Continuing with the exploration and reflection through a series of articles written in a conversational language about Catholicism, about God, about Jesus, about the Church and many other faith related topics. Here we present:
Question 44 – Can you be a Christian without knowing the Bible?
For Christians the Bible* is the most important source of knowledge about God* in general and about Jesus* in particular. Christians all over the world read and study the Bible. Many also pray* daily with texts from the Bible. It is an endless source of information about how God, for thousands of years, has made himself known to men and women. Thus you can consider the four Gospels* as exclusive eyewitness accounts of people who knew Jesus up close. There are no other books where you can learn more about him.
However, there are people who rarely or never read the Bible and yet are Christians in heart and soul. The reason is simple. Christians do not believe in a book but in a person: Jesus. In the end it is all about Christians living with Jesus and like Jesus. The connection with him is the most important thing for the life of a Christian. No matter how unique and irreplaceable the Bible is, a person can also get to know Jesus through other ways, such as prayers, testimonies of Christians or celebrations in the church*.
– Is the Bible important to your faith?
– Who or what feeds your faith day in and day out?
Watch this space! Coming up: Question 45 – Prayer, what is that?
Follow these links to go back to previous questions
If you wish to learn more about this resource follow this link “52 Questions and Answers about faith”
About the author:
Nikolaas Sintobin, SJ, joined the Society of Jesus in 1989, following a short career as a lawyer. He was trained as a Jesuit in Brussels, Paris, and Santiago de Chile. Today he is a spiritual director who is keenly interested in online ministry and discovering new ways to help people find God.
This text is republished with the permission of Messenger Publications, Ireland. To buy a hard copy of the book click here.
