3 Ways Reading Through the Bible in a Year Changed My Life

The first time I ever read the Bible cover to cover was in 2009. I’d been in church since 1990, so I knew most of the stories and had heard most of the verses. So even though I didn’t read much of anything I hadn’t read or heard before, but the context added so much to each story.

I got a better picture of the whole heart of God instead of just seeing glimpses of pieces. Having the whole picture changed everything, including…

1. Gave me a progress report on my spiritual health.

I was baptized when I was 8, and I never really looked back. Unlike many of my friends, I never strayed far in my behavior. I never drank before I was 21, I never tried any drugs, and I was a mostly good student.

As a high schooler I helped lead the middle school youth group. At 19, I started leading worship for a youth group. At 20, I started leading worship for the main services. At 23, I joined my first church staff. I felt like I knew my purpose and where I was going. At 27, I read the entire Bible for the first time, and I realized how much I needed to grow still.

I learned that God was more interested in what I was for rather than what I was against.

Before-Whole-Bible, I measured my spiritual health by what I was able to abstain from. After-Whole-Bible, I measured my spiritual health by my compassion, empathy, mercy, and love for others.

Measuring my health by the things I was for…

2. Gave me new passions, desires, and priorities.

I was content in my life back then. I had a loving wife with a baby on the way. I was part of a church that was healthy. I had deep and meaningful relationships with all kinds of people. I had a job that provided many opportunities for professional and personal growth. I was on the path to success.

Once I discovered God cared about my love for the defenseless, poor, needy, orphaned, and hopeless than he did my worship or tithes, my priorities and passions were realigned.

I became very passionate about justice. I became passionate about caring for the poor. I became passionate about the practical aspects of the Gospel. My wife and I both began dreaming of ways to have impact in the places we thought were most important to God.

She began working as a doula for pregnant moms, learning the craft so she could serve teen, lonely, and scared moms. I returned to college so I could have a better understanding of how to help bring about more social justice.

Speaking of social justice, reading the whole Bible…

3. Gave me a passion for political understanding and change.

Most people I know think I’m fairly liberal, and I don’t think that’s a mischaracterization. When people ask me why I’m so liberal, I always respond with a smirk and, “Because I read the Bible.”

It only gets a laugh about half the time.

The statement is true, though. I agree with the Church at large that it is the responsibility of the Church to help bring about social justice. Where I differ, and my liberalism comes into play, is that I believe we should use every means necessary to bring it about. That means we use our own hands, time, money, and our votes to bring about justice.

It’s only when the Church fails that government policy matters at all.

If the Church were doing its job of feeding the poor and comforting the hurting, then there would be no need for welfare. We would each take care of our neighbor. It’s only because the Church is not completely dedicated to its mission that social welfare is needed at all.

Since the Church is not fulfilling its duties of spreading the Gospel and loving its neighbors, it seems cruel to vote in a way that prevents the government from caring for our neighbors.