Become New with John Ortberg 42. You Might Be Reading the Bible Wrong...
Mar 25, 2026
They unpack how common Bible reading habits can fuel judgment and moral superiority. They suggest three tools to give up condemnation: lighten up, bring your shadow, and read everything in the shadow of the cross. They explore the story of Jonah, arguing we should identify with the flawed characters and use humor and humility to disarm self-righteousness.
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Lighten Up And Identify With Jonah
- Lighten up when reading Jonah and identify with Jonah's failures rather than judging him.
- John Ortberg says Jonah is comic and we must laugh at our own stupidity to escape self-righteousness.
Read Bible Characters As Mirrors Not Examples
- Read Bible characters by identifying with those who fail, not by using them as moral examples to feel superior.
- Phillip Cary argues the joke of Jonah is on readers who refuse to see themselves in the foolish prophet.
Avoid Moralistic Bible Reading
- Avoid moralistic sermons that present biblical screw-ups as who not to be and instead admit shared fallenness.
- Ortberg warns moralistic preaching breeds self-righteous immunity rather than humility and transformation.
