If you’re like me, you’ve likely heard people sing this refrain: If you want to know Jesus, you’ve got to study your Bible.
There’s an obvious problem with this statement. For most of history, the average Christian didn’t have a Bible, and they couldn’t read it if they did. Today, in the most literate age of history, most people don’t study their Bibles correctly.
Don’t get me wrong. Bible study matters. But it’s not …
- A checklist for moral behavior,
- a doctrinal cheat sheet,
- nor a tool for decoding the end times.
It’s not a devotional aimed at helping you be your best self, a theology flex machine, or a path to discovering your purpose in life.
Just in case you’re wondering, the Bible isn’t any of these either:
- It’s not for proof-texting your political ideology;
- It’s not a denominational loyalty test;
- It’s not an ammo box to help you win arguments;
- It’s not a guide to spiritual self-improvement;
- And it’s not a magnifying glass to assist you in identifying heretics.
So, why should we study the Bible? Or should we?
Why Bible Study is Necessary
I agree that Bible study is a necessary part of Christian life in the 21st century. But we must approach it with the right frame of mind, or it’s a colossal waste of time. Here’s the purpose of Bible study:
Discovery:
- Discovery of who God is;
- Of what God has purposed—not just for you, but for everything;
- Of what sits at the center of God's heart;
- In short, it’s a sincere look into the ways and means of God's Eternal Purpose.
Bible study can lead us closer to Jesus. It can also drive us further away. That’s why our modern world is full of atheists who can quote scripture better than your grandmother.
At its best, Bible study is faith-driven exploration. Not intellectual conquest. It’s prayerful, meditative, and Spirit-led. If it doesn’t lead you deeper into the heart of God, it might turn you into someone no one wants to be around. And if that is the case, your Bible study is defeating the purpose.
Summary: Bible study isn’t about having your theology sorted. It’s about having your spiritual eyes open.
I’d be delighted if you’d read my testimony, I Am Not the King.
First published at Substack. Image from Whisk.