My Bible Trek ... in summary

On Sunday, June 5, 2005 I remember sitting down in the dining room, opening to Genesis and diving in. I had been 'challenged' from the inside to read the Bible through, one book at a time, each book in one sitting (as much as was possible), and meditate on it. I wasn't looking for any deep revelation - just wanted to read it differently than I had before. I was also hoping to do it in less than a year.

On Saturday, June 6, 2006 I read Revelation. Just a day shy of one year.

It occurred to me at the beginning to blog my trek. Knowing me, I would not have journaled or taken notes otherwise. It was somehow cathartic to journal where everyone could see it, even though I put every safeguard in to not have it easily found, and not many people even read it. Even so, it's out there.

I mentioned to some friends what I was doing, and it was usually met with questions as to why I thought my thoughts were important enough to "publish." I've never said they were, but this process has certainly helped me in my own life and my own relationship with Christ.

I've never felt like I fit in. Still don't. I'm part of a culture that makes no sense to me - the Christian Church. Don't get me wrong, my relationship with Christ is the most important thing in my life and I try to put him first in all things. But there have been very few occasions where I have felt like I 'fit' at church. Everybody else seems to have God talk to them daily. Chris Rice wrote a lyric that says "I would take no for an answer, just to know I heard you speak" - referring to God. That's often how I feel. Usually I recognize something as God weeks after the fact.

But the journey of this past year has helped me understand his voice. I've gotten more familiar with his book, so now I more quickly recognize his promptings, because I know his character. The trick? I've read the Bible in a way that I understand it, that fits my personality - as a story.

So, the question is now this: What did I learn?

I've learned that God prefers to use screw-ups - people that don't have it together and are not likely candidates to the rest of us.

I've learned that God loves those who are poor, or orphaned, or widowed, or defenseless. If a person is part of a disenfranchised group, God loves them, and he looks favourably towards anyone who helps them. As a matter of fact, he expects the rest of us to defend them, to father them. He expects it so much that he modeled it for us.

I've learned that Jesus came for the sick, for those who didn't "know" him. He had all sorts of patience for them, and very little for those who claimed to "know" him.

I've learned that Jesus was more often than not trying to teach and preach when he performed miracles. The miracles were a 'sidebar,' an aside. He didn't put a lot of focus on them, just treated them as a normal occurrence for him and his followers.

And I've learned that God's economy and human economy are very, very different. God gave himself for people who rejected him. He wanted so much to be in relationship with his creation, even though his creation was of no value to him, that he gave himself for it - just because of love.

So, in all, I've learned that I need to love as Christ loves, that I need to be more concerned about what I can do for others, not what they can do for me. I need to accept the grace that has been given to me, that nothing that I have done has earned me this grace. I need to accept that God will still use me even if I don't get it right, and that he is my biggest advocate.

So here I am, a year later. I think I've grown. Now, more than ever, I'm sure of my calling to work with people that society pushes to one side. I want my life to be a daily example of God's undeserved kindness.

Revelation

It's been a year to the day since I started this trek of reading the Bible through and journaling my thoughts on the way. Yesterday morning, while Karen was still asleep and after I finished the three Johns and Jude, I read Revelation.

A couple days ago I mentioned that a friend had asked me if I knew how to study the Bible. My thought in response to that was that the Bible was pretty clear and that it didn't require a lot of dissecting. Generally speaking, it said what it meant and we just needed to do it.

Oops. While reading through Revelation, I recalled Song of Songs, and how it didn't make a lot of sense to me. Revelation is similar, in that there is a lot of imagery, and John often uses the phrases "what looked like" or "what sounded like" when describing something, so you never really know if he was describing a literal thing or event, or if it was his subjective response to it.

There are some things that are clear, though. The seven letters to the seven churches have very clear messages: return to your first love, don't worry about suffering, don't follow false teaching, don't be immoral, completely obey God, you'll be protected through testing because of your obedience, and don't be lukewarm, but make a decision and be hot or cold.

Then there seems to be a lot of symbolism during the description of the seven seals and the seven trumpets. There is talk of 144,000 chosen, of a dragon, of a beast who has a number that represents a person. There are times given and punishments described.

There are also recurring statements of larges groups around God's throne giving praise to him, and often throughout an angel makes the statement "God's people must learn to endure." As well, I noticed a couple mentions that all the leaders of the world, kings and the like, were bowing to God.

There are two sentences towards the end that for me speak volumes:

Rev. 21:7 - "All who win the victory will be given these blessings. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Rev 22:17 - "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' Everyone who hears this should say, 'Come!' If you are thirsty, come! If you want life-giving water, come and take it. It's free!"

All God has wanted from the beginning when he created Adam and Eve was to be in relationship with is creation. He gave us opportunity to respond, and it is free. However, at the end, those that don't accept will have their reward, and those who do will get to be with God forever. He wins.

1, 2, & 3 John, and Jude

Karen got home yesterday! =)

1 and 2 John are about love. 3 John is a thank you for supporting missionaries. Jude is a warning against false teachers that have infiltrated the church with their message.

Love is defined as what God has shown to us, not what we show to him. True love is demonstrated in actions. We all need God's love because we all have sinned. If we say we didn't, it's the same as accusing God of being a liar.

The false teachers in Jude were spreading the message that because God treats us much better than we deserve, we can go on sinning and being immoral, because he will forgive. They were also going so far to say that Jesus was not Lord.

This is similar to Paul's caution, that we shouldn't sin so that grace could increase. As I've read through these past few letters, one message is consistent: our acceptance of God's love for us and our desire to follow him needs to be demonstrated by a commitment to him, which is evidenced in our actions and day to day life. There needs to be a change. We may continue to make mistakes and fall short of living up to the standard of 'holy,' but God's grace is big enough to cover us. But our intent needs to be to please him.

Jude ends his letter with a great encouragement in verses 24 and 25: "Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. Before time began and now and forevermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power, and authority. Amen."

1 & 2 Peter

I was talking with a friend (and co-worker) earlier who, when I mentioned something from James, asked me if I knew how to study the Bible. I really didn't answer the question, but I'm not sure there is a lot of study required. Especially in the New Testament letters. For example, when Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:1 "Stop being hateful! Quit trying to fool people, and start being sincere. Don't be jealous or say cruel things about others" - there's really not a lot of debate to what he means. And later, when he says "Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others" (1 P 4:10), I'm guessing he means to us eour gifts to serve other people.

I've attended Bible College and was raised in church, and I lot of things I was taught do not stack up against what I'm reading now. As well, although some things might be applied slightly differently from person to person and situation to situation, generally speaking there is not a lot of mystic meaning in what I've been reading. It's only been 'mystical' in the way I realize it applies to me and where I need to improve. So, for me, it's not so important that I study the Bible as much as I read and do the Bible.

Peter gives some great advice and instruction. "Don't be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them" (1 P 5:3). He also is clear in both letters that the church will suffer and that we should be happy about it. Suffering is Christlike.

But as much as he gives examples of what we shouldn't do, he also gives examples of what we can do. "Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful" (2 P1:5-8).

Sounds pretty clear to me.

James

James is full of great quotes and principles to live by. I've quoted it often, referencing our need to joyfully endure hard times, to listen and be slow to speak, and that religion that pleases God is demonstrated by helping needy orphans and widows.

As I read it through again this morning, I noticed a theme that it seems James audience was not getting along with each other very well, and must have been going through a tough time and complaining about it. James encouragement is simply, in my words, "Suck it up and be glad that you are suffering. That means you're becoming more like Jesus." And, "Don't be childish - get along with each other." He also gives examples of each of these statements, noting prophets that had to wait for God's answer, but they were patient, and the most important commandment to love others as much as we love ourselves. We're not to play favourites, and we're not to be selfish.

James also noted that faith without action is not faith at all. If we say we have faith in Christ and it doesn't come out in what we do, then we really don't have faith in Christ. Even as he talks about wisdom, he refers to what it leads to. "But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice" (3:17-18).

If it's on the inside, it needs to be evident on the outside.

I don't know if it is encouraging or not that as a Christian body today, we're having the same problems as James audience. At least there are specific instructions to fix it, but if we haven't gotten it yet, why should we expect to get it? We're still complaining about life and other people, we regularly are nicer to people who are dressed well and smell nice, and we want things quick and easy - we do not want to consider hard times a blessing and a thing to be happy about. And the popular gospel nowadays reflects it.

Imagine a world where Christians were "pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere." That's the Christian I want to be, though I'm a far way off just yet.

Hebrews

Earlier tonight I was chatting briefly with one of my nephews on the phone. He decided to read the Bible through a few months ago, long after I started last year in June. He finished within a couple months; read The Message. Anyway, he jokingly referred to "prosperity" preaching, and I said that I believe God wants us to be poor. I don't really believe it, I just said it. He started throwing Scriptures at me that said otherwise. How could I argue? He's read the whole book. I refined my stance and said that I don't believe that we should be poor, but that I also don't believe that means we should be rich. I believe that we need to be generous with what we have, and God will take care of us. If he wants us to be rich, he'll do it. Same goes if we wants us to be poor.

That's the context within which that I walked into Hebrews. The writer talks a lot about Jesus being higher than angels and being the perfect priest, compared with Melchizedek. I end up focusing on lifestyle issues and possessions.

Now, I did note things like we were chosen by God to be holy (3:1), that God's Word is powerful (4:12), that Jesus understands our weaknesses because he has been tempted like us (4:15), and that Jesus gave us a new agreement with God. But I also noticed that the writer told his audience they were not very bright (5:11) and that they should have learned these things earlier. Clearly, they were having a struggle in their faith, focusing on the wrong things, and he (or she?) was trying to keep them on track.

The writer spent a lot of time talking about hope. He says "We wish that each of you would always be eager to show how strong and lasting your hope really is. Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them" (6:11-12). Later he gives huge examples of people's faith in an effort to illustrate the hope they had. His definition? "Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see" (11:1).

But he also talks about the hard times the audience has gone through and tells them to keep being brave (10:38). He tells them that discipline and correction from God are good things (12:6). He says to not fall be in love with money and to be content with what we have (13:5). And he says not to "forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God" 13:16). We have things, but we're not supposed to hold on to them too tightly.

Hebrews talks about a new way to approach God, based on the old way that the audience had approached God. But the lessons that the writer draws from the new relationship are not old: keep your focus on God, in Jesus; try to get along with each other; don't seek after money, but share what you have; and hold on to the Hope of Christ's return - His promises will come through, though it may not be in our lifetime.

I see lots of opportunity to suffer while we wait, and little opportunity to be rich. I really don't see it.

Titus & Philemon

Yes, I know they don't go together like a first and second letter, but they are extremely short, and I'm on tight time lines.

Paul's letter to Philemon is simply a request of Paul that he take Onesimus back with a clean slate.

Paul's letter to Titus is a few basic instructions as he was setting up the church leadership in Crete. Nothing new that he hasn't said before, except that he says of the older women "They must teach what is proper" (2:3). In other areas Paul says women should 'be silent' in the church. Titus suggests that those other situations are isolated incidents, because Paul has elsewhere referred to women in leadership.

All throughout his letters, Paul starts and ends with a simple statement, praying that God will be kind to the recipient. He also notes a couple times in Titus, as well as numerous times elsewhere, that it is God's kindness that allows us to be saved. Even in his salutations, he is reminded people that nothing they have done caused them to be saved - it's only God.