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Within the span of three days, I’ve been told to “read my Bible" by several different people.
Now, lest you think this was friendly encouragement to crack open the Word of God, I’ll assure you it was not that.
It was more said like, “Yeah, ya stupid moron with your stupid beliefs, read your Bible and learn a thing or two. Hey, hey.”
I’m here today to encourage all Christians to please stop using this “argument” in an effort to put someone in their place.
It’s wildly annoying and quite simply…pointless.
It always turns into a playground battle.
“Read your Bible, you idiot!”
“I do!”
“Oh yeah, sure.”
“You don’t know anything about me! I read my Bible from sun up to sun down!”
“Well, I read my Bible, 24/7! I don’t even stop to sleep!!”
I beg, no more.
What is more interesting is the question of interpretation. Clearly, the Bible gets interpreted by individuals in a thousand different ways. I’ve had atheists tell me they “get” Scripture better than Christians.
The deeper question to ask is, “Why is your interpretation better than mine? Why should I trust your authority on the matter, as it is clear that different interpretations lead to different denominations? We can’t all be right.”
As Catholics, thankfully, we have Tradition and the Magisterium to guide us in understanding Scripture. After all, the Church that gave us the Bible should be able to interpret it for us.
Sure, there are Catholics that have their own thoughts, but their authority is not greater than the authority the Church that Christ founded.
We must read Scripture with humility and obedience. It is not to be molded to our preferences and whims. We are to be molded to it.
And with that, I encourage you, Catholic Pilgrims and all Christians, to never use the “read your Bible” put down again. It leads to nowhere.
Have a blessed Thursday.
ITALY PILGRIMAGE
‘Journey with the Saints’
OCTOBER 23-31, 2023
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