Okay, Read Your Bible

Thanks for all the comments to yesterday's post. Obviously, though, my attempt at making a humorous point was overly subtle. Just for the record, PW is all about getting teens to read, study, memorize, and otherwise ingest the Bible for themselves or in small groups or in dark alleys, even without adult supervision.

My suggestion that we have some policy to the contrary was only meant to riff on the news story that some in Hong Kong would like to see the Bible labeled "indecent" and made off-limits to teens. It seemed to me that giving God's Word an R-rating (or worse) would only make people more curious — or angry enough to stand up and fight for their right to party (while reading the Bible, even the disturbing parts).

As if to prove my point, a few of you responded with impassioned, thoughtful, and somewhat sarcastic responses in defense of studying the Bible for yourself to discover the mind of God and walk more closely with Him. Good on ya! And gooder on ya if you realized we were kidding around a little in hopes of prodding all of us to spend a little more time in the Word, even if it's only in search of all that reported sex and violence.

See, I've noticed that begging people to read the Bible usually results in solemn head-nodding followed by a firm commitment to get around to doing so, along with eating broccoli, exercising, and watching public television. But make the opposite demand, and most of us will read three chapters right now just to prove we can. It's too bad that freedom to do worthwhile things so often leads to a loss of interest. And it's little wonder Christianity is spreading like wildfire in places like China, where hiding God's Word in your heart is sometimes the only safe place to keep it.