THE BIBLE IS TOO BORING TO ENJOY
An old man finished a history book. He disliked it so much that he taped a note to it, saying: “In case of famine eat this book, it’s full of baloney. In case of flood; stand on this book, it’s dry.” Some see the Bible like that—a boring list of names, a dry laundry list of church rules, a bunch of thou-shalt-nots.
To the contrary, God stocked His library with something for all tastes. It has biography, narrative, letters, poetry, history, and prophecy. Those who like
- romance, should read Ruth.
- adventure, have the story of Jonah.
- wise sayings, can delve into Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and James.
- conflict, war, and conquest, should read Joshua, Judges, and 1 Chronicles.
- scandal and suspense enjoy the stories of David/Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) and Ananias/Sapphira (Acts 5).
- feel-good-stories are inspired by reading that a murderer became a leader (Exodus 1–3), a prostitute the ancestor of the Savior (Joshua 2; Matthew 1), a dishonest tax collector a generous host (Luke 19), an introvert an instructor (1 Timothy 1), and a callous religious zealot a self-sacrificing gospel preacher (Acts 9, 22, 26).
- underdogs thrill to read of a barren woman becoming the mother of a famous child (Genesis 21); cowardly fishermen becoming spokesmen for reformation (Matthew 26; Acts 2); and people with pronounced disadvantages becoming God’s messengers (Acts 4:12–13). While Bible characters are not whitewashed, they often receive second chances.
-Allen Webster, (housetohouse.com)
