Myrtle Beach has a strong Christian tradition that is most frequently seen in its myriad of Christian private schools. More widely in the USA, the Christian tradition is becoming less and less popular; and at the heart of that is a move away from Bible study, with a Gallup poll finding that fewer in the USA perceive the Bible to be the word of God. At a time which many are finding volatile and tumultuous, there has never been a better time to turn to the spiritual message of the Bible and look at how its message can provide guidance.
Finding a sanctuary
One of the many meaningful messages that the Bible has to offer can be found in Proverbs 4:23, which reads, in part: “Keep your heart with all diligence”. The deeper Biblical meaning to this is one of compassion, paying attention to passions, and staying on the straight and narrow. One way to achieve this is through Bible study, and reaffirming the message of God and the messages communicated by the book. There is a fairly straightforward way to achieve this, too, and that’s through engaging with study groups. There are plenty on offer, as news website The Sun News highlights, from the Catholic Church of St James through to the Trinity Presbyterian Church. One important thing that many of these churches preach is the need to commit to charity – something that can help create a spiritual link with the bible, and is especially important in the modern day.
Bible and charity
There are countless references and exaltations of charity in the Bible; from Acts 20:35, to Hebrews 13:16, to 2 Corinthians 9:7. In short, the need for charity is ever present and can help to connect Christians to the holy book. This has rarely been as obvious as it has in the modern day; as WMBF News highlights, food pantries are being opened through the area to support struggling people. Engaging with charity, and feeding the needy, is a great way to contextualize the Bible.
Being kind
Kindness is writ large through the Bible, from the ten commandments through to Ephesians 4:32, which said “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” There’s a key factor there. The nation is becoming increasingly divided, politically, socially and as a result of tough economic conditions. It’s more important than ever to take a step back, look at the gentle and loving message of the Bible and all of Jesus’ exploits, and consider how you might engage with those who are less fortunate or in need of their own guidance.
The Bible isn’t necessarily all about organized religion. It’s also a link to a more spiritual time, and values that everyone can hold dear. Embracing this principle, and looking at how the scripture can inform the modern day, will make for a happier Myrtle Beach area.