Open the Book
After several years investigating the connections Canadians do or do not 
have with the Bible, we’ve discovered the Bible is the most popular least read book! Tragically, while there are three Bibles in the average Canadian home, they’re usually found on a dust covered shelf. Despite the availability and advanced marketing of the Bible, fewer and fewer Canadians are reading the Bible, knowing what it says, and living according to its principles.
Even among churched Christians, many never read the Bible from cover to cover. A Bible literacy poll in an Evangelical Toronto church in March 2010 revealed that eighteen percent of the congregation reported reading the Bible once a day, thirty-eight percent read the Bible once a week, twenty-one percent read the Bible once a month, and twenty-three percent said they seldom or never read the Bible.
The fact that the Bible is being treated lightly, ignored, or dismissed, isn’t due to limited selection or accessibility. Among the more than eight-hundred English versions of the Bible there are hundreds of reader friendly formats and more than one-thousand different Bibles that can be purchased online from Amazon.com. There’s even a waterproof version for those who like reading in the shower!
At Scripture Union Canada we’re deeply concerned about the growing disconnection with the Bible. Yet while we’re concerned, we’re optimistic. The decline in Bible engagement means there are more opportunities than before to bring fresh invitations for people to connect with the Bible. So we’re praying for a Bible reading revival – praying that Canadians will open the Book.
Update!
Eric Reynolds from Power to Change posted an article on the Power to Change blog where he quotes from the "Open the Book" blog. I've copied Eric's blog below:
Antique Is In There is a whole world of antiques and collectibles that I am only barely aware of. I stumbled into it this year as I moved into my new home and began to find some furniture. I thought, “It would be a good idea to get some used stuff and save money. I should check out the antique shops.” There are a few by my house, so I paid them a visit (and some money soon after). Was I in for a surprise! The first place was decked out: fancy with lights and polished tabletops. The prices were double what you would pay for new! I thought, “Don’t old things depreciate in value?” In the basement they had more treasures, but again, in my opinion, over-priced. The woman that ran the store wouldn’t budge on any of the items and insisted in their value. The second store was more of a barn, stacked to the rafters in… stuff. A row of old doors, wooden boxes, everything wooden and polished brass. It was overwhelming! This vendor was willing to negotiate from his top-dollar pricing. Nonetheless, the manner in which he talked about his items, combined with the sheer quantity and organization, betrayed his passionate love for these fortunes of someone’s history. A few months went by and I spoke to another man. His name is Dr. Lawson Murray and his eccentrics, though thoroughly covered by a compassionate demeanor, are similar to that of the two shopkeepers. He, too, cares deeply for an antique that he believes still contains much more value than its contemporaries deem it to possess. He is the President of Scripture Union Canada. Rare objects of all sorts garner top dollar, but Murray’s concern is in the undervalued nature of the Holy Bible. He writes: After several years investigating the connections Canadians do or do not have with the Bible, we’ve discovered the Bible is the most popular least read book! Tragically, while there are three Bibles in the average Canadian home, they’re usually found on a dust covered shelf. I’m all too familiar with this reality and it pains me to hear his findings, though they do not surprise me. But Murray turns to hope quicker than I do. At Scripture Union Canada we’re deeply concerned about the growing disconnection with the Bible. Yet while we’re concerned, we’re optimistic. The decline in Bible engagement means there are more opportunities than before to bring fresh invitations for people to connect with the Bible. So we’re praying for a Bible reading revival – praying that Canadians will open the Book. Visit their site and see what Lawson Murray and Scripture Union Canada are doing. Our prayers and God’s blessings with them. You hear that? Dust it off. Open the book. Antique is in.
Comments
Maggie Norman commented on 05-Dec-2011 10:35 PM Gregg Finley commented on 06-Dec-2011 05:46 AM 
Bob Creson commented on 07-Dec-2011 06:42 AM Russell Bartlett commented on 08-Dec-2011 10:47 AM Matthew commented on 12-Dec-2011 09:08 AM 
Davi Kruklis commented on 14-Dec-2011 10:29 AM