Why don’t people read the Bible?

They DON’T like to read.

they’re APATHETIC & have unbelief

Not ENOUGH time to read.

They Reject it because it’s too REPULSIVE.

For a book that has shaped history, guided nations, and transformed lives, the Bible often sits unopened. The reasons are not always complex—but they are revealing.

First, some simply don’t like to read. In a fast-paced world driven by screens and short attention spans, reading itself feels like a chore. The Bible, with its length and depth, can seem especially intimidating. For those who already avoid reading, opening Scripture rarely becomes a priority.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)

Others struggle with apathy and unbelief. If someone doubts the Bible’s relevance or truth, motivation quickly fades. It becomes easy to think, “It doesn’t apply to me,” or “I don’t believe it anyway.” This quiet indifference can be more powerful than outright rejection, because it removes any urgency to explore what the Bible actually says.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)

A common excuse is lack of time. Life fills up with work, responsibilities, family, and constant distractions. Yet this reason often reveals more about priorities than availability. People tend to make time for what they value. When the Bible is seen as optional, it is often the first thing pushed aside.

“And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18)

Finally, some reject the Bible because they find it repulsive. Certain passages challenge modern values, confront personal behavior, present difficult truths, and in some cases are gruesome to them. Rather than wrestle with these tensions, some choose to dismiss the message entirely. Conviction can feel uncomfortable, and avoidance becomes the easier path.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

These reasons—dislike of reading, apathy, busyness, and rejection—may differ on the surface, but they share a common thread: they keep people from engaging with something that has the power to shape their lives. Understanding these barriers is the first step toward overcoming them.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)

What’s your reason?

agape

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