In 1816, James Madison was president of the United States, Indiana became the 19th state and American Bible Society was founded. Not many aspects of life today look as they did at that time in history. Most things from 1816 have become forgotten treasures of a history long gone. But not the Bible.
Despite unfathomable cultural changes over the last 200 years, the Bible is still the best-selling book today and of all time, and the most translated book. It maintains a vibrant relevance in America even as it faces some new challenges in today’s culture.
Americans’ relationship with the Bible has had its ups and downs throughout the history of our nation. While access to the Bible has surely increased, active engagement with God’s Word is our primary focus today. According to American Bible Society’s 2014 State of the Bible research, 88 percent of American adults own at least one Bible. But America’s Bible lovers and Bible skeptics now each make up 19 percent of the adult population. This means you are just as likely to meet someone who believes in the accuracy of the Bible and reads it frequently as you are to meet someone who rejects the idea of the Bible as a reliable sacred book. That’s why so many Church leaders and Bible agencies are looking for new ways to encourage people to set aside their negative preconceptions and misconceptions of the Bible and read God’s love letter for themselves.
While American Bible Society’s passion for sharing God’s Word hasn’t changed over its nearly two centuries of ministry, its strategies have changed continuously. Today, people are engaging with the Bible through a multitude of media. Though the Bible is still most-often read in print, more and more Americans are accessing the Bible on computers, tablets and smartphones. Verses are shared across the pages of social media or emailed across the country and around the globe. That’s why it’s so important that Bible-loving Christians constantly adapt and advance, seeking out new resources and study methods that meet the changing needs of Americans.
No matter the changes that have occurred from 1816 to 2014, one thing has remained the same—the message of Christ’s love found in the pages of Scripture. No matter the generation, the Bible speaks to every aspect of the human experience and holds answers to life’s challenges in its pages. It is the story of God’s love and His passionate pursuit of a relationship with humankind—a pursuit that continues today.
As American Bible Society approaches its 200th year, we remain passionate about the work ahead. We want to link arms with business leaders, church leaders, global missions, and other Bible agencies to help millions of people grow in their engagement with Scripture, even as we work with our network of 146 other Bible Societies around the globe to ensure that 100% of the world’s languages are translated for Scripture engagement.
If you are one of the 88 percent of Americans who own a Bible but you have not read it lately, is there something we can do to help you? Try reading a new English version, or listening on your mobile device or signing up for a new daily devotional sent to your phone. However you access it, you’ll discover the Bible offers hope and encouragement for today, just as it did in 1816.
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