Zašto treba da čitamo / proučavamo Bibliju?

Jednostavno rečeno, trebalo bi da čitamo i proučavamo Božiju reč zato što je to Božija reč upućena nama. Druga Timoteju 3:16 tvrdi da je Biblija "bogonadahnuta." Drugim rečima, ona je Božija reč upućena nama. Postoji toliko mnogo pitanja koja su filozofi i ljudi postavili, a na koja je Bog odgovorio u Pismu: Šta je smisao života? Odakle dolazimo? Postoji li život posle smrti? Šta se dešava posle smrti? Kako mogu da odem na nebo? Zašto je svet pun zla? Zašto mi je teško da činim dobro? Pored ovih "velikih" pitanja, ona daje gomilu praktičnih saveta u oblastima kao što su: šta je to što treba da tražim u supružniku? Kako mogu da imam uspešan brak? Kako mogu da budem dobar prijatelj? Kako mogu da budem dobar roditelj? Šta je to uspeh i kako mogu da ga postignem? Kako mogu da se promenim? Šta je zaista bitno u životu? Kako treba da živim da ne bih gledao na prošlost sa žaljenjem? Kako mogu da ugodim Bogu? Kako mogu da dobijem oproštenje? Kako mogu pobednički da se nosim sa nepravednim situacijama i lošim događajima u životu? Treba da čitamo i proučavamo Bibliju zato što je u potpunosti pouzdana i bez greške. Biblija je jedinstvena među takozvanim "svetim" knjigama na taj način što ne daje samo moralnu pouku i kaže, "veruj mi." Radije, daje nam mogućnost da je testiramo, tako što ćemo proveriti stotine detaljnih proroštava koja je čine, istorijske izveštaje koje je zabeležila i naučnih činjenica o kojima govori. Oni koji kažu da u Bibliji ima greški su zatvorili svoje uši za istinu. Isus je jednom pitao šta je lakše reći: "Tvoji gresi su ti oprošteni," ili "Ustani, uzmi svoj krevet i hodaj." On je zatim dokazao da ima moć da oprašta grehe (nešto što ne možemo da vidimo svojim očima) tako što je izlečio paralizovanog čoveka (nešto što su oni oko njega mogli da vide svojim očima). Slično, nama je data sigurnost da je Božija reč istinita onda kada govori o duhovnim stvarima koje nije moguće da proverimo svojim čulima, tako što se pokazuje istinitom u onim oblastima koje možemo da proverimo (istorijska tačnost, naučna tačnost, i proroška tačnost). Traba da čitamo i proučavamo Bibliju zato što se Bog ne menja i zato što se ljudska priroda ne menja – ona je relavantna za nas kao što je bila onda kada je napisana. Dok se tehnologija oko nas menja, ljudske želje i priroda se ne menjaju. Dok čitamo stranice biblijske istorije, nalazimo da bilo da se govori o ličnim odnosima ili društvu, "nema ništa novo pod suncem." I dok ljudski rod nastavlja da traži ljubav i zadovoljstvo na svim mogućim pogrešnim mestima, Bog, naš dobar i blagodatan Stvoritelj, nam kaže šta će nam doneti TRAJNU radost. Njegova otkrivena Reč, Pismo, je toliko bitna da je Isus rekao za nju, "Neće čovek živeti o samom hlebu, nego od svake reči koja izlazi iz usta Božijih" (Matej 4:4). Drugim rečima, ako želite da živite svoj život u punoj punini onako kako je to Bog nameravao, slušajte i poslušajte Božiju pisanu reč...bitnija je čak i od hrane! Treba da čitamo i proučavamo Božiju reč jer postoji toliko mnogo lažnog učenja. Biblija nam daje merilo po kome možemo da odredimo šta je istina a šta ne. Kaže nam kakav je Bog. Ako imamo pogrešnu sliku o Bogu znači da slavimo "idola" ili "lažnog boga." Slavimo nešto što On nije! Biblija nam kaže kako neko istinski stiže na nebo...i to nije po tome da li je dobar ili kršten ili po bilo čemu drugom što RADIMO (Jovan 14:6; Efescima 2:1-10; Isaija 53:6; Rimljanima 3:10f., 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-13). U prilog ovome, Božija reč nam pokazuje koliko nas Bog voli (Rimljanima 5:6-8; Isaija 53:1f.). I kad naučavamo sve ovo, privučeni smo da ga zavolimo zauzvrat (Prva Jovanova 4:19). Biblija će te opremiti da služiš Bogu (Druga Timoteju 3:17; Efescima 6:17; Jevrejima 4:12). Pomoći će ti da znaš kako da budeš spašen od svojih greha i njihovih krajnjih posledica (Druga Timoteju 3:15). Razmišljanje nad njom i slušanje njenog učenja će doneti uspeh u životu (Isus Navin 1:8; Jakov 1:25). Božija reč će ti pomoći da vidiš greh u svom životu i da ga se rešiš (Psalam 119:9,11). Daće ti vođstvo u životu, čineći te mudrijim od svojih učitelja (Psalam 32:8; 119:99; Priče 1:6). Biblija će te sačuvati da ne protraćiš godine svog života na ono što ne traje i što nije bitno (Matej 7:24-27). Čitanje i proučavanje Biblije će ti pomoći da umesto privlačnog "mamca" vidiš bolnu "klopku" grešnog iskušenja, tako da možeš radije da naučiš nešto iz tuđih greški nego da ih praviš sam. Iskustvo je sjajan učitelj, ali kada se radi o učenju o grehu, užasno težak je učitelj. Mnogo je bolje učiti iz tuđih greški. Postoji toliko biblijskih ličnosti od kojih se može učiti, i pozitivnih i negativnih primera, kada jedno i drugo dolazi iz života jedne osobe ali u različitim vremenima. Na primer, David, kada pobeđuje giganta Golijata, nas uči da je Bog veći od bilo čega sa čim traži da se suočimo (Prva Samuilova 17). David kad pada u iskušenje i čini preljubu sa Vicavejom, otkriva koliko dugotrajne i užasne posledice "trenutnog zadovoljstva" mogu da budu (Druga Samuilova 11f.). Poznavanje Biblije nam daje pravu nadu i mir kada nam se čini da sve oko nas raspada (Rimljanima 15:4; Psalam 112:7; Avakum 3:17-19). Biblija nije knjiga samo za čitanje. To je knjiga za proučavanje da bi se mogla primeniti. U suprotnom, to je kao da gutate hranu bez da je sažvaćete a onda da je povratite...ne dobija se hranljiva vrednost. Biblija je Božija reč. Kao takva, ona nas vezuje kao zakon prirode. Možete da je ignorišete, ali ako to činite sebe povređujete, isto kao kad biste pokušali da ignorišete zakon gravitacije. Ne može se dovoljno naglasiti koliko je bitna Biblija za naše živote. Proučavanje Biblije može se uporediti ka kopanjem zlata. Ako se potrudite malo i samo "ispirate kamenje u potoku," naći ćete samo zlatan prah. Ali, ako se potrudite i zaista "zakopate," vaša nagrada će biti veća.

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Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?

We should read and study the Bible because it is God’s Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God’s very words to us. There are so many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?

We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and without error. The Bible is unique among so-called "holy" books in that it does not merely give moral teaching and say, "Trust me." Rather, we have the ability to test it by checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Those who say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth. Jesus once asked which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or "Rise, take up your bed and walk." Then He proved He had the ability to forgive sins (something we cannot see with our eyes) by healing the paralytic (something those around Him could test with their eyes). Similarly, we are given assurance that God’s Word is true when it discusses spiritual areas that we cannot test with our senses by showing itself true in those areas that we can test, such as historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, and prophetic accuracy. We should read and study the Bible because God does not change and because mankind’s nature does not change; it is as relevant for us as it was when it was written. While technology changes, mankind’s nature and desires do not change. We find, as we read the pages of biblical history, that whether we are talking about one-on-one relationships or societies, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). And while mankind as a whole continues to seek love and satisfaction in all of the wrong places, God—our good and gracious Creator—tells us what will bring us lasting joy. His revealed Word, the Bible, is so important that Jesus said of it, "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In other words, if we want to live life to the fullest, as God intended, we must listen to and heed God’s written Word. We should read and study the Bible because there is so much false teaching. The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which we can distinguish truth from error. It tells us what God is like. To have a wrong impression of God is to worship an idol or false god. We are worshiping something that He is not. The Bible tells us how one truly gets to heaven, and it is not by being good or by being baptized or by anything else we do (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-18, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-13). Along this line, God’s Word shows us just how much God loves us (Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16). And it is in learning this that we are drawn to love Him in return (1 John 4:19). The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27). Reading and studying the Bible helps us see beyond the attractive "bait" to the painful "hook" in sinful temptations, so that we can learn from others' mistakes rather than making them ourselves. Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn from others' mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to learn from, some of whom can serve as both positive and negative role models at different times in their lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that God is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals just how long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment’s sinful pleasure can be (2 Samuel 11). The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God’s Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.