Anyone Ever Get Tired of Just Bible Study?

[Kratos]

The reason I ask is because it seems for the first time in my Christian life that I am tired of disecting the Bible to gain more spiritual knowledge. This is just me, but lately I find myself avoiding Bible discussions and debates. Instead, I am grabbing my Bible to just read and be encouraged and spiritually fed.

I have always been a teacher in the church so my usual area where I go in the Bible is to the epistles where we find doctrine. I find myself reading Psalms and the Gospels where I can avoid doctrine and just fellowship with the Lord around His Word.

Without this time of meditation and Biblical fellowship, it is too easy to see the Bible as just a text book written by men. I never want to loose my awe when I open the Book of our Covenant. It used to be like when they removed the cover off of the Ark of the Covenant in the first Raiders of the Lost Ark when I opened my Bible, but lately it is like reading a math book so I can add up the figures of what different men said about God.

That just does not work for me because it is just too impersonal and non-relational. This is not how I started my walk with God and I don't think it will sustain my walk either. Has anyone else gone through this in their Christian walk?

John

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: In a word.........yes.......

[jfraysse]

Brother John (Kratos):  Yes, I have experienced this, in fact, several times, but for me it's all part of a cycle or "seasons" in my life.  You have a definite gift of learning and teaching!  Even though we may not agree on some things, you have ministered to me and many others here.

We can all suffer from "burnout".  I'm told that a large percentage of ministers have this problem.  But, what you describe seems completely normal to me and if just reading the Gospels and Epistles helps you, then so be it! 

I quit leading Bible Study and did other things like working in the nursery, the youth group and local missions to shut-ins, nursing homes, hospitals and homeless shelters.  When I felt that I needed to "take a break" from something, including Bible Study, I did and the world didn't stop and His Spirit didn't fade either. Chopping wood helps too! :laughing7:

Seriously, if you decide to take a break, I trust the Lord will let you know when, or if, you should return to your past scholarship.

Wishing you times of refreshing!

Grace & Peace, John (the other) :HeartThrob:

[Kratos]

I think one of the recent threads threw me as it was questioning so many of my foundations. I was really left speechless. I guess an analogy would be when lifting weights. If you lift heavy every day, you never get bigger because you do not give your muscles a chance to rebuild after you have broken them down.

It took a lot for me to throw out the whole Hell thing. I have gradually looked at other things that I have believed since, but I guess my spiritual muscles may not be flexible enough to wonder about the validity of so many things at once ( the innerency of scripture, Jesus as God, the blood atonement, free will, Lucifer, demons, Satan, etc).

Added to this, I have met a couple of posters on ex-Christian and atheists sites in the last two days that say that they knew me from Tentmaker and said that UR was their last stop on the way to deconverting from Christianity and loosing their belief in God. That really shook me up.

I am just going to spend more time fellowshipping with Him and not questioning for a while. I will be around, but just touching some things lightly is all.

John

[SeekerSA]

Added to this, I have met a couple of posters on ex-Christian and atheists sites in the last two days that say that they knew me from Tentmaker and said that UR was their last stop on the way to deconverting from Christianity and loosing their belief in God. That really shook me up.

Hi John

I have also read this yet I cannot say that of itself can be taken as a yardstick.  We also have accounts of ex-Atheists seeing UR/CU as the only form of Christianity they can embrace.

I seem to be the one bringing up the tough questions as these are the things I had wrestled with in my "traditional" early walk, orthodoxy provided no answers.  My reasoning was where did it all go wrong?  I could not see by my reading what orthodoxy was teaching, when asking the supposed learned like elders and pastors, there were not answers that satisfied, in the end one was referred to stuff extra-biblical and said that is the answer.

Bible study for me is imperative as I have tossed all that I was originally taught.  That leaves many new questions to find answers to.  I generally do not share unless I feel a nudging by the Holy Spirit, much of what comes out is new for me too.

Obviously the season I am in and the questions I am asking offends some folk.  I have to be true to myself and share what is on my heart and I do not discuss these issues here only.  I do not doubt my salvation and I do not at present feel my faith is weak.  In fact much of what I see now makes more sense.

Spiritual Truths have to pass though the filters of our thinking.  They are there, one needs to dig them out.

I understand where you are at and yes I have had my quiet times too.  There are seasons where the Lord just wants us to rest in His lap and drink in His goodness.  There are times when we study too.  I think the frustration is just when you think you have answered the questions, the Lord then takes you onto the next level of revelation.

Blessings to you

[firstborn888]

While listening to an old hippie 'Jesus people' song called 'love song' (by the group called 'love song' :bigGrin:) it brought back the memories of the 'early days' in Christ.

I do miss the simplicity of fellowship and study that was done solely to learn and grow spiritually. Almost all my study lately is built around the need to refute false teachings. I don't know how long I'll be in that mode, but I am glad that several people close to me have been glorioiusly set free by seeing God's big picture for mankind.

But it DOES get tiring.

John, I often tell my dogs something like what you told yours (if I remember correctly). When they are having a bad day I just pat them on the head and say "don't worry - the sons of God will be manifested soon, and you'll be delivered from this place of death"

One day we won't have to focus on helping others see the truth because "all will know Him, from the least to the greatest".

We're not the first to pull out of the prevailing 'God' cult of our day. The systems that Jesus rebelled against were based in scripture too.

You are a blessing to God, man, even beast :thumbsup: so whatever the next step is - keep us informed
- blessings
    byron

[firstborn888]

Added to this, I have met a couple of posters on ex-Christian and atheists sites in the last two days that say that they knew me from Tentmaker and said that UR was their last stop on the way to deconverting from Christianity and loosing their belief in God. That really shook me up.

Hi John

I have also read this yet I cannot say that of itself can be taken as a yardstick.  We also have accounts of ex-Atheists seeing UR/CU as the only form of Christianity they can embrace.

Which looks bad on us, right? The damned atheists love us! :laughing7:

Actually atheism can be a step forward (as bizzare as that sounds). Better to start with an empty plate than with a head full of religion. People who 'de-convert' are de-converting from the Christian religion, not from Christ.
That's where Jesus found me - in my anger toward religion and my disgust for this world and my dis-belief that anyone good could have started this mess!
  - byron

[Reverend G]

Just read a pretty good book, it relates well to this theme.  THE QUESTION OF GOD, it is a background on the lives and views of Freud and C.S. Lewis, Freud being an odd atheist and Lewis being a converted atheist.  Much of Lewis' views towards God were truly inspiring, though I guess I probably say that since he and I shared some ideas.  When bible study gets old, I try to find other material that still touches on the subject.  I have also read quite a few of the non-canon writings of the early Christian era, it helps give a better overview of people's beliefs back then.  One thing I find interesting is that there are plenty of early works that hint at UR, with the believer indeed experiencing his change as a living spirituality, a better world view. This makes my belief stronger that the early church tried to suppress UR thought, seeking to bolster support through fear of eternal punishment.  My thoughts on "punishment" are odd enough....I believe that there is none at all.  Any torment will be self inflicted, that is mental anguish and grief when we are put face to face with all we have done that is wrong, and then told, but that's OK, come on in. It's a lot to handle.

[jabcat]

Hey there John.  Sometimes I just get sort of "overdone" with "overthinking" if you know what I mean.  I like to play golf and watch old shows like Gunsmoke, so sometimes, even today, it's like "I gotta take a break".  I've thought of myself as being a bit like Peter, and one thing I've thought a few times is a quote from the KJV of ol' Pete, when he said "I go afishing".  We're still clay, and Father more than anyone knows it, and He made us that way. Thanks for the input just since I've been here, it's appreciated.

[hopeful]

The reason I ask is because it seems for the first time in my Christian life that I am tired of disecting the Bible to gain more spiritual knowledge. This is just me, but lately I find myself avoiding Bible discussions and debates. Instead, I am grabbing my Bible to just read and be encouraged and spiritually fed.

I could have made this same statement, too, John.

For years, my identity was built around my desire for Bible study.  I carried my Bible everywhere.  I used it as my "purse" and laid it on the check out counter at the grocery store!   :mblush:  I was happiest when I had my concordance, Bible and notebooks in my lap.

I've found it so interesting that the Lord led me here at a time when He doesnt have me digging, searching, and compiling my findings.   :dontknow:

It's been a lesson in trust for me and it's shown me just how big God is and how He is able to keep me and that He can be known outside of the words of scripture.

To be honest, I miss the excitement of those Bible study days and I have told Him so.  But without Him breathing life into those words...  Blah!

He's loving you and leading you, John.  Be blessed!

[chuckt]

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.


sometimes i just like a good mindless mystery novel  :Whistle: :doh: :egyptdance:

chuckt

[Reverend G]

Remember this:
A religious person goes to church on Sunday, and endures it by thinking about going fishing.
A spiritual person goes fishing, and thinks about God.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Loved it!  And add to that, the Lord went fishing IN church, LOL. :thumbsup:

[GraceFull]

As children grow, they go through phases. As God's children, I believe that we, too, go through phases in spiritual growth - according to revelation and direction from the Holy Spirit.

[Reverend G]

ABSOLUTELY!

As children grow, they go through phases. As God's children, I believe that we, too, go through phases in spiritual growth - according to revelation and direction from the Holy Spirit.

This concept is a cornerstone of my thinking.  While reading through scripture, one can see the different phases of the development of God's children here, and how our relationship to Him developed as well.

[jabcat]

Remember this:
A religious person goes to church on Sunday, and endures it by thinking about going fishing.
A spiritual person goes fishing, and thinks about God.

Super!  Thanks, I can use that as a little reminder!

[CHB]

As children grow, they go through phases. As God's children, I believe that we, too, go through phases in spiritual growth - according to revelation and direction from the Holy Spirit.

This is so true. Wasn't the law a schoolmaster? It is like being in first grade, then you slowly move on up to graduation. I believe spirituality is a slow progressive growth.

CHB

[whyiloveitaly.com]

For what it's worth John, my  :2c: (take what you will; leave the rest...) :

I've been feeling the same way--tired out from debating and digging. (If I understood your post correctly...)

I loved Reverend G's comment about going fishing and thinking about God. When I was a kid, my parents went to church weekly, but never talked about God. My grandpa never went to church and talked about God so much that my parents were always trying to keep us apart when the family got together! (I'm not joking, either.)

I like to be grounded in LOVE.   :HeartThrob:  The book of 1 John lets me know where I'm at and where we're all going everytime I read from it.

Personally, I am more and more of the thinking that being a Christian is about loving those around us (and telling them this!). It's about spending time with those who are in need (the streets are full of 'em--don't believe the smiles!) And about visiting the lonely. -It's not about debating deep doctrinal things. In other words, action, not just words.

I've been thinking about posting in big letters on my website: "People don't care what you believe--they just want to be loved!"


I don't know where I'm going with this post..

Blessings to all,
Brian

[hopeful]

I don't know where I'm going with this post..

Blessings to all,
Brian

God does- and He is love!

[whyiloveitaly.com]

Holly:
I just checked out your blog. Very nice! Very edifying! Very beautiful pictures! Very....!
I'm sure I'll be dropping in every now and then to see what's new..
Keep it up!

Brian

[hopeful]

Holly:
I just checked out your blog. Very nice! Very edifying! Very beautiful pictures! Very....!
I'm sure I'll be dropping in every now and then to see what's new..
Keep it up!

Brian

Thank you so very much, Brian!   :thumbsup:  You made my evening!