3 Reasons People Don’t Like the Bible

The Bible is, without a doubt, the most controversial book in history. In recent years this book, which used to be held sacred by many, has been dismissed as archaic and practically irrelevant. Is this how you view the Bible?

When was the last time you read the Bible? How often do you read the Bible? If we were to do a survey, answers would range from “as much as I can” to “every once in a while” or—perhaps more common—“never.” To hear someone answer “every day” would be a true rarity.

The Bible claims to be the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). But, sadly, even religious people sometimes totally neglect it. And irreligious people often insult those who still look to the Bible for guidance and instruction, commenting that a book thousands of years old should have no bearing on life in the 21st century.

But are there other reasons people ignore the Bible? Perhaps it isn’t its age but its implications that really are the problem for many people.

Here are three reasons that people often don’t like what they read in the Bible:

1. The Bible describes God as He is, not how we think He is.

People don’t like reading the Bible because it doesn’t describe God the way they typically view Him. In popular culture, He is depicted as either a distant, angry God or a soft, gentle God. Human beliefs often limit and misconstrue God’s character. Allowing the Bible to reveal the true God to us teaches us that God is so much greater—in character and power—than people often make Him out to be.

Human beings have tried to make God in their image, when it needs to be the other way around!

Read our material that makes plain what the Bible really reveals about God in the section “Who Is God?”

2. The Bible describes how God wants to be worshipped, not how we think He should be worshipped.

Many people believe that however they choose to worship God is valid and good—as long as they are somehow worshipping Him. Where does this logic come from? The Bible spends a great deal of time explaining the manner of worship God prescribed for His people. Even though many people have decided that strictly biblical worship is “done away with” or “only for Jews,” the Bible makes no such distinction!

The Bible claims to be the inspired Word of God. But even religious people sometimes totally neglect it. And irreligious people often insult those who still look to the Bible for guidance and instruction. The reality is that people ignore it because they don't want to deal with its implications. Take the example of special days of worship. Most of the holidays that supposedly worship God today are foreign to the Bible. On top of that, most holidays kept in the Christian world are directly traceable to holidays celebrated by ancient pagans in honor of false gods. Why would we celebrate pagan holidays when God gave us specific days to keep to worship Him (Leviticus 23)? The Bible says that there is worship that God finds unacceptable: “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way …” (Deuteronomy 12:31).

To learn more about the difference between man-made holidays and God’s holy days, download our free booklet From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.

3. The Bible describes certain behaviors and attitudes as right or wrong, no matter what society says.

This is probably the most prevalent reason people don’t like the Bible. The Bible states that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Human beings will go to great lengths to defend their own decisions and behavior.

The Bible gives very clear guidelines of right and wrong. Yes, the Bible defines what is wrong!

“That’s wrong” is a phrase that our society considers to be as bad as profanity. Today, to claim that something is morally wrong according to the Bible is seen as the epitome of intolerance.

After deciding for themselves who and what God is, and then how He should be worshipped, people go on to the next logical step of deciding right and wrong for themselves. The Bible fully explains what attitudes and behaviors are right and wrong according to God. People in general do not like this.

To learn about right and wrong behavior, request our free booklet God’s 10 Commandments: Still Relevant Today.

How about you?

Do you find your opinion about the Bible in this blog? Do you take the Bible seriously, or do you take it with a grain of salt? Even those who regularly read the Bible can still ignore much of what it says.

Maybe it’s time to get all the facts about it. The Bible has survived thousands of years for a reason. Why not open your Bible and find out why?

To learn how to get started on studying the Bible, read “How to Study the Bible.”

Date Posted: April 10, 2014