By Mallory Mattingly
A new study from The American Bible Society found that people who read the Bible daily have an increase in their self-identity.
“When people not only read the Bible but build their lives on it, they’re far more likely to have a strong sense of identity,” said John Farquhar Plake, the society’s Chief Innovation Officer.
- I know who I am.
- I always have a good sense of what is important to me.
- I know what I believe or value
According to Crosswalk Headlines, the study of 2,656 American adults “found that 63 percent of Americans who regularly read their Bibles report a strong self-identity, compared to 38 percent of Americans who rarely or never read a Bible.”
Daily Bible readers reported the highest sense of strong self-identity (69%), followed by those who read it once per week (45%). Those who read it once a month reported a weaker self-identity (33%) than those who never open the Bible (38%).
“We wonder if these people want to read more often but don’t get around to it, which makes them feel less confident in their faith,” the report queried.
“Our latest #StateOfTheBible research shows that regularly engaging with Scripture and practicing your faith strengthens your sense of identity and purpose,” the American Bible Society shared on social media.
But why exactly does reading God’s word boost what we believe about ourselves?
The State of the Bible study explained that “The Bible has a great deal to say about human identity. We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), ‘a little lower than the angels, …crowned… with glory and honor’ (Psalm 8:5 NIV), part of a world God loves (John 3:16).”
“None of this negates the reality that all of us are sinners in need of God’s grace (Romans 3:23–24). Yet, in Christ, we are ‘a new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17), God’s artistic masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). The Spirit whispers that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16),” the group continued.
“Scripture says all this, and so we would expect those who engage with Scripture to demonstrate a strong sense of identity,” the study added. “We’d expect the same of people who participate meaningfully in a church, practicing and reinforcing this God-given identity with others. And that’s exactly what the numbers show.”
As people throughout the world search for things to fill the void in their hearts, the Bible can give them exactly what they need. Our true identity and self-worth can only come through understanding what God says about us.
Read Next: Former Miss Universe’s Identity Crisis Inspired Book to Help Others
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +2Share:
– Content: +2