What "No One" Wants to Read

A hotel in Great Britain has recently announced that they will be removing Bibles from their guest rooms -- and replacing them with the best-selling erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.  Why?  Because the manager of the hotel believes the Bible is a book "no one wants to read," and the novel is one that "everyone wants to read."

This is a sad statement on the times, I'm sure you'll agree.  It may anger you or simply make you shake your head in dispair.  The reality for me, however, is that one of the reasons I think "no one wants to read" the Bible is because there is so little evidence that it makes a difference in our lives.  We've been hearers, but not doers.  We've looked into the mirror, walked away and forgotten what we've just seen, rather than looking intently into Scripture and allowing it's truth to become a part of our lives, conduct and relationships.  Compare this rather powerless view of the Bible with some of what Scripture itself teaches us.  Paul instructs Timothy,

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3.14-17, italics mine)

Or as the writer to the Hebrews describes,

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4.12, italics mine)

Hmmm.  Now that I think about it, who wants to be corrected and judged and rebuked and divided between soul and spirit, joints and marrow?  Sounds painful.  Maybe the hotel manager has a point.  Maybe "no one" wants to read the Bible any more because to do so is to be confronted with our own imperfect, sinful reflection staring back at us.  Of course, that's the point, really.  The Bible is not just a book of stories or a catalogue of principles.  It's a book for life.  It's history paints pictures of both saints and sinners; it's teaching trains the righteous and confronts the wicked; it's poetry inspires the seeker and challenges the apathetic.  In its portraits, literature and teaching you and I can see ourselves as we are, as we hope to be and as we can become, when we yield our lives to its truth.  

As I said on Sunday, we should not feel condemned or guilty because we do not read the Bible enough.  I just pray that, wherever you are, you will begin.  I suggest that you go to youversion.com and pick out a reading plan (I'm currently reading an excellent one called "Lent for Everyone") you can keep up with on your computer, phone or tablet, and simply begin.  

In the meantime, let us pray that the hotel manager's decision does not become a trend, because the word of God has power to transform lives.  May it do so in your life and mine, this day and always.

- Pastor Stacey Littlefield