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 a strong foundation of biblical values to guide their work, a lack of engagement with scripture can erode the spiritual underpinnings of their mission. With only 31 percent of churchgoers reading the Bible daily, it is likely that many volunteers and staff members involved in Christian charity and humanitarian work are not being nourished by regular scripture reading. This can impact the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of their efforts, as well as their ability to provide spiritual support and care to those they serve. Furthermore, the fact that less than 10 percent of all American adults read the Bible daily suggests a broader cultural trend that may have far-reaching consequences for the health and vitality of Christian communities and their charitable endeavors.
About this story
Original reporting by Desiring God . Jesus Give 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 Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Marshall Segal at Desiring God. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Jesus Give, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .