Are Christians making Bible reading a priority in their lives?

Are Christians making Bible reading a priority in their lives?

By Martha Simmons
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist

The Bible: We memorize passages, we argue over its meaning, we take oaths on it, we lug it to church on Sunday. But how many of us are actually reading it regularly — and why?

A recent study conducted in partnership with the American Bible Society by Barna Group, a research organization focused on the intersection of religion and culture, found that more than half of Americans — 57 percent — read Scripture because it draws them closer to God.

Nevertheless more than 6 in 10 Americans feel they aren’t studying the Bible enough.

Wanting more

Demographics drive the numbers. Wanting to do more Bible reading were:

• Females (68 percent compared to 54 percent of males)

• Baby boomers (68 percent compared to 55 percent of Millennials)

• Nonwhite Americans (67 percent compared to 58 percent of white Americans)

• Those with no more than a high school education (67 percent compared to 56 percent of college graduates)

• Southerners (70 percent compared to 55 percent of both Westerners and Northeasterners)

Not surprisingly, born-again and practicing Christians (85 percent and 84 percent, respectively) are the most likely to desire more Bible reading in their day-to-day lives, Barna reported.

In general the groups desiring to do more Bible reading have followed up on their goal, Barna said, but Scripture study across all demographic groups has remained relatively stable over the past five years.

Two-thirds — 66 percent — of Barna’s telephone and online survey respondents in 2016 reported that their Bible reading had neither increased nor decreased.

Greater engagement

Respondents cited these reasons for greater engagement in Scriptural study:

• Realization that the Scriptures are an important part of one’s faith journey (67 percent)

• Been through a difficult experience causing a search for answers (26 percent)

• A significant change such as marriage or the birth of a child (20 percent)

• Downloaded the Bible onto smartphone or tablet (18 percent)

• Seeing how the Bible changed someone else for the better (14 percent)

• Going to a church where the Bible became more accessible to them (12 percent)

• Having someone they know ask to read the Bible together (10 percent)

• Media conversations around religion and spirituality (5 percent)

“Those who are seeing the biggest decrease in Bible reading in the last year include Millennials (11 percent), atheists and agnostics (10 percent), those who are much less active church attenders (16 percent) and again, black Americans (11 percent), who appear to be existing more on the extremes of usage,” Barna reported.

Americans’ crowded schedules were cited as the No. 1 cause for reduced or stagnant levels of Bible reading.

Other factors cited for less time reading the Bible included:

• Becoming atheist or agnostic (17 percent)

• Deciding to leave the Church altogether (17 percent)

• Going through a difficult experience that caused them to doubt their faith, God or the Bible (12 percent)

• Experiencing a significant change such as a job loss or death in the family (8 percent)

• Seeing how reading the Bible made very little difference in the life of someone they know (6 percent)

• Being converted to another faith (5 percent)

Roxanne Stone, editor-in-chief of Barna Group, said, “We have consistently seen in our research that, even with skepticism on the rise, Americans still hold the Bible in high regard. After all, two-thirds of Americans (66 percent) agree that the Bible contains everything you need to know to live a meaningful life.”

However, Scripture reading is often an “aspirational goal,” Stone said, “that for most people probably doesn’t feel necessary to survival and so can easily get swamped by the day-to-day demands of a busy life.”

But Stone said, “When people go from feeling they should read the Bible more to needing to read the Bible, they find the time. For pastors and spiritual leaders this means … cultivating an environment where Scripture reading feels central to a spiritual life.”

At First Baptist Church, Bay Minette, members can find support for Bible study in a number of ways, according to Pastor Chip Starnes.

“We encourage Bible readings by offering daily Bible reading plans to our congregation and by connecting them to apps and daily devotions electronically,” he said.

Ultimately though it’s up to the individual to take the next steps.

“The biggest obstacle is the commitment it takes to make the time. One must commit to the time to be still and read God’s Word,” Starnes said.

Making Bible study a regular part of one’s day is key, he suggested.

“Commit to a time. Either waking earlier, before bed, during lunch hour or whatever works for you,” Starnes said.