I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of the Scriptures in our lives as followers of Jesus. The world we live in does not lead to stability in any form. Cultural changes assault us daily. Those who mock and denigrate the Christian faith do so from a variety of public platforms. Scandals among those who claim to represent Christ, like the Catholic priests sex debacle, only lend credence to those voices claiming that our faith is repressive and harmful. However, we know that the world has it all wrong, that there is great value and hope in the Christian faith. How did we become unmoored?

I’m not sure how to cure the ills of our culture, but I do know that as a follower of Jesus, there is one place where I go to find solid ground, truth and hope. That’s the Bible. Without a firm foundation, how do we stand against any force that opposes us? I try to open my Bible daily, to read something, even a couple of verses. Because, what else do I have in life to counter the often oppressive nature of the world in which we live?

Eat This Book, by Eugene Peterson, pushes us to remember that the scriptures are the primary text for Christian spirituality. We set aside the holy scriptures and replace them with our experience or the world’s seeming knowledge at our peril. God speaks to us through the Bible, and Peterson teaches us to read this Bible in ways that help us better hear what God is trying to tell us.

This is a book to be read a bit at a time. Like all the other books I’ve read by Eugene Peterson (he translated The Message, if you’re wondering why his name is familiar), it takes time to roll through his thoughts. But it’s worth it. I recommend this book to anyone interested in getting more out of your Bible and learning to go deeper in your faith journey.