Why should I read stories that I have already read within the Bible?
Once again, another young theologian raised a great question that I just had to answer:
Why should I read stories that I have already read within the Bible?
The stories within the Bible are rich stories that have within them many layers that can and should be examined. The Bible contains stories of faith in which a person's life along with their relationship with God and others among them is discussed and sometimes analyzed. Along with that, your own life (the events that are currently happening) help you realize the some of the various layers that are present within the stories. Perhaps also you have yet to realize that there are sometimes not just one story but the same story told in various forms, from different points of views. No, I am not simply talking about the gospels (those first four books of the New Testament) but there are actually several creation stories, there are several places in which the Ten Commandments are noted, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. This allows you to examine the differences and understand why each one is important in the sharing of faith and the relationship with God. It also causes you to stop and really think about God and your own life.
The stories within the Bible are often shared to get you to think about your own life. You are to enter into the story, get to know the people and the events that are happening. Then from there you are able to realize connections within your own life. You are able to learn from someone else's mistake or situation. The Bible also causes you to continually reflect upon your own life. It helps you to realize that life is a journey, one with highs and lows but also that you are not alone. Not only do you have a community of others who care about you but also God came and lived among you, God knows exactly what this life is like for you. We read the Bible and continue to read it to be reminded of the promises that God has given to us. For often, we hear the promise, we think that we know it but we do not actually live it, we do not actually trust the promise. Yet once we do trust the promise and live within the promise, we get thrown back into the world and need to be reminded of it. We need to hear and live into the promise once again. We do this everyday until our days cease and we are actually before God to be given the pure gospel and constantly faced with it.
We study to know it is true. We study to trust the promise. We study to live in the promise and to return to the promise.
Why should I read stories that I have already read within the Bible?
The stories within the Bible are rich stories that have within them many layers that can and should be examined. The Bible contains stories of faith in which a person's life along with their relationship with God and others among them is discussed and sometimes analyzed. Along with that, your own life (the events that are currently happening) help you realize the some of the various layers that are present within the stories. Perhaps also you have yet to realize that there are sometimes not just one story but the same story told in various forms, from different points of views. No, I am not simply talking about the gospels (those first four books of the New Testament) but there are actually several creation stories, there are several places in which the Ten Commandments are noted, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. This allows you to examine the differences and understand why each one is important in the sharing of faith and the relationship with God. It also causes you to stop and really think about God and your own life.
The stories within the Bible are often shared to get you to think about your own life. You are to enter into the story, get to know the people and the events that are happening. Then from there you are able to realize connections within your own life. You are able to learn from someone else's mistake or situation. The Bible also causes you to continually reflect upon your own life. It helps you to realize that life is a journey, one with highs and lows but also that you are not alone. Not only do you have a community of others who care about you but also God came and lived among you, God knows exactly what this life is like for you. We read the Bible and continue to read it to be reminded of the promises that God has given to us. For often, we hear the promise, we think that we know it but we do not actually live it, we do not actually trust the promise. Yet once we do trust the promise and live within the promise, we get thrown back into the world and need to be reminded of it. We need to hear and live into the promise once again. We do this everyday until our days cease and we are actually before God to be given the pure gospel and constantly faced with it.
We study to know it is true. We study to trust the promise. We study to live in the promise and to return to the promise.
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