Bible Revival: Recommitting Ourselves to One Book - A Review

"If there is anything truly necessary for life and godliness, it is already recorded in the Word of God." - Bible Revival, Kenneth  Berding

I was excited to read Bible Revival:.  This a topic I believe truly needed in our day of pluralism and post-modern worldview of foundationless viewpoints.  Unfortunately, the tone set in the preface and first chapter changed my view.

Before I get into what I believe Berding got wrong, I'd like to start with what I feel he got right.  First, I think he points to the necessary need for systematic study of the scriptures for growth.  For example, in chapter 1, he makes the following statement:  "Someone who comes to know Christ later in life and devotes himself to reading and learning God's Word will quickly surpass the person who relies upon the passive "learning" that he thinks he acquired from hanging around the church when he was young."  Berding addresses the need to commit to studying the scriptures in order to grow in the faith.

Second, he reminds us that part of the reason for studying the scriptures and memorizing passages is for use in daily life.  He relays the following statement from a single mom in his church, "She told me, 'During those difficult years, I always had a verse somewhere in my mind to fall back on. When my water heater broke, I was reminded that God cared for me in my need because I knew it from His Word.'"

Third, he does give practical examples and techniques for study.  For example, he draws some practical questions to ask when approaching a passage, he uses examples from Puritan life to study, and he encourages interaction with other believers.

That said, I had some very strong challenges to his book.  My biggest challenge is he almost advocates for a view of the Scriptures that, in some ways, ignores the GOD of the scriptures. He, for all practical purposes, ignores the requirement of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures, and he assumes the Bible, in and of itself, is all that is needed (contrast this to Jesus' words in John 5).

Second, he speaks as an academic whose life is studying the Scriptures.  Since he has devoted his life to studying the Scriptures, all should give the same level of commitment.  This isn't practical.  Yes, we all need to study the Word for ourselves - and we need to be deliberate about it - but his level of commitment isn't practical. A troubling quote came from chapter 1, addressing single mothers who have spent many, many hours caring and providing for her children, "does she sleep at all at night? Then let her cut into some of that sleep and read her Bible." These are impractical, guilt-laden words.  I'm sure she has time to study the scriptures, but this isn't the way to go about it.

Third, the following quote from the preface negated everything that follows, "My paternal grandfather, who never came into personal relationship with Jesus Christ, read his Bible regularly and had many passages committed to memory." This tragic, misplaced statement negates his entire argument before it begins.

I'm giving this book 2 stars, but I am only giving it this rating because I appreciate what he's trying to do.  At the end of the day, my advice is this: skip this book and find a church that values, teaches, lives, and is shaped the Scriptures in a gospel community.

Note: I received a review copy of the book from the publisher.  I was required to provide an honest, not necessarily favorable, review, and the opinions expressed are mine.