(This is the first in a series of blogs entitles “Reading the Bible In 3-D.)

For many believers, reading the Bible is seen as both intimidating and mysterious. Our desire to be a “Good Christian” often falls into conflict with our inability to understand and apply the truths contained in Scripture.  Our hearts are pointed in the right direction, but our feet can’t always seem to follow.

Why is reading the Bible so difficult? Think of the difference between running a race as a sprint, and running a race through hurdles. Anyone can sprint, if even for a short distance. When hurdles are added, that same distance can seem insurmountable.  There are four distinct hurdles one faces when trying to discover the Bible.

1.    The Language Hurdle – In its original documents (called autographs) the Bible was written in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Although the English translations we have are incredibly reliable, understanding the grammar, syntax, and logic flows can be difficult. The arguments, stories, and poetry of Scripture have a particular style. In order for us to gain the most from our study, that style must be effectively navigated.
2.    The Distance Hurdle – To put it simply, Jesus did not live in Washington. Comprehending the distance between Gaza and Damascus leaves many readers without reference or appreciation for the journeys, geography, and context of the Bible stories they love.
3.    The Time Hurdle – A lot has happened in 6000 years. The final words of the Book of Revelation were penned around 90 AD. The world that these books, songs, and letters were written to is long gone, and the world in which we live would be unfathomable to the authors of Scripture.
4.    The Culture Hurdle – The customs, behaviors, traditions, and morays are vastly different form our life today. Views on leadership, economics, science, and other key issues are addressed with a dissimilar perspective, and in some issues, aren’t addressed at all.

Knowing these hurdles, how can we overcome them? Invented in 1840, 3-D glasses seemingly give life and depth to a flat, lifeless image. There are three “D’s,” that when applied, give that same life and depth to our understanding of the Bible.

1.    What Did it mean?
2.    What Does it mean to me?
3.    What Do I do now?

In the next several weeks, I will address each of these in a separate blog posting.