The “Big Beautiful Bill” and the Bible
I have thoughts on the massive bill, known either as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” or more simply as the “Big Beautiful Bill” that has been winding its way through the legislative process in Washington, DC.
But I won’t share any of those thoughts with you here or on my social media feeds.
Why? Am I a coward?
No, it’s actually for a much more fundamental reason, and it’s a reason that has to do with how we consume Scripture as well.
We live in an age where information is basically endless. Through traditional media, digital media, and social media, you could read, listen to, or watch information continually and never get through all that is put out there. From stating facts to giving opinions (or “takes” as they are now more commonly called), it seems that everyone has to state what they think or how they feel about nearly every possible news story, event, or happening.
And, so, what happens is that seemingly everyone with a social media account thinks they have to give their take on everything, too. Isn’t that what you have seen with the “Big Beautiful Bill”? As it has been winding through the halls of Congress, I saw people on social media telling me how “wonderful” it was, and others telling me how “scary” it was. I saw people telling me it will certainly do this or that it will certainly do that.
And I didn’t take any of those thoughts seriously.
Why?
For the same reason I did not share my opinions on it.
They came from people who hadn’t even read the bill.
When your cousin who always has to spout off on social media now suddenly is an expert in a bill that was something-near 1000 pages long, do you really think he or she knows every detail of it? No. They know what they have heard about it. Or they know the one paragraph or section that is being shared that proves a point they want to make.
Hmmmmmm….
Sounds like how a lot of people treat the Bible, doesn’t it?
How many people have opinions about the Bible…who have never read the entire document?
Now, there are plenty of people who have read the Bible–even many times–with whom I disagree. You know what? I’d rather have a serious conversation with them about Scripture because they have read it than listen to someone give their “take” on some passage, when they have never seen how that passage fits into the overall narrative of Scripture.
Can you imagine a Bible class teacher getting up in front of a class, announcing that the class will be talking about the book of James for the next few weeks, and then saying, “I look forward to reading James for the first time”? Not only would I be switching classes; I’d be asking the elders about how they screen Bible class teachers.
Yet how many people listen to what others have to say about the Bible or just pick and choose a favorite verse to share on social media, but have never read the Bible to see the overall narrative?
Read the document. Re-read the document. Study the document. Then you have some credibility to have discussions about the ins and outs of it.
Oh, if you thought that last paragraph meant the “Big Beautiful Bill,” that’s fine. But I’m talking about the Bible. After all, in the end, that’s the only document that will matter to my everlasting soul.
“…give attention to reading…” (1 Timothy 4:13)
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn