In many instances, people reduce Bible engagement to focusing on the parts of the Bible that promote making the world a better place through social activism or applying the golden rule to live a decent life. (cf. Matthew 7:12), or using the Scriptures to underpin religious duties and obligations. But Bible engagement is about something far bigger than cherry-picking Bible verses to inform our good works, good morality, or good religion per se.
Counter-cultural and Christ-centered.
Bible engagement is counter-cultural. For Bible engagement to truly happen, we can’t be double-minded. We can’t serve two masters (cf. Matthew 6:24). Bible engagement begins when we turn away from our old way of life and invite Christ to give us new life. And it proceeds as we sever our loyalties to the world and give our total allegiance to Christ (cf. Luke 14:33).
When we connect with the Bible, everything should change. We cannot continue to think and live life as we’ve done before. Bible engagement requires a new way of being and a new way of living. We must relinquish all we have to follow Jesus (cf. Luke 14:25-27). For that to happen, Bible engagement has to be kingdom-focused.
Kingdom-focused.
So, what does kingdom-focused Bible engagement look like? Kingdom-focused Bible engagement is giving our unreserved commitment to the King and His kingdom. It’s submitting fully to Christ’s reign over our lives. And it occurs as we continually respond to God’s Word in ways that indicate that Christ is working in and through us.
While kingdom-focused Bible engagement is embodied in Christ, it also includes everyone who submits to His kingship (cf. Romans 5:10). Bible engagement should never be an exclusively private or internal affair. Yes, Bible engagement concerns me, but it’s more about us. That’s because the kingdom of God is about community – about Christ’s Word being embodied and manifested in the lives of all His kingdom citizens.
This is the good news: Bible engagement is about being liberated and empowered. It’s entering the throne room, encountering the King, and embracing, sharing and enjoying the fullness of kingdom life (cf. John 10:10). But wait, there’s more! When we’ve finished being part of the kingdom here, we get to be part of the kingdom to come (cf. 1 Timothy 6:19).
Now and forever.
Before we become so heavenly-minded that we’re of no practical use, let’s remember that kingdom-focused Bible engagement, though eternity-bound, has an earthly home. Bible engagement is about God’s future turning up in the present. It was never meant to be esoteric. Bible engagement is for this world, but not of this world. The Bible engagement prayer is “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10. And for this prayer to be apprehended, kingdom citizens must live out the Word in ways that bring honour and glory to the King.
This is simply to say that Bible engagement is Jesus engagement, and Jesus engagement is kingdom engagement. The three go together. They’re distinct but not separate. When we engage with the Bible, we should do so with the express purpose of engaging with Christ. And as we engage with Christ, we should do so with the express purpose of being kingdom-focused.
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Summary
Bible engagement is more than just applying Bible verses to social activism or moral living; it’s about a deeper, transformative connection with Christ. True Bible engagement is counter-cultural, requiring us to turn away from our old life and fully commit to following Jesus, embracing His kingdom. Kingdom-focused Bible engagement involves submitting to Christ’s reign and living out His Word in community, not just privately. This engagement is not just about the future kingdom but about bringing God’s kingdom to earth today, living in ways that honour Christ and reflect His reign in the world.
© Scripture Union Canada
2 Corinthians 4:5
