A New Approach to the Bible

 

I believe it is time for Christian churches to rediscover the Bible in a new way. For too long, we have treated it as something to be read only in ceremonies. We also used it to defend the doctrines we inherited. Each denomination has its own lens, its own selective readings, its own favorite passages to prove that it alone is right. In the process, the Bible has become less of a living Word and more of a weapon in theological debates.

But the Bible was never meant to be locked away in tradition or divided up by doctrines. It is a great heritage handed down to us by our ancestors. It is a treasure chest of stories, poetry, wisdom, and faith experiences that shaped generations before us. If we are willing to set aside our prejudices and begin again—reading the Bible simply to hear its voice—we will discover how powerful, unifying, and life-giving it really is.

This new way of reading would transform the church.

It would make our faith honest—because we are no longer twisting the text to suit us, but letting the Word of God shape us.

It would make us united—because when the Bible itself becomes the focus, it draws us together rather than driving us apart.

It would make our lives richer—because we will hear its full depth and beauty, not just the fragments that confirm our traditions.

It would make our faith relevant again—because in a world that craves authenticity, people would see that Christians are genuinely seeking truth, not just defending positions.

This vision is not just a dream. For the last five years, Varoo Keerthikkam Sarveshane—“Come, Let Us Praise the Lord”—has been quietly showing the way. We began with just 35 people who longed to study the Bible with open hearts. Today, we are 350 strong, from many different churches and traditions.

We gather online to read Psalms and Bible stories—not to argue about doctrine, but to uncover their meaning and understand their historical background. We ask: What were our ancestors really saying? What can we learn from them today? And in this simple, humble approach, something beautiful has happened: people from different backgrounds, who once might have argued endlessly, are now listening together, learning together, and praising God together.

This is what gives me hope. The Bible can still unite us. The Bible can still speak fresh words into our time. But only if we are willing to let go of the fear of being “right” and embrace the joy of discovering God’s truth together.

The church does not need more doctrines. It needs more humility. It needs to sit down, open the Scriptures with reverence, and listen again. If 350 ordinary people can do this together in Varoo Keerthikkam Sarveshane, imagine what could happen if churches across the world did the same.

We would once again become what we are meant to be: not defenders of denominations, but seekers of truth. Not people divided by traditions, but people united by the living Word of God.

Only then can we truly say we are children of the same heritage—people of the Book, people of the Word.