Three Chapters per Day
The pastor harangues from the pulpit. He shames everyone into reading the Bible. “Did you read your 3 chapters today?” Many in the predominately Gentile Church are condemned into picking up a copy of the Bible and, of course, starting at the front, Genesis. By the time they get into the book of Leviticus they are tired and confused. By this time it does not matter what the pastor says to harass them. They are not going to read any more. Only someone who plans on becoming a professional clergyman might continue on, slashing his way through the ecclesiastical brush. He perseveres on, trying to harmonize unrelated Bible passages with a present day Western worldview and then teaching others the same things.
I have another idea which at first might seem heretical. Stop it!
I am not saying never to read the Bible. There may, however, be a better approach.
Now these things were our examples,...(1Cor_10:6)
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Rom 15:4)
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, … (1Cor 10:11)
All the things written in the Bible were written FOR us. Few things in the Bible were written TO us. Jesus said that He said nothing as a secret message (hidden in plain sight but not secret, exclusive knowledge). The entire Bible has been miraculously preserved for our instruction. Everything that God has said, in the Bible, He has said out loud for everyone to hear and benefit. The Westerner typically reads the Bible as speaking directly to him as an individual.
Most of the people reading this essay are Gentiles. Every person alive today (Jew and Gentile) is facing the Kingdom of God, either from the inside or outside; born again or unsaved. As such, a remarkably small portion of the Bible was written to you. All of it is for you. Some would say that the portion that applies to the present day readers is Acts chapter 9 through Philemon.
[The message of the Kingdom of the Heavens is something entirely different. It is not written to you, no matter who you are living today.]
I would recommend the Gospel of John through the book of Philemon as being required reading for the the Gentiles. The Church Age began about 30 AD. The years 30 AD through 70 AD were a transition time. God raised up Saul of Tarsus, a super Jew, to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. His unique perspective on Judaism gives us a great understanding on the relationship of the Mosaic Law to us Gentiles (and Jews of the present day). The books of John through Philemon make up a very small portion of the entire Scriptures. If we Christians could be thoroughly grounded and established in this portion it would eliminate almost all the misunderstanding of our day. Why? Because this portion of the Bible was specifically written to us, those living in the Church Age. When we read the other portions of the Bible, that were not written to us, but rather to someone else, we assume that it is all speaking to us. Modern day Westerners also assume that all of the Bible is speaking to us personally and individually. This is true except for the parts that we do not like. Strange how that works.
After a new Christian is completely grounded and established in the grace of God, he should read the rest of the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament sections. This will give him an understanding of the ancient history of the world and the history of the Jewish people. He would begin to see the big picture. He would see that the entirety of the Bible is telling a progressing story. It would give him an understanding of the wisdom and necessity of the Law for a specific people for a specific period of time. He would see what the point is of this very long history and narrative. He would understand that the entire Bible is pointing to Jesus Christ. He would see God's dealing with His Jewish people over centuries. He would see the end of the story and understand the basic whole of the Scriptures. It all would make sense. There would be some “closure” to the long mysterious story contained in the Bible.
Instead, what does the average person do? He reads passages that are written to someone else. Instead of learning anything from what is written for his understanding and instruction, he assumes everything (minus the parts he doesn't like) is written to him. He does grammar gymnastics, history gyrations, and word contortions trying to harmonize unrelated passages. Then he gets an education degree and teaches the same confusion to others. We would have exactly what we see today. I have been as ignorant and guilty of this as anyone else. Hopefully, we are mature enough to admit wrong and receive the grace that God promises to the humble (1Pet 5:5).
Many people read the Bible as if it were the manual in the glove box of your car. You look at section III and page 4 to see how to change a light bulb. The Bible is not meant to select phrases out of it (though they may be true). It is meant to be seen as an entire coherent whole, maybe somewhat like a biography or a history.
Christian friend, Jew or Gentile, God has a great plan for ethnic Israel both in the past and also in the future. You and I are living today in the great Church Age pause. God has paused His dealings with Israel in order to collect another people for Himself. This door, which has been open for 2,000 years, will soon be shut forever. The main thing that God requires of you today is:
...The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
What is the Gospel? It is not something you do. It is what Jesus did. What did He do? He was tortured and killed as your substitute. He was buried, being completely dead. God raised Him from the dead, saying that He was completely satisfied with His life and sacrifice. You are called to turn from your own way and have faith or assurance in this message. It was not like this in the past. It will not be like this in the future, either. You are standing before this open Door now. Go in now before it shuts forever.
Jan. 19, 2024