Travis Griffith
It seems we’re born into a world where everyone is blind.
We don’t know who we are; so we search, arms outstretched, wandering, hoping we run into some form of ourselves that might know the answers.
It’s during that journey through the darkness that many people turn to religion.
Religion provides millions of people with the answers they seek, but for countless others it only raises more questions that outweigh the faith required to believe.
My journey is about to take a turn that every fiber of my being tells me not to follow. And I’m going to need your help.
First, though, a little history.
I spent the first 28 years of my life staunchly opposed to the idea of God and dismissed Christianity, along with all other religions, as mythical stories believed only by the weak-minded.
Then, about six years ago, some things began to happen that jolted my perception of the spiritual realm; things that seem unreal when I look back at them today. Eventually those experiences opened some new paths in my life, one of which led to the Relief Journal.
Two ways of looking at the Bible. I'm hoping this journey ends with the top picture.
It’s been about two years since my first blog at Relief and I’ve contributed sporadically since then. Just recently I had the opportunity to take the blog manager position here, which I humbly accepted.
Many people, including myself, find this more than ironic considering my anti-Christian past. I still don’t label myself a Christian, but I am highly spiritual and have developed a deep respect for all religions, including Christianity.
After accepting the position here, a friend posed a resounding and poignant question. She said, “You don’t comment on movies you haven’t seen, right? How can you comment on a religion when you haven’t read its book?”
Well… shit. I didn’t have an answer. At least not a good one.
While I love being right, I’m certainly not opposed to admitting when I’ve been called out. That was a moment I had my legs swept from beneath me and I could only raise the white flag of defeat while acknowledging she had one hell of a good point.
So I decided I should read the Bible.
You have to understand that if I had the choice between getting caught by someone while secretly reading the Bible or watching porn involving transvestite grandmas with Spanish men, I’d choose the porn every time. There’s not as much shame involved.
I’ve thrown at least two Bibles in the garbage and even seriously considered burning the insanely expensive one we got for our wedding just to see those pathetically thin pages go up in flames.
And so I’ve gone from that closed-minded attitude of years past to openly committing to read the Bible, in its entirety. Even writing those words causes my blood pressure to rise, though I’m not sure if it’s out of embarrassment, because I’m fundamentally opposed to the book or just afraid of what I might find in it.
I’ll start on May 2 and, as my editors here requested, try to finish on July 30. That’s only 90 days, and I’ll try, but make no promises! I do promise to document my progress and express my thoughts and reactions to the book in this space. I expect some of it will piss me off, some will make me laugh, some will cause me to shake my head in disbelief and some, hopefully, will resonate with messages of pure, unconditional love.
At least a couple of Relief staffers have committed to read during the same time, and I hope you will too. I could use the help with my questions, have you take part in the comments and hopefully get inspiration from your reactions as you witness a guy experiencing the Bible for the first time.
Any tips for a Bible virgin?
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Travis Griffith, Relief‘s Blog Manager, is a former atheist now exploring what a spiritual life really means. His children’s book, Your Father Forever, was published in 2005 by Illumination Arts Publishing Company, Inc. Travis works from his home in Spokane, WA as a professional writer.
Good for you, Travis. There are many parts of the Old Testament that will seem strange, especially to our modern sensibilities. Keep in mind, though, that the Bible is one whole story — and it all points to Jesus. There are a lot of things I don’t understand, but whenever God tells his people that he will redeem them, he means it and that story plays out continually. I’ll be praying for you!
I recommend reading from cover to cover, but if you start bogging down in Leviticus and Numbers, don’t give up. Skip over to the Psalms, which you may want to take in small portions along the way. Feel free to skip around some, keeping track of where you stop in the dull parts. The history and the prophecies go together, so you could read 1-2 Samuel then read Isaiah before returning to 1 Kings.
My suggestion, and probably you have already done this, is to find the right version. Some are so much easier to read than others. It’s a personal choice. We all have our favorite translations, so take some time to look through several and see what you think. A great place to do that is at http://www.biblegateway.com
Here is a Bible reading chart so that you can keep track if you decide to hop around. http://www.plsal.org/PDF-PLS/BibleReadingChart.pdf
Yea, when you get to Leviticus, or any long passage in the Old Testament coverin geneology, or something in Numbers which sounds like something you already read in Exodus, skim. Don’t skip… just skim. First time I read the Bible through I found myself at first daunted by some of the language, the reptition in SOME parts, then realized.. this is why so many people stop at this point. Professional “authors” didn’t always write books, but regular people… skim through parts where you feel are dragging in your mind, much like reading an old English novel, and focus when the phrasing tightens again. I don’t suggest skipping whole books. But don’t feel you need to study every word. I agree about the version as well. May want to start with a more modern English like New International Version instead of King James, but not as modern as The Message. Not yet.
Travis, I heard about this from Alise Wright, and I’m so impressed that you’re taking this on. It shows a great deal of integrity.
I’ve grown up in the church but despite all that familiarity, sometimes I think maybe my eyes have just recently opened to real spirituality.
I’d like to join you, if that’s ok. Are you following a specific schedule or using a specific version?
Thank you, everyone for your interest, support and advice so far! Wow.
The version I have and plan on using is the New Living Translation of the New Testament. I’d be thrilled if anyone wants to join me! There’s a 90-day schedule here:
http://www.momstoolbox.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/b90orgbookmark.pdf
But I might just take the book I have, divide the total pages by 90 and read that many each day…
I’ll do it with ya’ Travis! You go, guy!
I think the biggest problem people have with the Bible is that there is the tendency to dive right in and read it as if Americans wrote it. We’re a very linear thinking people. The ancient middle orient…not so much.
However, the good news is that 95% percent of the bible can be read and understood, right where it’s written. True, there are some versions that make me see red…(I’m thinking of the handling of Romans 13 in a few dozen versions…Grrrr…)But for the most part, if it says, “Jesus wept,” that’s exactly what it means. If it says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…” That’s what it means.
When was the beginning? Well, whenever it happened we won’t learn it from this verse. Why? Because it doesn’t say. Most of it is really that simple. But we do so love to complicate
things.
If you come across things you don’t understand, obviously you have a whole crowd of people willing to help. But let me say how much I envy you beginning this journey. I have peered at the head of a pin beneath a microscope and while it looks smooth and perfect at a glance, the close range inspection shows numerous flaws. Imperfections that look like the Grand Canyon.
I have also studied the Bible and while an at a glance reading may seem to reveal contradictions and flaws, the closer the scrutiny the greater the perfection it reveals. I’ve read whole sections where if the wrong word had been used the passages would collapse in on each other. It never happens. How anyone could ever call this the work of men amazes me.
So before I start jumping up and down saying stuff like, “Oh, my gosh…you know what this verse means?…It’s like so cool…” I’ll let ya go. But if you need any help, just ask away.
Hi Travis- I’ve done the Bible in 90 Days program twice, so I have a few pointers for you. There are a few chapters where the reading gets… dicey. If it makes you drowsy, read out loud, read out loud while walking around your living room, or read to your dog. It takes between 1-1.5 hours a day.
I know you may not be comfortable with it, but you will probably find that you need to stash your Bible in a bag to bring with you during the day in order to stay on schedule. It’s easy to get behind and tough to get caught up, but the trick is just DON’T STOP READING. Push through the tough spots and enjoy the easier ones. There are 2 “grace days” built into the reading schedule just in case.
There is a LOT of history in the Bible. There are nations and leaders whose stories are told there, that you have heard of and are well known in secular history as well. When something they are doing strikes you as really odd, chances are it was a cultural norm then. Keep that in mind and just keep reading.
This reading schedule isn’t for studying at all. If you come across things you have questions about, or want to know more, just keep a notebook handy, jot it down, and move on.
You can do it! I loved it both times. It has become my personal yearly routine, every January I do the B90 program. I look forward to reading your posts about your first time reading the Bible!
I am so excited for you!!
I have read the Bible in 90 days several times.
The first time I decided to do it alone because I ‘didn’t need group accountability.’ After 90 days, the other group had finished and I had stopped long, long before that.
The second time I tried, I joined the class at my church which was taught by Ted Cooper who developed the Bible in 90 Days program, but this was long before Zondervan came on board. This was when it was Ted Cooper’s photocopied study notes and encouragement.
I went into it with a LOT of questions and reading it so quickly helped me see things in a whole new light. And I was hooked.
I’ve facilitated the course in person several times, trained others to facilitate, and now host group read-throughs on my blog twice a year, complete with online accountability groups, a mentor team and weekly Twitter parties and check-ins.
Feel free to search my blog for daily encouragement, (I see you already found the schedule there.) but, more importantly COMMIT YOURSELF TO THIS and don’t let ANY excuse allow you to stop. Just pick up your Bible and read. Yes, it takes time, so think about how you will make that time. What will you drop for 3 months?
As Dawn said, when you get confused, don’t study. Write down your questions and keep plowing on.
Oh, and shell out the $14 for the Bible in 90 Days NIV Bible. The large type, yet compact size, makes it easy to read anywhere. And the daily reading schedule is marked (as 12 pages a day) and the lack of footnotes keeps you on track and off of bunny trails.
Email me or tweet me anytime. I’ll be praying for you.
Travis, Best wishes to you! I read through the Bible last year, but I’m terrible at following a schedule, so sometimes I’d sit down and read a book all the way through like a story, and I LOVED it. My husband did it too, and bought the Bible that had each day’s reading laid out for you which he thought was way better than trying to follow the list.
I’m still trying to get over the transvestite grandmas visual…thanks for the laugh out loud. Angela
Wow! I have made the challenge to people before, yet have never had anyone brave enough to be willing to take an honest look at the Bible. It has been a while since I have read through the entire bible. If you don’t mind I would like to follow along with you and read. May there be joy in your journey. May the truth be revealed. May you find the answers you seek.
Travis, that’s awesome! Reading through the Bible is no easy task, especially if you already know, going into it, that some things are going to awe, frustrate, delight, and sometimes enrage you. But really, we’re all in the same boat what it comes to that.
One of my favorite passages in Genesis is when Jacob wrestles with God, and is blessed and transformed because of it. They wrestle all through the night, and Jacob knows that this cannot be a man. But God, instead of punishing Jacob for opposing Him, blesses Him. I think we’re all supposed to wrestle. It’s human nature, and God just engages us right where we are.
You’ll have my prayer as you begin reading, and thanks for the challenge to us to do the same!