Actress and outspoken Christian Candace Cameron Bure shared a post on Instagram to encourage fellow believers to read the Bible daily. A video included with the post shows Bure reading a Bible with the caption, “when people ask, ‘How often should you read your Bible?’” She then responds, “Every day,” and refers to details in her post. The post itself begins with Bure quoting Hebrews 4:12 from the English Standard Version, which says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Bure stated the importance of believers remaining in the Word, writing, “We read the Word of God everyday because it is a sign of obedience to Him, while it also fills us with His Spirit. His goodness, His mercy, His love, etc.” She encouraged her fans to look into free resources or to check out her One Step Closer Pink Bible, which become available again on August 18.

Bure’s post echoes the ever-increasing calls from prominent Christian figures to take reading the Bible more seriously. A 2014 study from the Barna Group revealed an astounding lack of Biblical literacy in Americans. The study found that “Bible skepticism,” believing that the Bible was “just another book,” had nearly doubled from 10% to 19% in three years. Researchers George Gallup and Jim Castelli summed up the issue as, “Americans revere the Bible–but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.” 82% of Americans believe the popular saying “God helps those who help themselves” is an actual quote from the Bible. The poll was not any better when turned on self-identified born-again Christians, with 81% believing the Bible teaches that the most important purpose in life is taking care of one’s family. A recent Lifeway Research study found that only 19% of church attendees read the Bible every day, with 18% reading it rarely or never.

One positive thing that the Barna Group study found was the use of phones to access the Word. Apps for Bible reading are aplenty, with sites like Bible Minute granting free access to the full Bible and offering verses by topic. Actresses like Bure are also using their platforms to promote specific Bibles and Bible studies. Country Singer Tracy Lawrence is one of 14 recording artists contributing his voice to the NIV Country Gospel Audio New Testament. The “Bible in A Year” podcast with Father Mike Schmitz of Duluth, Minnesota rose to the top of podcast charts last year. Offering short daily readings of the Bible with brief commentary from Father Schmitz, the podcast has really taken off since he started iy in 2020. When asked about why he started the podcast, Father Schmitz said, “When I turned to the Bible, it was an internal wisdom. And it reminded me, even as bad as it is, it’s been worse than this and God hasn’t left his people.”