Why is reading the Bible important?

This is an assignment for class. The instructions read: Write a brief article that addresses the question: Why is reading the Bible important? Assume the audience has little familiarity with the Bible and use no technical language. This is my take...


Why is reading the Bible important?

Reading the Bible is important for a variety of reasons to a variety of people. Some people read the Bible because they always have and know nothing different. Others read the Bible because they are looking for something. The Bible is read in order to better one’s English or in my case a Bible in Spanish to better my Spanish. The Bible is read to gain knowledge and understanding. People read the Bible so they can learn about God, and other’s so they can find reasons to deny God. Some people read the Bible because they want to and other’s because they have to.

The Bible is read in a variety of places by a variety of people. The Bible is read in churches by pastors and lay leaders. The Bible is read in classrooms by teachers and students. The Bible is read in prisons and in subways. The Bible is read by young children and dying elders. The Bible is read by priests, pastors, ministers, chaplains, rabbis, doctors, lawyers, nurses, taxi drivers, plumbers, secretaries, Presidents of the US, professors, city workers, store owners, students, and so many others. The Bible is read in offices, churches, subways, planes, trains and automobiles. The school bus, classrooms, jail cells, squad cars, hospitals, homes, schools and so many other places.

The Bible is available is a variety of translations and languages. People read the NRSV, the KJV, the NIV, the ASV, NET, NLT, NKJV, the Message and so many others. The Bible is available in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Finnish, German and so many more.

The Bible is important to so many people in so many places for so many reasons as was stated above. Do you ever wonder why so many people read the Bible in so many places for so many different reasons and in so many different languages?

Well I do! I wonder! I wonder how one book can be important to so many people for so many different reasons in so many different places all around the world? I would not choose to read a history book, maybe you would? How about a romance novel or a self-help book? We all have favorite genre’s that address one particular idea, theme, topic, era that usually are read by a particular group of people for a particular purpose. This doesn’t fit for the Bible though does it?

So I wonder why so many different people from all around the world read the Bible for so many different reasons in so many different languages? The Bible isn’t really just one book, it is many; therefore it contains, history, romance, self-help, mystery, poetry as well as other genres. All between two covers! Is this why people read the Bible? One book covers a variety of genres? Maybe, but I am guessing there is more to it.

The Bible seems to speak one language but written for many to read. The Bible seems to draw in a fan club from all across race, gender, education, walk of life, economic status and class. The Bible is found everywhere. Why? What does this book offer or say that other books don’t?

The Bible is a story. A long story. A story about you and me. A story about our neighbors and our enemies. The Bible teaches, speaks and lives in the universal language of love. Can the Bible tell your story even if you’ve never even opened it up and looked inside? Aren’t your curious? I am! I am curious how this book can be about me and you? I don’t even know you; you don’t even know me.

The Bible must be important to read, because everybody seems to be doing it? Have you heard that the Bible is not true or that the Bible is for hypocrites? Maybe you have heard that the Bible is only about the past or that it is only for religious people? I am really getting curious now. Have you ever read the Bible? Thought about reading the Bible? Own a Bible? I am curious about why people think it is important to read the Bible. Obviously there are a lot of people from all over the world that find this book important.

I confess, I think that the Bible is important too! The Bible does tell our story – yours and mine! The Bible invites us to be a part of a larger story. A story that includes your ancestors and mine. A story that is about life, love, betrayal, mystery, love, family, death, life, love. Did I mention love? The Bible offers a community, a place to learn, a place to practice, a place to be yourself. The Bible is important because it offers hope and in the world we live in today there is something to be said for HOPE!

Maybe you don’t need hope in your life or maybe you don’t care about community, but maybe you are just curious about this book called the Bible. I encourage you to check it out. Read a few pages or chapters. Aren’t you at least a little curious about where you fit into the story it tells?

Just like the Life cereal commercial; you should try it you just might like it! The Bible is important because it is your story, it is my story and I would hate for you to miss out on the greatest story ever written while we continue to write – you and I and wait for the ending to be told.