December 2021

Dear Cornerstone Partners and friends of CU Lux,

Why should a Yale student read the Bible? As someone who teaches the Bible in both university and church contexts, I am intrigued that people read the Bible for various reasons. Some are fascinated by its ethical imperatives, spiritual claims, literary achievement, or influence on Western culture. Whatever the reason, the Bible is being read, and that’s a good thing. But when is doing something good ever good enough?

At the beginning of this semester, I introduced our students to two ways of reading. In the first approach, the Bible is the object of study, and the reader is the subject. The subject reads the text to uncover meaning and leave enlightened with greater knowledge. In the second approach, the role is reversed. After spending time being the subject, the reader becomes the object placed under the interpretative eye of the Bible.

Among the greatest of my joys working with students is witnessing the second approach coming alive. Each Bible course is an opportunity for transformation. Students come together not just to read the Bible but to be read by the Bible. Before they know it, their reading experience is editing their life. Meaning is not something they give, but something they receive.

So why should Yale students read the Bible? Because that’s how they are equipped and empowered “for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). The end result for CU Lux is an orchard with trees that yield fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither (Ps 1:2-3).

Thank you for partnering with us so that the Bible is being read at Yale. Last week your generous support made it possible to give each student of our freshman Bible courses an ESV Study Bible. At CU Lux, we read the Bible and the Bible reads us.

Blessings,

Ben Pascut
Ministry Director
Christian Union Lux