by Joseph Stoutzenberger
A few thoughtful, zealous young men I know have taken up reading the bible regularly. They carry a copy of the book with them, attend Sunday services at a bible-centered church, and meet with other young people once a week to discuss bible passages. As a Christian myself, why am I uneasy with this preoccupation they have? Shouldn’t bible reading be encouraged in our youth? There can’t be too much of it, can there? At the risk of sounding like I’m dampening their enthusiasm, I offer some grandfatherly observations.
Historically, bible reading on a large scale was not even possible until printing presses started up in major European cities, at the end of the 1400s, and practically speaking not until a half century later, when translations in vernacular languages became available. One can only imagine how many German speakers enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to read the bible on their own after Martin Luther translated it into highly readable German in 1534. Soon after, John Calvin used the bible as the basis of civil society in Geneva, Switzerland, and many others looked to the bible to justify any number of laws and practices. The Catholic Church of the time took a much more cautious approach to bible reading. When church leaders met at the Council of Trent, they admonished Catholics to read only approved translations of the bible and then only under the guidance of church leaders. Church leaders, supposedly with the guidance of learned theologians and the Holy Spirit, provided rightful interpretations of what bible passages mean.
My hesitation with my young friends reading the bible on their own comes from how some bible fundamentalists interpret what is written, often emphasizing passages that reflect their perspective rather than understanding historical contexts and scripture’s broader message. There is a passage (Ephesians 5:22-23) in one of the epistles that wives should be submissive to their husbands, who are the head of the family. The Catholic Church has discouraged using that passage in its liturgies, but I fear what an ardent young person might do with it. When doing his translation, Luther questioned whether the Book of Revelation should be included as part of the bible, but it’s there; and for years some fundamentalists have strained to figure out how it applies to conditions in the world today. Interpretation of scripture that lacks nuance and an understanding of biblical background can result in the bible being used to support an “us” versus “them” mentality, the few who are saved versus the multitude condemned to hell. I hope that young readers can step back and remember that the bible is meant to be good news for all.
Another caution I have about how the bible can be misused: religion and mental illness can be a toxic mix. Someone dealing with mental illness can believe that God is speaking directly to them and find all kinds of secret, dangerous messages in the bible. Hypersensitivity can at times lead someone to be absorbed in what they believe to be spiritual insights that no one else knows, sending them spiraling deeper into a mental state of isolation detached from reality.
So, young people, read the bible, search for meaning there, talk to others about its message. Your intensity and search for truth are admirable, but be humble when trying to make sense of it. Don’t neglect other pursuits and other outlets. The bible is a great drama with many twists and turns. At times, simply step back and say, “That’s interesting.” God speaks to you in this book, but conversation is a two-way street. Be careful not to equate what you think you hear with what God is actually saying. Don’t set aside common sense when trying to make sense of it. In the end, if reading the bible doesn’t enkindle in you an expansive love for yourself and others, you are misreading it. Keep the flame of the Christian message burning bright, but let it cast more light than destructive heat.
Joseph Stoutzenberger 