Biblical Illiteracy and Biblical Apathy Are Destroying Men’s Lives

If we are honest, this is not a fringe issue. It is widespread. Many Christian men believe the Bible is the Word of God. They defend it when challenged. They quote it when it supports a point. Yet day after day, week after week, the Bible stays closed.

Men attend church. They join men’s groups. They volunteer. They listen to sermons and podcasts. They endlessly scroll TikTok and Instagram videos.

But personal, consistent time in Scripture is missing. And the cost of that neglect is far greater than most men realize.

This is not about guilt. It is about reality.

A closed Bible always produces predictable – as in lackluster – results in a man’s life.

The Problem Is Bigger Than Men Admit

I have lost count of how many times I have asked a man how his time in the Word is going, only to hear a vague answer. “I try.” “I know I should.” “I get something on Sundays.” “I listen to or watch Christian content.”

Listening is not the same as feeding. Watching reels and stories is not taking in the necessary, daily spiritual manna.

Scripture never presents God’s Word as optional nourishment.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Most men would never skip meals for days and call it normal. Yet they starve themselves spiritually and wonder why they feel weak, irritable, anxious, and directionless. The problem is not intelligence. It is neglect.

Why Men Actually Avoid the Bible

Men have reasons. Some are spoken. Most are not.

One of the biggest reasons men avoid Scripture is that it exposes things they would rather manage quietly. The Bible does not simply affirm. It confronts. It presses. It demands obedience.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12)

I have had men tell me they feel uncomfortable reading the Bible because it makes them feel convicted. That discomfort is not a bug. It is a feature. Conviction is grace.

Other men avoid Scripture because they feel inadequate. They were never taught how to read it. They think they need a seminary degree to understand it. So instead of asking for help, they quietly avoid it.

Some men are simply distracted. Phones are easier. Sports are easier. Endless content is easier. The Bible requires attention and submission. Distraction always wins when discipline is absent.

What a Closed Bible Produces in a Man’s Life

When men do not read the Bible, certain patterns always emerge.

Prayer becomes shallow because Scripture fuels prayer. Decisions become reactive because wisdom is lacking. Emotions drive behavior because truth is not anchoring the heart. Sin becomes harder to resist because Scripture renews the mind.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

I have watched men struggle with anger, lust, anxiety, and confusion while avoiding the very thing God uses to bring clarity and strength. They look everywhere else for answers and ignore the Book that speaks most clearly.

A closed Bible does not leave a man neutral. It leaves him vulnerable.

Men Cannot Lead Where They Will Not Listen

Many men want to lead. They want clarity. They want confidence. They want authority in their homes and respect from their families. Yet leadership begins with listening.

God leads through His Word.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

A man who is not listening to God daily will lead based on instinct, emotion, or cultural influence. That kind of leadership is unstable. It shifts with moods and circumstances.

I have seen many, many young men ask for God’s will while their Bibles gather dust. They desire to know which college they should apply to, which woman they should marry, and what career path to take, yet do not read and follow Scripture. They want direction without submission. That posture never produces clarity.

The Bible Was Written for Men Like You and Me

One of the great lies men believe is that the Bible is too abstract or academic for real life. Scripture was written to real men in real situations.

Farmers. Shepherds. Kings. Soldiers. Laborers. Fathers. Laborers. All of us.

“These things were written for our instruction.” (Romans 15:4)

The Bible speaks to work, conflict, leadership, temptation, marriage, fear, courage, suffering, and perseverance. It was not written for ideal conditions. It was written for ordinary obedience in a broken world.

When men say the Bible does not connect to their lives, it usually means they have not slowed down enough to listen.

How Men Can Start Reading the Bible Without Overcomplicating It

This does not need to be dramatic. It needs to be consistent.

Start small. Ten minutes is better than zero. Read with a purpose, not to check a box. Begin with the Book of Psalms to learn prayer, Proverbs for wisdom, or the Gospels to sit at the feet of Christ.

Ask simple questions: “What does this say about God? What does this reveal about me? What must I obey?”

“Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

Reading Scripture with other men also matters. Brotherhood strengthens discipline. Isolation weakens it.

A Word to Men’s Ministry Leaders

Do not assume men are in the Word. Many are not. Model Scripture reading openly. Teach men how to read, not just what to believe. Build ministries around the Bible, not endless discussion.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

If men’s ministries replace Scripture with conversation alone, men will remain shallow. The Word must be central.

What It Is Costing Men

A closed Bible costs men clarity. It costs them peace. It costs them discernment. It costs them spiritual authority. It costs families strong leadership. It costs churches depth and stability.

God has not withheld strength from men. He has provided it generously in His Word.

The issue is not access. It is priority.

And priorities can change.

Open the Book. And watch what God does with a man who listens.