Fox News anchor Shannon Bream recently reflected on the beauty of friendships rooted in biblical truth, sharing how her Christian faith affects every aspect of her life, from her relationships to her work. Bream recently released a new book called “The Love Stories of the Bible Speak: Biblical Lessons on Romance, Friendship, and Faith” after the success of her New York Times best-selling books “The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak” and “The Women of the Bible Speak.”
In an interview with the Christian Post, Bream shared that for the trilogy’s final installment, she wanted to focus on the Bible’s love stories, including the love of deep friendship and romantic love.
She said, “There are some really sacrificial friendships in the Bible, where people just really reach out and support each other and walk through really difficult things together. And I thought, let’s celebrate friendship too. And, of course, there’s the whole ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ and that encompasses everybody. I don’t see any exceptions in there. Sometimes that can be the trickiest or most difficult for us to do, but we’re called to do it as believers.”
Bream continued, “The Bible is God’s love story to us, so there are so many different facets of love we can look at.” She emphasized that the lack of physical friendships in people’s lives is a prominent issue exacerbated by the pandemic. She also highlighted the power of “sticking together on the important things and supporting each other,” adding, “Jesus had real friendships. You think about Paul and all the friendships he had, and they were real friendships.”
Bream said the counter-cultural idea of “forgiving those who persecute you” and “loving your enemy” intertwines Jesus’ earthly ministry. She also highlighted that seeking the greater good of others is crucial in creating deep bonds. She said, “God didn’t give us any outs when He says, ‘love others as yourself.’ We’re all born so selfish. There’s so much woven through Christ’s ministry and throughout the New Testament about, ‘Don’t be seeking the limelight for yourself, be thinking about the greater good of other people.’ So I think that that’s where we start with these friendships.”
Bream shared some Bible stories that offered inspirational lessons about God’s unconditional love and friendship, including the story about David and Abigail, where Abigail’s intelligence and wisdom saved her household from David’s anger. David ultimately remembered her, asking her to be his wife.
She also pointed to the story of Hosea and Gomer as a powerful allegory for God’s unending love for humanity. Despite Gomer’s unfaithfulness, Hosea continually pursued and redeemed her, representing God’s unwavering love for his people. Bream shared how her faith is woven into all aspects of her life. The news anchor revealed she starts daily with prayer and reading the Bible, which she said serves as a reminder of God’s promises and love.
She emphasized the importance of prayer for wisdom and discernment in her work, striving to do an excellent job representing her faith in the entertainment and news industry. Bream said she hopes her new book will remind people of God’s unconditional love and strengthen their relationships with others. She revealed that the book has already been received positively, with couples reading it together and finding inspiration in its message.