missions
The Real Reasons We Don’t Read the Bible
By Marshall Segal at Desiring God
· July 5, 2026
· 8 min read
Why don’t you read the Bible more than you do? Our minds might rush to all kinds of reasonable excuses. “My job has been really demanding this season.” “My child won’t sleep through the night.” “The mornings are my only chance to exercise.” “I’ll start again when life slows down a bit.” Oh, how Sata
Key takeaway Our minds might rush to all kinds of reasonable excuses.
Why this matters
The decline in Bible reading among American adults and churchgoers has significant implications for Christian ministry and humanitarian relief efforts. As faith-based organizations rely on scripture to guide their mission and values, a lack of biblical literacy can hinder their ability to effectively serve and minister to those in need. The statistics cited, with only 31 percent of churchgoers reading the Bible daily, suggest a crisis that can have far-reaching consequences for the spiritual health and vitality of communities. Furthermore, the fact that less than 10 percent of all American adults read the Bible daily underscores the need for Christian charities and ministries to prioritize biblical education and discipleship in their outreach efforts. By addressing the root causes of this decline, faith-based organizations can help revitalize biblical literacy and foster a deeper understanding of God's word, ultimately informing and guiding their humanitarian relief and ministry work.
About this story
Original reporting by Desiring God . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Desiring God . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: July 5, 2026 ·
Source: Desiring God ·
Reading time: 8 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Why don’t you read the Bible more than you do? Our minds might rush to all kinds of reasonable excuses. “My job has been really demanding this season.” “My child won’t sleep through the night.” “The mornings are my only chance to exercise.” “I’ll start again when life slows down a bit.” Oh, how Sata
When was this published? This article was first published on July 5, 2026 by Desiring God and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Marshall Segal at Desiring God. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .