really that keen, a good overview book might help ? I'm a fan of John Drane's "Introducing the Bible" - but I'm sure there are others.

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  9. If she wants to read the Bible cover to cover, encourage it but be willing to answer the questions that come. Judges isn't fun but I agree with Teri, the broad perspective of history and culture will be good. A good commentary might help or a good introduction. Is she reading from a study bible or a paraphrase would be my next question. This is a thirsty Christian that is trying to find out if her new found faith's scripture is supportive of what she has found among you. It is wonderful to find someone who is this hungry.

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  10. Lots of good ideas here; I would also suggest a good study bible (like the Oxford or Harper Collins NRSV study bibles). And maybe reading something like Marcus Borg's "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" or something similar. A one volume commentary like the Harper Collins might be helpful too--context is SO important with difficult texts.

    Unbeknownst to me, my older daughter undertook to read the bible cover to cover while in middle school (she was attending a rather conservative Baptist church with her friends at the time) and it didn't turn out well--to this day she cites it as the beginning of the end of her interest in religion. She may be an extreme example, but it does influence my tendency to suggest that cover-to-cover might not be the best way to approach scripture. Nor doing it alone--a study group is always helpful!

    I do admire the thirst to do this and hope she won't become discouraged.

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  11. More seriously than my comment above, I love the one-volume New Interpreter's Study Bible, which I keep at home for those Saturday exegesis emergencies. The commentary is accessible and high-quality.

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  12. I have loved using the Thoughtful Christian adult study called "Four Great Themes of the Bible" or maybe just "Great Themes of the Bible" It helps new believers get a little framework with which to tackle the B.I.B.L.E. And it has a surprisingly experiential feel to it. Tell your Bible reader to meet you for coffee and go over it with her, or offer the class at a time that works for her.

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  13. A second issue is what we teach in our churches about the bible's origin, authorship, authority and inspiration. I'll just leave it there...

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  14. I have to jump in here as a "New Christian". "New Christian" by the way means - that in June of this year I would not have called myself a Christian, now I do. I wasn't looking when God came knocking and pretty much demanded my attention (long story). He called and I was open to following. I contacted my pastor and told her. She had me start out with the New Testament and only a few specific books (John, Luke, Acts), then added a book not from the bible (Abundant Living by E. Stanley Jones). After that I read the remaining two gospels and then the rest of the New Testament in order. We meet also for "spiritual guidance" sessions weekly, which I find is helpful.
    I had the same problem with the Old Testament once I started it, but I knew it would happen; I expected it. I knew some of the violence, knew that I would have issues with it - and yet it still sent me for a tailspin. You can sort of see the results of that struggle here:
    Before reading the OT
    A little in, still OK
    The crash
    Leviticus
    And Coming to terms: He can be found in the "horrible" parts

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  15. 2/2 (wouldn't take it all)

    What it took for me start being OK was when I sat down with my Pastor and we spoke about different theologies. I had to find an approach that worked for me – that I could understand and be OK with. No influecne from my Pastor, she just put them out there. I had to figure out for myself if I take things literally or not and why. We spoke about where I see God in those pages and where not. We sorted through it together . I know I am facing a second "crash" soon (I just got to 2 Samuel and I am a sexual abuse survivor) but now I know what to expect and anticipate it. I am making a point during the difficult passages to go back to the New Testament for a while if need be (mostly because I feel that I really miss reading about Jesus when I read the OT).
    The most important part about reading the Bible was and is meeting with my Pastor weekly (our church is too small for Bible Study). We talk about things that come up for me and questions I may have about what I read. It also helped to find a Bible that, in the commentaries, always spoke about God's love and how, even in that violence, God continued to be a loving God. I am reading the "The Life With God Bible" by Renovare - a Bible focused on spiritual formation.
    Reading the Bible alone and without any guidance - I don't think I could have done it. My pastor has been awesome and knowing that my spiritual journey is as important to her as it is to me, and that she finds it just as thrilling - well, it made it a lot easier to deal with the difficult parts. I assume that your "New Christian" isn't just struggling with reading the Bible - there might be a reason why she converted - something brought her there. That reason may just make the more difficult parts hard to swallow.

    I find the comment: “If she continues to plow ahead, that's her choice. Don't get sucked in there" quite disheartening. Explain to her why reading the Bible cover to cover is not a good idea, present her with a better way of doing it, suggest other books that might make it more helpful – but don’t stop. I could not be stopped. My pastor said that I am so thirsty for knowledge that she can throw buckets full at me and I will still want more. That is quite common for New Believers. We are filling a void that was there – and it can’t seem to go quick enough. We don’t want to “suck” anybody in – we are just a bit impatient.
    If a New Christian or “Seeker” comes to your door – well, they may have been sent on this journey by the grace of God – but God also put you into their life at this time.
    Suzanne
    ..off the soapbox

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    Replies
    1. Suzanne, it's so great to read the experience and perspective of a new Christian. Thank you for taking the time to share! So glad your pastor has been there for you as you navigate. I especially loved reading this: "My pastor has been awesome and knowing that my spiritual journey is as important to her as it is to me, and that she finds it just as thrilling - well, it made it a lot easier to deal with the difficult parts." To me, this is the core of what we're supposed to be doing as pastors, and I'm so glad this is your experience of your pastor. A great reminder and encouragement to me of how I'm to be ministering as well.

      Blessings on your journey!

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    2. I just realized, I should have warned about the bad poetry in my links LOL.....every line in each poem has about 10 prayers attached to it that I said while writing I think. Finding beauty in the Old testament is hard sometimes. Ruth was a welcome change.

      Earthchick - thanks for your reply. I think it helps validate our journey if our pastors are able to go beyond the basic. I know I was constantly questioning if I am "doing it right" and "understanding it right". I know that many churches have bible studies and formation classes and all that - but it takes courage to attend those and you have to get to that point first where you work up the courage. It even takes courage to just write an email to your pastor telling her that something doesn't make sense. Believe me, my pastor has gotten many of those.

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  16. You've gotten some great resources here, and I've none to add.

    I agree with Teri and Muthah+ about this. I personally wouldn't discourage someone from reading the Bible cover-to-cover, though I would try to help them with a framework for understanding. I read the Bible cover-to-cover as a young teenager, and though parts of it were difficult, dry, and/or confusing, it was an effort I'm glad I undertook. It gave me a familiarity with the Bible that I'm glad I have, and it drove me to ask questions I might not otherwise have come to quite so early. The Bible can certainly be misused and misunderstood, but as long as a person has a pastor and a community to help them sort things out, I would never discourage a person from reading it all.

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  17. wow, these are some great ideas. I've never seen youversion before, and that is really cool! thanks!

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