The Bible's central theme is man's relationship with God. That's what the Bible talks about. Bible study should make Christians more tolerant with each other.

The number of Christians with differing opinions who can come to love and share and tolerate and cooperate must increase.

The Bible cannot do its work for humankind without being read and interpreted. People bring different experiences and abilities with them when they approach it, and they do not distinguish between what they bring and what is already there.

The Disciples of Christ recognize the basic human shortcoming that we all interpret the same Scripture, the same word of God, the same inspired writings DIFFERENTLY. The Disciples of Christ believe that even in our differences we can worship and serve the Lord TOGETHER!


PITFALLS in Bible Study

1. Literalism - the belief that every word in the Bible is literally true. Do not expect more from the Bible than it promises. The Bible does not contain every word of information you need.

It is not the end of divine inspiration. Every person who reads the Bible brings his or her own prejudices and short-comings to it. Every reading requires some form of interpretation. Standing by a literal belief will cause needless difficulties.

2. Bibliolatry - an excess adherence to a literal interpretation of the Bible. The word of God, as found in the sacred Scriptures, must be interpreted by each believer.

It must also allow for further inspiration and understanding. God did not stop speaking with humankind when the last period was put after the last word in the Revelation of St. John the Divine at the end of our modern Bible.

3. Proof Texting - when a person wants to prove a belief; in order to prove that belief, the person hunts all the statements of the Bible which contain the proper words and tries to make the Bible words fit the preconceived belief.

One must continue to read the Bible in its original context, not try to prove one's point of view in today's modern world by picking out English terms in an ancient book, written so many years ago, in languages none of us speak today.

One must read the Bible and let the words speak to its original meaning, then find whatever meaning and light it can shed onto today's problems and circumstance.