Protestant Hunger for the Bible

[cascherman]

This is not exactly accurate as to why most Christians claim the Holy Scriptures as the highest authority in the Church.

what would be exact then?

 

[ShortyLaRock_82]

Every Catholic I know well reads and studies the bible daily. All of the Protestants I know well have never read it and know nothing about it, though they are quick to tell me that they follow the bible and the bible only. What they mean is that they follow their pastor and him only, and they assume he knows and follows the bible.

Paul

Many people make that mistake. This is how the ‘King James only’ stuff got started. People saw thier pastor using it or endorsing it and assumed it’s a superior Bible translation.

 

[pismopal]

I don’t think they do… as a general rule… and as a former Protestant, I can tell you the Bible is a much greater part of the Catholic Mass than ANY Evangelical service… we actually read the words in the Bible, not listen to a quote then a 45 min lecture from a minister who tells us what he thinks it means, we actually hear more of God’s Holy Word than any other protestant group out there.
Protestants “Love” the Bible because their entire faith is trapped inside it… they are their own leader, and they can interpret the Bible to mean anything they please, so it’s very important to study it.
I’d rather follow 2,000 years of sound teaching than the latest preacher telling me what the Bible “really” means.

Thanks…as a former protestant I can echo your sentiments exactly. You would think protestants brought the Bible to the world and that they are the only ones who appreciate it. They are for the most part wonderful Christians but like a poor person playing wih a puzzle with most of the parts missing.

 

[byoby]

I know many non-Catholic Christians who are really into Bible Study. I mean, they can’t get enough of it, two three different studies per week. They then claim that the Catholic church doesn’t read the bible that much and study it, and so on. I know many of my 20s and 30-something friends and family have been challenged by non-Catholics as to their study of the bible. And many Catholics have jumped ship.

But I have a new take on this. Maybe it’s not new but here we go:

Personally, I do not have a hunger for bible study. I enjoy reading the bible. I enjoy listening to scripture at mass. But I am not in a formal bible study, and I never have been. But what causes this hunger for the bible? I mean, they can’t get enough of it.

I figured out the answer. And it says it right in the bible. What is the one thing that Jesus gave to us that he promised if we did it, we would never hunger again? What is the one distinctive thing the Catholic church (for the most part) practices that protestantism does not.

The Eucharist. The true food and true drink Jesus gave us. His body, blood, soul and divinity.

Now, don’t get me wrong, scripture is the third leg of the three-legged stool of Christian authority. Along with Tradition (T) and the Magesterium. I am in no way saying the Bible is not important, nor would the Catholic Church ever teach that. But I do think that the Protestant’s hunger for “scripture after scripture” tells something about them.

Many Christians believe that the Word of God (Jesus) as revealed through the message that is recorded in the Scriptures is the true spiritual food and drink for our souls that is symbolized in communion. I know that this is not a Catholic teaching but I do think it sheds some light on the non Catholic Christians hunger for the Bible, which is a hunger for God and His very Word.

Are not there many Catholics who attend Mass and recieve the Eucharist two or three times a week? I do not think your use of the promise that we will never hunger or thirst holds up in this case.

 

[SIA]

what would be exact then?

People see that the Bible has been around for some 2,000 years and that it never has changed. many translations yes but its underlying meaning does not change. Many folks only see this as the one unchanging thing in Christian history.

 

[paarsurrey]

Many Christians believe that the Word of God (Jesus) as revealed through the message that is recorded in the Scriptures is the true spiritual food and drink for our souls that is symbolized in communion. I know that this is not a Catholic teaching but I do think it sheds some light on the non Catholic Christians hunger for the Bible, which is a hunger for God and His very Word.

Hi

I agree with you.

Thanks

 

[inthecloud]

I

think the real question you should be asking is why Catholics lack passion for God’s word.

As a deist I always have been puzzled by christians calling the Bible the Word of God.
According to John I is the Word of God supposed to be Jesus?
Is Bibliolatry a sin?

 

[Harpazo]

I think the real question you should be asking is why Catholics lack passion for God’s word.

Catholics have an intense passion for God’s Word. What is the Word of God other than Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the Word of God, as St. John says in his Gospel account.

We believe to have the closest relationship to the Word of God, because we receive Him entirely at every Divine Liturgy/Mass.

Pace e Bene
Andrew

 

[mark_a]

But what causes this hunger for the bible? I mean, they can’t get enough of it.

Maybe its modern conveniences and a cushy lifestyle.

Its easy to have plenty of time for anything you want when machines wash your dishes and clothes, there’s no need to split wood for the heater, etc.

And since the average family has only 2.1 kids, things are easier than ever.

Bible study is wonderful.

But many of the Johnny-come-lately “on fire for the Lord” bible studiers are the most obnoxious and self righteous, the opposite of what I would guess God wants.

 

[Fidelis]

:twocents: My two cents, for what it’s worth.

I think there are several reasons many (even most) Catholics don’t seem that interested in what Protestants would call Bible study (i.e., an organized getting together in groups or individually with good, solid study materials to break open God’s Word). A lot of it depends on the various types of Catholics out there (This is not including Catholics who are basically MIA and not active in their Faith and could not care less about growing closer to the Lord in any way).

The first group is the traditional, but active and pious (in the good sense) Catholic.This person may already have a rich private and group devotional life – daily Mass, Adoration, Rosary, LOTH, K of C, pro-life, food pantry, Religious Ed teaching, etc, etc. They may even already have a regular time of Bible reading in Lectio Divina, a form of prayerful, meditative Bible reading. This kind of person, the backbone of the Church in many ways, already has a full spiritual and active life for which* formal *Bible study would not add that much to even if they had the time.

The second group are those poor souls who belong to such lifeless or watered down parishes that they are never taught to appreciate the Scriptures, much less have the opportunity to even know there are exciting and edifying Catholic Scripture studies out there that can nourish both the mind and the soul. Instead, they’re offered touchy-feely talks by un-habited nuns with three names and advanced degees in their signatures, bogus Eneagram and Yoga classes, or — nothing. These Catholics may be faithful and observant, but they have no opportunity for authentic spiritual growth within their own parishes. Really sad.

Thirdly, there’s those who, though Catholic, are estranged by from the Church in some way (by ignorance from not being raised or educated properly in the Faith; by divorce, abortion, contraception, or some other sinful choice or lifestyle; at anger at a Church member), who are nonetheless looking for an opportunity to learn more about the Bible. Not being close to the practice of their Faith and their local parish, these are prime pickin’s for aggressive non-Catholic sects and cults. Many non-Catholic ecclesial communities are made up of these kind of ex-Catholics.

Anyway, this has been my observation from over 20 years of doing adult Religious Ed and Bible Study.:twocents:

 

[byoby]

I

As a deist I always have been puzzled by christians calling the Bible the Word of God.
According to John I is the Word of God supposed to be Jesus?
Is Bibliolatry a sin?

I would say that God has revealed himself through the scriptures contained in the bible. The bible does contain words of God in a written form. Since I like most Christians believe that God inspired men to pen the books contained in the bible it stands to reason that ultimately God is the author, therefore the words are His, hence The word of God. We do not think that a Bible is an incarnation of Jesus.

If you worship your bible (ink, binding, paper, etc.) I would say that is probably a sin. I personally do not pray, kneel, adore, venerate, or sacrifice to a book. I do worship the author.

 

[PaulChristopher]

‘inthecloud’ makes an interesting point. The ‘Word of God’ is indeed Jesus; the Bible would be more properly described as ‘the written words of God’ or something like that. Let it be recalled that, especially in the case of The New Testament, it was the Catholic Church, and it alone, which decreed which writings were truly Holy Writ.

As fond as I personally am of reading the Scriptures, it is a pursuit by no means necessary for the Christian, being less important by far than the Eucharist, prayer, veneration of the Saints and the following of the teachings of the living church of Christ.