The Four Types of Bad Bible Readers
Are you a bad Bible reader? It’s more common than you think. Maybe you have a bit of the mad scientist in you? The postman? Whatever your tendency, you don’t want to end up like these…
The Lawn Care Specialist
The lawn care specialist reads the Bible the same way that he mows lawns – precisely and quickly. The goal is not to enjoy the feel of the mower, to smell the cut grass, or to savor the fresh clippings between his toes; the goal is just to finish the job. And while this is an admirable approach to lawn care, it’s hardly the right approach to inspired Scripture. The Psalmist speaks of the blessed man as the one who meditates on God’s word ‘day and night,’ meaning that he takes time to go through the text thoughtfully, and he mulls on it continually. But for the lawn care specialist, it’s just another task on the to-do list.
The Mad Scientist
The mad scientist is, in many ways, the opposite of the lawn care specialist. Being the mad scientist that he is, he pursues his subject doggedly, not because he needs to, but because he wants to. He loves to study, perform experiments, and hypothesize. Just as he wants to know everything there is to know about the chemical in his test tube, so this Bible reader wants to understand precisely how this text fits into the context, the book, and the broader storyline of the Scripture. Plus, he compiles lists of cross-references, ponders the meaning of Hebrew words, and analyzes the grammar. But, like the mad scientist, his studies stay in the laboratory. It’s for others to figure out the practical application of the chemical that he has so thoroughly studied, and to put it to use in their own lives.
The Combat Helicopter Pilot
The combat helicopter pilot’s life is marked by uncertainty. He never knows whether he will be flying in to a war zone to pick up an injured comrade, shuttling supplies from one base to another, or dropping off soldiers on a dangerous airstrip. It’s exciting to be a combat helicopter pilot, because you never know where you are going next. Unfortunately, you never spend enough time over one region to really learn the terrain. This Bible reader, similarly, is always up for a surprise, because he never knows what he is going to read. Maybe a Proverb yesterday, a Psalm today, and tomorrow – just to spice things up a little – maybe one of Solomon’s Songs? His life is marked by excitement, but not a commitment to understanding the storyline of the text, within the context.
The Postman
The postman spends his days sorting and delivering mail to others. Thousands of letters may pass through his hands every day. Each letter is valuable, being worth at least the price of the stamp – and quite possibly much more. He knows that the mail is precious, containing personal letters, important business checks, and other high-value items. Sometimes he even feels honored to be able to interact with such valuable material. But what the postman never does is actually open the mail himself, because it’s not for him! This Bible reader values the Word of God, and may even spend a significant amount of time in it. He knows that it contains spiritual riches. But somehow, he never stops to read it as if it were for him. He doesn’t approach it with faith that it contains the answers to his questions, challenges to his shortcomings, encouragements for his difficulties. He doesn’t expect to hear from God in it. It is a wonderful book that can change the world, but a lack of faith keeps it from changing him.
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