We have a lot of birds in our yard.  I love to watch them and listen to them communicate with each other.  I love to watch the care a mom and dad bird give their new hatchlings in the nest.  

Of particular note is how mom and dad birds feed their young.  The parents go out and capture and eat all manner of juicy and protein-rich bugs and worms.  Then the parents come to the nest and regurgitate what they just ate right into the hatchlings mouths.  You can click here to see a video…if you dare.

Yeah.  I agree with you.  YUCK! It’s bad enough they have to eat worms and bugs.  But they have to eat them only after their parents have vomited them up right in their mouths.  The hatchlings have to wait several weeks before they are able to eat such juicy fare on their own.

A Shocking Comparison

Sadly, I see a correlation in the 21st century American church.  Much of what we call Bible study is not, in fact, Bible study.  Much of what is called Bible study is nothing more that studying a book somebody wrote about the Bible.  Rather than feeding themselves, many Christians have grown content  “eating like a bird” when to comes to Bible study.  They would rather read someone else’s Biblical regurgitation than feed on God’s Word for themselves. That is when Bible study becomes eating like a bird.

Take a look at the “Bible study” offerings at many churches.  You will find impressive lists of various studies written by gifted Bible teachers.  Many of the courses labeled “Bible study” are in actuality studies of that author’s study.

An Unhealthy Result of Eating Like a Bird

“Eating like a bird” may serve newborn hatchlings well. But its spiritual counterpart has created a generation that is Biblically illiterate.  Here is some shocking evidence.

A recent LifeWay poll discovered that 87% of American household own at least one Bible.  However, the survey also found this shocking truth. 

“About half of Americans (53 percent) have read relatively little of the Bible. One in 10 has read none of it, while 13 percent have read a few sentences. Thirty percent say they have read several passages or stories.”¹

A recent article from logos.com makes the following sad but true observation.

Many Christians simply don’t know what to do with their Bibles or where to start reading. Or they may consult their Bibles on occasion—like when searching for a verse on a particular topic or an answer to a problem they are facing—but often end up reading verses out of context and applying them to completely unrelated situations.²

Few Christians today have read enough of the Bible for themselves to know how the individual parts fit into God’s macro-narrative.  They may remember some of the facts from stories they heard as children.  But they lack both a deep and wide understanding of Gods Word.  Churches today are full of members who live according to what they think the Bible says not what they know.

Some Possible Reasons (or Excuses)

Let me offer two or three reasons why I believe people gravitate toward regurgitated teaching.

1. Personal Bible study is hard; regurgitated teaching is easier.  Let’s face it.  It takes time and effort to dig deeply into God’s Word.  We prepare our food these days in the microwave or instant pot.  Air fryers cook in the fraction of the time as traditional ovens.  EVEN WORSE, we the local fast food drive through easily provides food that is actually killing us.   The LifeWay poll cited about also found that 15% of Americans “don’t have time” to read the Bible.  But I imagine they have plenty of time for social media, TV, and other forms of entertainment.
   
2. Many feel unqualified to study the Bible alone.  Gifted Bible teachers and preachers have created the illusion that special giftedness and training is necessary to understand the Bible.  But many of the Biblical authors were common, average people like you and me.  Common people wrote it, and with just a little guidance common people can understand it.
   
3. Similarly, others think that they do not have the necessary tools to adequately dig into the Bible.  But every Christian has the two most important ingredients for Bible study: a copy of the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

Where Do We Go From Here

My purpose in writing this is not to shame you.  I want to help turn this trend around.  Over the next several weeks, I am going to write about how YOU can feed yourself on God’s Word. I also plan to make some video available that will help you see how to study the Bible for yourself.

I appreciate the many gifted authors writing about the Bible these days.  But they are meant to supplement our own personal study, not supplant it.

I hope you will stay tuned and let’s learn together.

¹ https://research.lifeway.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/

² https://www.logos.com/grow/biblical-literacy/

Click HERE to check out some the Bible study tools on this site.