Familiarity with the Bible is a tricky thing. On one hand there is a sweet familiarity that is akin to a husbands familiarity to his wife. But there is another type of familiarity—one that Peter Krol calls a cold-hearted familiarity. He explains
“[It] will betray you with kisses, poison your wineglass, and watch impassively while your life slips steadily away. You might not even realize it’s happening.”
I linked to his piece on familiarity awhile back. There I noted how much I would have appreciated a few tips on how to keep such cold-hearted familiarity at bay. As a pastor, writer, and seminary student I spend a great amount of time in the Word and in reading things directly related to the Word. As such, this article resonated with me.
Perhaps you are like me and Krol’s article inspired you, and you too wanted a few tips on protecting yourself from cold-hearted familiarity then I pray you’ll be served by my thoughts here.
Here are five ways that I’ve attempted to keep this “devious enemy” in check in my own Bible reading.
- Write it down. If you write down a Scripture passage it will slow you down. Familiarity makes us assume we already know a passage. But as we’ve witnessed in our Sunday school class, when you slow down you always notice things you’ve never noticed before.
- Change your quantity intake. If you typically read a little each day try reading through an entire book in one sitting. If you like to read bigger chunks force yourself to take smaller bites and meditate on only a few verses throughout the day.
- Read in community. I’m convinced that the Scriptures are meant to be read in community. One sure fire way to be rattled out of your familiarity is to engage the Word with other believers. Wrestling with the Scriptures together and searching for meaning and faithful application will keep you from familiarity.
- Teach a kid. I think teaching adults has the same effect but it is even more pronounced when you try to disciple either a new believer or a small child. Their questions will keep your Bible reading fresh.
- Try to learn the original languages. I am terrible at foreign languages. But at this point there is no way I’m getting familiar with my Greek New Testament.
One discipline that is attached to each and every one of these points is the discipline of praying through the Scriptures. The Word doesn’t become stale when you are engaging with the Author.
What do you do to protect yourself from a cold-hearted familiarity with the Scriptures?
This is so helpful. Thanks, Mike!
I have found #2 to be very true. Closely related, for me, is the WAY I intake. I’m a big fan of reading the Bible through in a year, but I’ve found that I have to switch things up in order to keep things fresh. Last year I did the one year chronological plan. This year I’m doing kind of a “freestyle” thing (still diligent to study each day in an organized way, but I decide what to study next rather than someone else’s plan deciding for me).
I also agree with what you said about prayer. Before I start studying, it’s helpful to me to spend a minute or two in prayer repenting for my sin, then asking God to reveal Himself to me in whatever I’m about to study, and to show me how to apply it to my life.
On #3, I’ve been reading the Bible together with a friend for the past ten years or more. We just decide what the plan is for the year or for a shorter stretch of time, and we keep each other accountable. She relocated over a year ago, but we are determined to keep it going anyway.
Also, on #3, my husband and I are reading the Bible through together this year, and reading it out loud. I can’t believe what a difference it makes to hear Job in that way, and both of us have also noticed things that we have missed on other trips through Genesis.