LEAven Blog

Where do you get your information? Is it from ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS, NPR, the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google News, Substack, friends, family, or ChatGPT? What about radio, books, magazines, and blog posts? There is no doubt that the number and type of information sources has proliferated over the past decades. With this proliferation it has also become more challenging for any of us to determine what the truth is about people and events. This challenge is not only for us as professionals but also for the students and families whom we serve.

In my last post on this blog, I attempted to frame the impact emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools on education and society. One note I made that remains clear to me is that determining truth and validating information that we consume is becoming even more challenging in 2023. How do we know what’s true? What tools and strategies do we use to verify? Whom do we trust?

As Christians, we know and affirm that there is one information source that is infallible and trustworthy – the Bible. Written by over 40 authors over more than 1500 years, guided by the work of the Holy Spirit, prayed over, and debated for centuries as to what was to be included as canon, the Bible has stood the test of time as the complete source of faith and God’s true revelation to us. In an era of great uncertainty where we struggle to evaluate the information sources we consume, the Bible can be fully trusted. That is a great comfort to us in a turbulent age.

It seems as if the certainty of the Bible and its truths should be embraced more than ever. However, in a 2022 research study, Christianity Today reported that nearly 26 million people stopped reading the Bible regularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pew Research data about the reading of Scripture found that only 30% of adherents to mainline denominations reported reading the Bible at least once a week.

Perhaps it is time for each of us to recommit to embracing God’s Word daily, being drawn closer to our God through His true and certain words. It is easy to get sidetracked from the daily discipline of Bible reading, but fortunately there are several approaches that one might take to make this discipline sustainable. To that end, here are some suggestions:

• Establish a daily Bible reading habit. Consistency is key when it comes to reading the Bible. Create a daily reading habit by setting aside a specific time each day to read. This could be in the morning, during lunch break, or before bed. Make sure to choose a time when you are most alert and focused.
• Use a Bible in a Year reading plan. There are several posted on the Internet and available through Christian publishers. Following these plans will ensure you cover ALL of God’s written revelation to us.
• Listen to the Bible. If you find it difficult to sit down and read the Bible for an extended period of time, consider using an audio Bible. You can listen to the Bible while you are driving, doing chores, or exercising. Many audio Bibles are available online, in apps, or in audio CD format. There are also podcasts that are dedicated to sharing the Bible in a Year. This is a great option for those who spend a lot of time in the car commuting to work.
• This approach is personal to me. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible, which means that one would need to read 3.26 chapters a day to read the entire book in a year. I wanted to read the Bible more quickly. Therefore, I started reading a Psalm, two chapters in the beginning books of the Old Testament, two near the end of the Old Testament, and one New Testament chapter each day. I learned to appreciate reading from both testaments every day and have worked my way through the full Bible more times as a result.

Whatever process you might choose, I challenge each of us to immerse ourselves in God’s Word – THE objective truth – as we seek to become more grounded in a sinful world. Let’s regularly be reminded of who God is and what He has done for us through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.