Are You Reading?

     

     Do you have a regular diet of feasting on God’s Word?  Do you know whether you are a typical Christian or an atypical one?  You may be surprised by studies that have been conducted aimed at learning the habits of those who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ.  I thought this might be worth our exploration. 

     So, as a Christian writer, I have been looking into the patterns reflected by research to learn about reading habits in the U.S.  My whole family are avid readers, so curosity caused me to explore the health of our society, believers and non-believers alike.    In a Smithsonian article written in 2015 (just a few years ago), I read, “27-percent of U.S. adults didn’t read a single book within the last 12 months.”¹ A survey conducted by Pew Research also revealed several other interesting facts like, (1) the average reader consumes 12 books per year, but this number is probably skewed due to avid readers, and  (2)  The most frequent number reported by those participating in the study was four books per year.  In another article written by Thomas Whittington, he notes that women are more likely to read than men, 77% to 67%.  His article was written in 2016.  Troubled by our lack of reading, I learned that we tend to read less as we age.  “A full 80 percent of 18 to 29 year-olds reported reading at least one book, compared to 69% of seniors (65+).”² 

     As troubling as that information may be, you may wonder where this article is leading.  Lately, I’ve been on the soapbox warning, but also encouraging, others to read their Bibles.  The Holy Spirit has laid this message heavy on my heart as He has guided and reinforced this message again and again through Scriptures.  I have been faithfully reading from accounts recorded in the Old Testament regarding the major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel for the past several months.  God has used these stories to speak to me about the importance of listening, opening our ears, and filling our hearts with His Words.  Also Jesus’ ministry to the disciples spoke the same message over and over again.  Just look at the book of John and see how many references are made to ‘my words’ that Jesus spoke and how they had been directed entirely by God.    

     In Scriptures, God revealed the hearts of those who are of His chosen people, the Israelites when he said to His prophet, Jeremiah, “For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear His word, or who has paid attention to His word and listened? Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.   The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the intents of His heart.  In the latter days, you will understand it clearly” Jeremiah 23:18-20 (ESV).   Also, in Ezekiel, God says He searched for a man of righteousness among His people, and He found none (See Ezekiel 22:29-30).  Throughout history, this has been a repeating pattern from the times of Noah to now. We should be alarmed at the words recorded in Luke, “When the Son of Man (Jesus) comes, will he find faith on earth?”³   Does that make your heart skip a beat?  Not in a good way!

     In my youth, I attended a church that took the approach of sharing “fire and brimstone” messages from the pulpit.  At least that is what my memory recalls.  It became the way that I viewed God.  My pastor may have taken many lessons from these prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel); however, I was too young to understand the truth of what he preached.  The fear of disobedience, as a child, was firmly instilled in my psyche.  If you grew up in the same era as I did, I am sure you would agree with this next statement.  Kids did what they were told to do because they feared the wrath of God, as well as the wrath of their own earthly fathers.  The punishment was swift, and it reinforced the desire to move away from wrongdoing.  So, I’d have to say digging deeply into Scriptures where God reveals His anger has been difficult to read.  However, although challenging, I have gained appreciable insights as I revisit these stories in Scripture.  God wants His Word to be “fire in our bellies.” (See Jeremiah 23:29) 

     As I read these Old Testament accounts, I marvel at the obedience of these prophets.  They were resolved to do precisely what God commanded.  Their commitment resembles that of nature.  Remember, in Scriptures, we read, “even the wind and the waves obeyed Him?” This phrase is used in 3 of the four gospels (See Mark 4:41, Matthew 8:23-27, and Luke 8:22-25).  What an account of nature obeying the words that Jesus spoke, which were not his own, but only what the Father told him to say.  Powerful! Intentional! And according to God’s Will.   

     Let’s look at some examples.  Can you imagine being Isaiah and running around naked and barefoot for three years because God told you to do so?  (See Isaiah 20:3).  Or even Ezekiel, who was told not to mourn over the loss of his wife, not to shed a tear, take in any condolences, and if he must, ‘sigh,’ do it very quietly (See Ezekiel 24:15-17).  Each request God made of these prophets, they obeyed.  They knew His plan was sovereign.  God anointed them because He knew that they would carry out His wishes.  When we heed God’s warnings, it is beneficial for us.  In contrast to the prophets, it is not difficult to find examples as we observe life in the U.S. and see how few people take God at His Word. 

Statistics

     Let’s look at some statistical findings.  According to the Ponce Foundation, “Of the over 2 billion Christians in the world, less than 30% will ever read through the entire Bible.   The fact is over 82% of Christian Americans only read their Bibles on Sundays while in church?”⁴ What is your experience?  My testimony would reveal that for most of my Christian walk, I would have been counted with the 82%.  My Bible reading has been in ebbs and flows, but more ebbs than flows, until recently.  The Pew Organization reports, “Only about 25% of Americans now attend church.” In this light, the first statistic may be significantly overstated.   Are we looking at 82% of the 25% who attend church regularly are reading their Bibles?  A more tragic statistic, also by the Pew Organization indicates that the primary reason that American Christians don’t read their Bibles is that “only 22% of them believe that the Bible is fully inspired by God Himself.”⁵  

    An article reported by Lifeway Ministries shares that most households own a Bible (87%) and that even those classified as hostile (62%), and skeptics (67%) own a Bible.  Their research gives a further breakdown of the demographic of those owning Bibles as such:  African-Americans (95%), Whites (87%), and Hispanic households (88%).⁵  

     Just last year, a study done by Barna, a well-known Christian-based research company reported, about half of American households (48%) have been classified as “Bible-users,” which means they read, listen, or pray with their Bibles about three to four times a year.⁶  I wonder how that correlates with how often on average a person experiences a personal crisis.  Although half are classified this way, nearly one-third of Americans admit that they never approach their Bibles.⁶  What should we do with statistics like these?  I do not wish to be fooled into thinking that it is beneficial for us to compare ourselves with statistics ranking our behavior somewhere between above or below average.  This comparison is not relevant.  What is relevant, however, is our understanding of how God measures obedience to His Word.  It is not whether we are informed or not informed; we will all be held accountable.  We seek God by knowing Him.  The book of Ezekiel repeats the phrase “Then they will know that I am God” over and over as God makes his final judgment and places both kingdoms and their enemies under His corrective hand, killing most, but sparing some (a remnant) remembering His covenant.  We will all be measured by God’s standard.  He’s not grading on a scale.  God’s not counting the number of times we read His word, nor the hours of commitment we make, but He is looking into our hearts to see where we have placed Him.  Anything we place in front of God is an idol.  How high is God on your priorities?  He wants to be number one!  It’s not a checkmark of accomplishment, but a desire to know Him more.  

     Statistics reveal that accountability among Christians might be in good order.  People who exercise find it beneficial to having an exercise companion.  Those on a diets seek support groups.  Are Christians seeking accountability partnerships?   Without God’s Word residing in our hearts, it is extremely difficult for it to spill out of our mouths. 

Back to the Bible

      Ezekiel, while in Babylonian exile, received his assignment to move from the priesthood to the position of prophet by God's anointing.  Ezekiel was a Levite and had been residing in Jerusalem before being taken into captivity around 605B.C.  He had been in exile for about five years when God showed up in a vision, from what I understand it might have been his birthday.  We read of this account in the first chapter of the book that bears his name.  If I were a ten-year-old boy, I might have exclaimed, “awesome,” as I read the description of how God’s throne appeared to Ezekiel.  There were four living creatures with four-heads each, a couple of set of wings, human hands, straight legs with feet that seemed like the hooves of a calf.  Each of these creatures was riding upon interlocking wheels that were covered with eyeballs.  For most of us, we would probably prefer to be spared a vision into the invisible spiritual realm, it sounds kind of scary, or is that just me?  

     During this vision, God’s Word came to Ezekiel, and he was told to ‘eat this scroll’ or digest the Words God was speaking.  Like other passages in God’s Word, we are told that the scroll was sweeter than honey.  Here is the passage, “And he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’  So, I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.  And he said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.’ Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. “Ezekiel 3:1-3 (ESV)  I have no idea whether this was metaphoric or literal experience; however, if God asked me to eat His Words and gave no further instruction, I can bet that I would awaken finding that I had consumed the Bible on my nightstand with drool on my cheek.  We later read, “ Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.  And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear” (Ezekiel 3:10-11).  Whether God’s Word filled his belly or not, we know that it was intended to fill his heart.  Ezekiel was to take it in, understand it, meditate upon it, and memorize it, if necessary so that he could share it with his fellow refugees, as well as foreigners, and enemies of Israel.  He was told that regardless of whether they listened or not, he was still expected to deliver the message just as he had been told.  History tells us that God’s Words were not received, even though Ezekiel obediently told them.  Are we as willing as Ezekiel to speak the Word of God to those around us?  Might we be handicap by a failure to take God’s Word into our bellies and digest them?

Experiencing God’s Word 

     Both Ezekiel and the Apostle John describe God’s Word as ‘sweeter than honey,’ but they are not the only one to describe Scriptures in this way.  Even King David said, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb “(Psalm 19:7-10).  Again in Psalm 119:100-103 (ESV) we read, “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.  I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.   I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” 

    Did you realize that multiple passages speak of eating a scroll?  I had never made this correlation until I read John’s message in Revelation 10.  The Apostle John tells us from his vision, “And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, ‘You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings’” Revelation 10:10–11 (ESV).  What would make the scroll sweet to the taste, yet bitter to the stomach?  Rather than using an illustration of eating too much sugar and feeling the consequences, let’s use a different illustration.  Have you ever read a good book where the author captures your attention?  They draw you into the story so that you cannot wait to turn the page.  When you finish the book, you can hardly wait for the author to publish its sequel so that you can re-engage with the characters.  You eat up the words as though they were dessert.  I use this illustration to explain how satisfying it was to the Apostle John to be privy to the plans that God has made for our futures.  However, we also read that John heard words that he was not allowed to record (See Revelations 10:4-6).  There was still some mystery that God has chosen not to reveal.   John must have found this information was hard to digest.  Like John, we see Ezekiel experienced the same bitterness.  “The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me. And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days” (Ezekiel 3:14-15).  

     As Christians, we know that this world is not our home, but we are currently part of the human race.  We should feel tremendous grief for lost souls, those who refuse to listen.  The welfare of our friends and family should be of great concern; these are our fellow refugees.  We may try in vain to open eyes and ears to the Word of God, whether ears are willing to listen.  It is our mission to proclaim Jesus Christ.  If Christians are not in the Word and it is not spilling out of our mouths, what will be the fate of our people?  Just like the apostle John who knows that the outcome for many will not be too sweet, we can learn also from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.  Let's make it our life mission to fill our hearts with the Word of God, so that it spills our of our mouths and doesn't sour in our bellies.   

     How important is it that we prioritize reading the Word of God?

Endnotes

1https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/27-percent-american-adults-didnt-read-single-book-last-year-180957029/

2 https://www.irisreading.com/how-many-books-does-the-average-person-read/

3 Luke 18:18 (ESV)

4 http://poncefoundation.com/christians-dont-read-their-bible/

5 https://lifewayresearch.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/

6 https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven-top-findings/