I met at the Panera Bread Company this morning with a good friend from church. We are talking about becoming accountability partners. That basically means that we'll get together once a week to talk about how well we are doing with our quiet time: bible reading, praying, journaling and sometimes talk about personal or spiritual matters. As we sat today for our first meeting one of the managers from Panera that I talk to often comes over, sits down, and says, "So you guys are into the Bible. Why would anyone want to read the Bible? I think my first response was, "Oh no you didn't....." I think my jaw hit the ground.
After talking for a little while she shares that she grew up Catholic and was forced to go to church as a kid even though her parents didn't go. She told us she was from California and was warned last Summer when she moved to "the Bible belt" that people wouldn't be so open minded. She basically said we were brainwashed into feeling that we need to read the Bible.
I kind of shared my faith a little bit and finally told her that I crave reading the Bible. I also brought up that it is the all time best seller, most paraphrased book ever. It is pretty good reading. The Old Testament has some graphic and gory stories. I'm not sure how much of an impression I left on her.
I guess she did come to us and ask so she must be curious. She did manage to share that she was unhappily married so maybe she is searching for answers. Not sure if I gave her what she wanted. I'll still go by daily and spend my 6:30-6:55 in Bible study and prayer so I'll be ready should she feel confortable to ask any more questions.
What do you feel about the Bible and do you read it often?
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9 comments:
wow, what an opening! does not get easier than that. invite her to your church. this is a great opportunity to make a lasting impression on this young lady.
I read the Bible because it is the written down version of God's revelation of himself to us. It also contains the story of redemption, from Genesis to Revelation. The Gospels reveal the answer to the question: "What if God was one of us?"
opens the door for a great talk with her!
guess we are not going to do the accountability partnership that we have talked about before..
chip
I think maybe Catholics are not necessarily encouraged to read for themselves as much as members of other Christian faiths. One answer would be that reading the Bible tells you that the issues of the day are not original to our generation. There are no new problems and the answer has always been the same.
Reply to anon: Maybe someday. She definitely opened that door.
Reply to billyv: Now give me some mainstream, non church reasons.
Repy to chip: I'd be all up for it. The morning thing is a sacrifice for Jon since he drove 10+ minutes to meet me then drove back home to get ready for work.
Let me know when.
Reply to mommyprof: Even some of the ways back then would be considered inhumane in today's society. I just read a story in Judges 12 when the son of Gilead told God he would sacrifice whoever came out of his house to great him if God gave him a victory. Well, it was his daughter. Guess he sacrificed her? WOW.
i read the bible because it is the best self help book out there. it teaches you how to live your life, also sharpens your mind, opens up so many things that you have never thought about. it teaches you how to live a life that is not in line with what the world tells us today. people, including Christians that i go to church with, cant handle that. they want to do what they think is right, not what God wants them to do (which is natural). they sit in sunday school and talk a good game, but all that is on their mind is big houses, big money, big cars, big jobs. they still cant get it through their thick heads that the number one thing in life is God, and the Bible is the starting point, the ultimate tool. start reading it and see what happens...
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