On this International Day of the Bible, it is fitting to get a few facts about the Good Book straight.
The Bible is by far the best-selling book of all-time, holding the Guinness World Record for best-selling book of non-fiction. It’s been translated into thousands of languages (2,883 to be exact), many of which have multiple versions. In the United States, each household owns an average of 4.3 Bibles, and even people who don’t crack open the Bibles sitting on their shelf will find it hard to escape references to Scripture in literature, history, music and television.
The Bible—it seems—is everywhere.
But despite the seeming prevalence of the Bible in society and culture, research shows that people often neglect actually engaging with the Bible.
According to the 2014 State of the Bible survey, the number of Bible skeptics has rose 9 percent (to 19 percent) in the last four years. Roughly 26 percent of all American adults and 39 percent of millennials said that they never read the Bible.
That’s why it’s more important than ever that we take time to celebrate the Bible in our own lives. Here are a few ways you can get started.
- Reflect the Bible. The Bible has a lot to say about day to day life, so it requires some thought. Whether reflection involves memorizing Scripture verses (it helps to have handy apps like BibleMinded) , allowing yourself to ask the hard questions or pondering significant themes, thinking critically about what the Bible says is one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate the Bible.
- Talk about the Bible. Sometimes the most significant insights or “ah-ha!” moments come from talking about the Bible. So ask questions, bring up new discoveries and share your experience with others. You can also read the Bible out loud—which is a great way to celebrate International Day of the Bible today.
- Read the Bible. Ultimately, celebrating the Bible comes down to one simple (but often difficult!) habit: reading it. There are countless ways to approach Bible reading (including the free 7-day online devotional below). Find one that works for you and dig in. You won’t regret it.
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