Page 40 - Finding Jesus with Good News report A5 WEB

Understanding the Bible

As we have already seen, the Bible plays a
significant part in helping people move forward
in their faith journeys. However, nearly half talked
about their challenges with the Bible and as
shown previously, for 20%, it was one of the two
most difficult factors. One participant put it like
this: “I knew absolutely nothing about the Bible,
to the point where I had to have someone explain
to me that there was an Old Testament and a
New Testament, and that the New Testament
was about Jesus.” Even those with some Christian
background didn’t know things that long-term
Christians might take for granted, such as modern
translations being available, and that the Bible
tells a big story, from creation to new creation.

Lifestyle challenges

For many, the challenge wasn’t so much
believing that what the Bible says is true, but the
implications of it being true. As one participant
shared, “It wasn’t that I found the teachings
themselves difficult; it was putting them into
practice or beginning to put them into practice.”
Particular areas of challenge were around sex,
relationships and alcohol. These tensions also
played out in what others might think of them if
they converted. It’s no small thing to become a
disciple of Jesus as an adult and face a change
in values and behaviours. A significant part of the
journey for people is weighing the cost, including
the potential risk to relationships.

40 Finding Jesus