I have heard of people treating the Bible in that way too. It would be the same as worshipping statues or "holy objects". But that is not what I meant. There are those who put the Bible above God like the Pharisees were doing. They were seeking Scriptures to gain eternal life, and to look good to others, but they weren't seeking God. They were taking so much pride in knowing the words in the OT Scriptures, but they had no understanding. There are those today who memorize verses, but aren't applying them to their lives. That makes the Word devoid of power in their lives. It gives people a false spirituality and feeds their pride. Some people see the Bible as just a means to gain wisdom, but it becomes wordly wisdom and not Godly wisdom.
Do you understand what I mean? If someone is not seeking God, but they seek to understand Scripture by their own understanding, then that becomes and idol.
To us the Bible is a love letter. To them it is a means to gain power, glory, fame, money etc.
Trust me, I know what you mean. It hurts my heart when I see it. I live by the Word, and only by the Word, unless God points me to something else as well (like science to explain Creation), but even then I'm careful not to let it taint my morals or my faith. Everyone should make the Bible their top priotity in their walks with God.
I do agree with you. But you are talking about reading the Bible. I was talking specifically about quoting Scripture to an unbeliever, without explaining it. They cannot understand it. I have tried. If they read the Bible on their own, that is different. But if I give them a verse and it isn't what they need to hear or what they are capable of understanding (pearls to swine to an unbeliever, or meat to a new believer) then that verse will not have any positive effect on that person. It will probably just confuse them.
I am going to retract that statement, because I see how it could be misinterpreted. But do you understand the point I was making?
If I speak a verse to a person who is not capable of understanding it yet, like a seed that falls on unplowed ground, it won't grow. In that way, that seed will not give life to the person. Yes, the seed has life in it (okay, God corrected me just now with this), but it won't be able to grow or take root. That is what would happen if we speak Bible verses out of sync with what God is doing in that person.