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Bible Engagement in Postmodern Culture
‘Some people who had given up on Bible reading, or who had been grinding on in a mechanical way, have come to appreciate afresh the rich spiritual treasure of Scripture by learning to meditate on the text.
‘It is a simple exercise, but one capable of jump starting a dead spiritual battery by cultivating the art of meditation - lost due to the noise, rush, distractions and soul-neglect of modern living.’ (ChurchNext, Intervarsity Press, © 2000)
So says Eddie Gibbs, from Fuller Seminary, who writes about Scripture engagement in his book, ChurchNext: Quantum Changes in How We Do Ministry.
Lectio Divina – which simply means ‘divine reading’ – is a way of approaching the Bible that invites us to meditate on Scripture as an entry point into deep prayer and silent contemplation. It is the kind of reading that fosters a conversation with Jesus that can deepen intimacy and transform our relationship with God and others.
Lectio is much more than reading. It is the act of ‘praying the Scriptures’ and in its broadest sense has three parts. These are hearing (lectio), reflecting (meditatio), and responding (oratio). As someone once said, ‘Reading is putting the food into our mouths, meditation chews it up and breaks it down, prayer obtains the flavour and refreshes us’.
lyfe (a resource from Bible Society) is a similar way of approaching the Bible. It encourages small groups of Christians to meet in public places such as pubs, cafes and coffee shops to read, reflect and respond to Scripture. They use passages and guidance notes downloaded from the lyfe website onto laptops, pdas or paper – blending the ancient with the contemporary.
Our experience is that reading, reflecting and responding to Scripture provides a fresh way to engage with God and to connect with our everyday lives. As we do this in a small group, we share our life experience, we share our thoughts on a passage and we learn from each other. In the midst of the noise, rush, distractions and soul-neglect, we make space for God to speak to us and renew our relationship with him.
To find out more, visit www.lyfe.org.uk.
Alternatively, watch the lyfe DVD on the Bible Society YouTube channel at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bzBcHyySSjg
Rob Hare is lyfe Field Officer for Bible Society.
