St Mary Redcliffe Church Parish Magazine - December 2015 -January 2016

A 2015 publication is not going to give any ‘answers’, but it can help
with understanding. And Simon Taylor makes this point strongly in
his book by demonstrating that the engagement with the Bible can
only be achieved through constant and regular reading, reflecting,
digesting, discussing, and living.
These things we know: we’ve been told this since the days of Sunday
School, and are constantly reminded about it from the pulpit. But
while we know that this collection of books and stories is the root of
Christian life, the question is always how? do we go about engaging with
the texts of the Bible?
This is where Simon Taylor presents several simple, yet robust,
methods of engaging with the Bible. I won’t say much more (because
you must buy/borrow, and read the book) except that he shows how
this vast collection of words can be broken up into digestible chunks,
and put into terms to which we can relate and understand. Each
chapter offers a different approach, and conclude with questions to
ponder and suggestions for further reading.
That the book has its origins in group discussion is significant,
because one of the points Taylor makes so well is that the Bible is
about community. It tells the story of the communities of the past,
their relationship with themselves, and God. And it shapes the lives
of our present communities, and how we interact with each other,
the world and God.
And it’s this aspect of the Bible to which Taylor speaks most
strongly. The Bible shapes life. In fact, the title could have been How
to Read the Bible (and keep your brain switched on after reading it) only
that’s probably too wordy and would never be accepted by a
publisher.
The question of how the Bible shapes life is important, and Taylor’s
book subtly posing this challenge by asking What is the Bible to us?
How do we as a community, as individuals live the Bible? For thousands
of years the Bible has shaped the world for at times better and, sadly,
at others for worse. As Taylor points out, the Bible is a
conversation, a wrestling match. It is not meant to be an easy read.
But it all begins with reading.