Discomfort food
There is a way of using the Bible that focuses on the comfort that it may provide. Such a way is exemplified in the Gideon Bible, which points to particular Bible verses for immediate comfort and encouragement. So for those seeking “comfort in time of loneliness,” the Gideon Bible points to Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10 and Hebrews 13:5–6. For “comfort in time of sorrow,” 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 and Romans 8:26–28. Other entries, with corresponding verses, offer “courage in time of fear” and “peace in time of turmoil.”
This approach treats the Bible as comfort food. While there’s nothing wrong with comfort food (I like macaroni and cheese as much as the next person), an exclusive or too-frequent diet of comfort food is fattening and not very nutritious.
What’s misleading about treating the Bible as comfort food came home to me recently in my reading of Bible passages in the office of morning prayer. As an Episcopalian, I read the morning prayer office on a daily basis. It includes readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament (outside the Psalms), the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. The readings include entire Psalms and large chunks of chapters.
