This is another post springing from reading of Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-By-The-Numbers Christianity by Jim Palmer. In this post, I am focusing on Chapter 4, Here’s To All The Walking Wounded. In this chapter he recounts his becoming weary of reading the Bible, but after a self-imposed break from the Bible, found new life and meaning when he returned to reading it.
Palmer writes of becoming weary and numb to the Bible (p.47) and how it had become just another item on his daily to-do-list (p.48.) Upon putting the Bible away for a season, he discovered a living God that “he could know and interact with in real time.” (p.49) He began to have spiritual exchanges with God through “nature, people, art, music, and the still, still voice within.” (p.49)
He observed:
It’s like we become dependent upon the church and the Bible as the spigot of our spirituality and can’t seem to tap into God’s presence in the natural ebb and flow of life. P.51
Once I realized the point of the Bible wasn’t to create a belief system about God, the Bible became an invaluable resource for my journey with God. P.57
He summarizes his newfound perspective this way.
This is my Bible: The God it points to is real. The relationship with God it describes, I can experience. The God who speaks through it is constantly speaking, if we’re listening. P.61
It’s a relief for me to find others who feel this way and are brave enough to admit it. After something of a fast from the Bible, I am looking at it in a new and refreshed way. Two things are important for me in finding this deeper personal meaning in the Bible. One is being able to share implications and insights. That’s why I am blogging those thoughts. The other is discussing passages in community. Most of the books of the Bible were written to be read and discussed in community.
I remember my training in Bible College that told me to focus solely upon God’s revelation in scripture and taught me to question or even doubt any other revelation, interaction, or experience with God and to treat it as suspect. Along with Palmer, I am finding a really big, creative God that shows up in all kinds of places. Instead of trying to dissect and examine God’s revelation (and God Himself,) why not look to interact with him in the Bible and wherever, whenever, however, he reveals himself. It is the way of freedom, joy, and wonder.
- How do you stay alert to opportunities to experience God in your life?
- How do you keep the Bible a meaningful part of your interaction with God?
Here is a related post entitled, What To Do With The Bible.
Glenn, I think practicing love is the central thing that keeps me aware of my humanity. I have a hard time doing it but I need to to discover the best of who I am. This journey has been central to drawing me closer to my Father. The more I am loved and embrace His love, the more I see the truth as revealed in the Bible. It is my relationship with Him that makes the Bible come alive.
By: jonathanbrink on January 13, 2008
at 11:26 pm
Jonathan ~ I like “discover the best of who I am… loved and embrace his love” part. Then we are free on so many levels!
By: glenn on January 14, 2008
at 12:36 am
Glenn ~ I wish I could say honestly that I am always alert to the instances in and the experiences in which God is attempting to speak to me. Sometimes I really am alert but most of the time, he has to slap me in the side of the head.
The Bible is a meaningful part of my interaction because for me it is alive. The answers to my questions are within and the spirit, when I am willing, guides me to those answers. Where I find answers one day, the next day, that scripture might not mean the same thing to me anymore. It’s really an amazing book.
By: Mike on January 14, 2008
at 1:25 am
Wow, Glenn….I’m not very good at it…the other day I caught myself completely dissing on an opportunity to be Jesus to someone, just because it was inconvenient. But I do try to watch for those opportunities.
After well over a year of a Bible fast, I have been on and off the Bible for two years…it seems to come in seasons…when I can have those new eyes, it works for me, but when those old voices of rules and shame come up, I will take a break and then God will reveal to me something in the Bible I have twisted in my mind. Once we unravel that, I will go back to it. What I really love is having the freedom to do that.
By: Erin on January 14, 2008
at 1:49 am
Mike ~ Your not the only one who needs to be slapped on the side of the head!
Erin ~ I have missed a lot of opportunities to be Jesus to people because of my self imposed rigid schedule and sometimes because of my moodiness. I think I am doing quite a bit better and I am enjoying it. Freedom, ah freedom! May we be free of whatever causes us to miss anything God has for us.
By: Glenn on January 14, 2008
at 12:07 pm
I always journal when I read my bible and often find that I don’t get further than a few verses or so. God will point something out that gets me thinking and I spend 5 minutes on the verse and 1 hour on all that it gets me thinking about! I hope God doesn’t mind the lack of volume – it does take me a long time to get through a book!
I experience God a lot through the things around me; through music, nature, people’s stories etc. We all miss much of what God is pointing us to but I’d like to think that at least half the time I get the moment that is in front of me and do something with it. Of course I also spend a fair bit of time apologising for sensing God’s pull toward a moment and refusing to pay it mind. Wish I didn’t do that.
By: Rachel on January 15, 2008
at 7:25 pm
Rach ~ I too have journaled at different times. It can be a very good discipline. Oh that I would be truly awake to God and sensitive to people!
By: Glenn on January 16, 2008
at 11:14 am
Realizing God is ‘perfect’ love, freedom, joy, peace, well-being, Truth, acceptance, etc expanded my experiencing God because I experience those characteristics and attributes of God everyday. The key for me was realizing that my experiencing those characteristics and attributes was experiencing God.
For me the bible launched me into interaction with God. It still does play a part of interacting with God in the above context but it’s certainly not the focus of my interaction with God. When your significant other is right by your side, why read their love letters?
By: Rick on January 16, 2008
at 12:25 pm