Lately I think the bible isn't so important.

[Landon Caeli]

Lately, I think what's more important is how I behave on earth, and how I treat others. In my view, worshipping God and praying are positive acts that facilitate a greater connection with God. I could be doing more good deeds for others too, but with studying the bible texts, I'm taking time away from actual things I could be doing.

...Is this right or wrong?

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It’s most important to have a connect with God that is active in guiding you. People find that in unique ways, not just thru the bible, but always stemming from that.

 

[Landon Caeli]

It’s most important to have a connect with God that is active in guiding you. People find that in unique ways, not just thru the bible, but always stemming from that.

That's true. I've already read it several times.

...I want to get to the next level. I think that "next level" is living it out. But I can't help but to wonder if clinging to the texts becomes a hindrance to moving forward.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Could Christian mysticism be the next level?

I wonder...

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

That's true. I've already read it several times.

...I want to get to the next level. I think that "next level" is living it out. But I can't help but to wonder if clinging to the texts becomes a hindrance to moving forward.

Optimism that you would be able to do that according to the letters of the text but quite sure that the move ahead would involve putting the spirit into practise as opportunity arises.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Optimism that you would be able to do that according to the letters of the text but quite sure that the move ahead would involve putting the spirit into practise as opportunity arises.

I see you're all about the spirit... I am too...

 

[GospelS]

I think it depends on the season God has for you right now. Maybe, He has already prepared you in His Word what is required according to His purpose for you and leading you towards doing more. There might come another season where you need to do less and go back to studying the bible little more. The more you give, the more you need to refill yourselves all over to be able give again. Similarly, you empty again so you can refill with fresh wine.

I would look at it this way- what is more important to God, rather than what I think is important. And surely, obedience is THE most important thing for God more than how much we study, pray, and worship.

 

[royal priest]

Lately, I think what's more important is how I behave on earth, and how I treat others. In my view, worshipping God and praying are positive acts that facilitate a greater connection with God. I could be doing more good deeds for others too, but with studying the bible texts, I'm taking time away from actual things I could be doing.

...Is this right or wrong?

We can't know God or His will for everyday life without the Bible.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The bible is about the here-and-now as much as the hereafter. We live in the here-and-now, not the hereafter, yet.

God is concerned about all of us collectively, but just as importantly we as individuals. He wants us to "prosper and be in health", physically and spiritually. He is preparing us for greater service, but doesn't expect us to give away what we do not yet have. So accept God's blessings for yourself for now. When you have abundance then you will be prepared to help others.

"If the blind lead the blind, won't they both fall into the ditch?"

 

[Landon Caeli]

We can't know God or His will for everyday life without the Bible.

But we can read it once, and then it's done... Right?

 

[Landon Caeli]

"If the blind lead the blind, won't they both fall into the ditch?"

But some people spend years of their lives "studying" the bible. My only question is, why..?

 

[dzheremi]

I can't imagine any part of what a person wants to do being divorced from the importance of the holy scriptures. It's not an either/or situation, it's both/and. You can meditate on the scriptures while doing other things. The one time I was honored to watch the blessed bread being baked for communion (when I stayed the night at the house where the Coptic community worshiped at the time), I noticed that as part of the preparation of it the first thing George (the deacon whose house it was) did was put on a tape of the Psalms being recited in Arabic and begin reciting them along with the tape as he went around the kitchen gathering the ingredients, forming the dough, etc. This is very common, as the Psalms form the bulk of the prayer in the Coptic Agpeya/daily prayer book, and he was awake and active during what would've been the morning hour of prayer (~ 6 AM/sunrise), so it was a way to mediate on the scriptures as we are told to while also being productive. I don't see any reason why you couldn't do the same or similar. It doesn't have to be some big entry into mysticism that takes you out of the world or whatever. Read the Desert Fathers. They are eminently practical.

 

[Rachel20]

But we can read it once, and then it's done... Right?

Not me! Verses I've read a thousand times can suddenly stand out with new understanding. I'm always left puzzled how I missed it so many times before!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

But some people spend years of their lives "studying" the bible. My only question is, why..?

But we can read it once, and then it's done... Right?

Any bible study, when Edit prayerfully done, or any study surrounding the words of the bible, always offers different levels of insight. Truth is infinitely deep but really only yeah wide. WHY I study as a lifetime occupation that is that it is full of rewards.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

For most of my Christian life I heard preachers and teachers say how important it was to read the Bible every single day. And oftentimes I wondered if I was missing something or doing something wrong by not reading it every day. Then I realized that I could still fulfill the verses that talk about continual mediation upon Truth whilst still not actively picking up the book and reading. The botton line for me is: It's important to meditate on the Word regardless if I'm reading it or not. I believe God puts more emphasis on this and obedience.

 

[Ilikecats]

I don’t think that not reading the Bible is necessarily an error but I do doubt that complete understanding is gained when you’ve read the entirety of the bible. It’s good to continually spend time in the word and see if you can learn something new. There are a lot of Christians who stray from the sufficiency of scriptures into other texts and that usually always ends up in error.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Not me! Verses I've read a thousand times can suddenly stand out with new understanding. I'm always left puzzled how I missed it so many times before!

So do the scriptures have multiple "fluid" meanings? Or were they written for a single specific meaning?

 

[Landon Caeli]

The botton line for me is: It's important to meditate on the Word regardless if I'm reading it or not.

. It’s good to continually spend time in the word and see if you can learn something new.

I'm sorry to sidestep here, but I notice a lot of Christians (including Catholics), refer to the scriptures as "the word".

...But isn't it true that "Word" is the name of Jesus Christ? This has puzzled me for some time, how the Bible and Jesus are both called "Word".

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

For most of my Christian life I heard preachers and teachers say how important it was to read the Bible every single day. And oftentimes I wondered if I was missing something or doing something wrong by not reading it every day. Then I realized that I could still fulfill the verses that talk about continual mediation upon Truth whilst still not actively picking up the book and reading. The botton line for me is: It's important to meditate on the Word regardless if I'm reading it or not. I believe God puts more emphasis on this and obedience.

That’s what it seems to mean about pray without ceasing, a constant connection, sometimes it’s just a knowing that Christ is in us as much as we are in Him, or more plainly a constant awareness of His presence and acting accordingly.

 

[royal priest]

But we can read it once, and then it's done... Right?

Not if you understood what you read.