These [Berean's] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of mind [all eagerness], and searched [examining] the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so. - Acts 17:11
Daniel Wallace states:
"…The intentional dumbing down
of the church for the sake of filling more pews will ultimately lead
to defection from Christ (2006:337).
Allistair Begg states:
"People do not know their Bibles.
In an earlier generation the average 13-year-old or 14-year-old certainly in Scotland would
have a far greater grasp of biblical parameters of truth than the average
graduate from an American seminary today".
Al Mohler: The many fronts of Christian compromise
in this generation can be directly traced to biblical illiteracy in the pews and the absence of
biblical preaching and teaching in our homes and churches.
C.H. Spurgeon: If you wish to know God you must know his word; if you wish to perceive
his power you must see how he worketh by his word;
if you wish to know his purpose before it is actually brought to pass you can only discover it by his word.
1607.377
Have you ever said or
heard people say the Bible says, “God helps those who help themselves,”. Really give me chapter and verse, it's not in the
Bible! When asked 82 percent of
Americans, said it was a Bible verse. Sadly, those who those identified
themselves as born-again Christians did better–by one percent. [83% - Sad]
That was my
introduction.
Today I was inspired and felt
grieved enough to write on the subject of "Biblical
Illiteracy." The final straw, so to speak, was reading some responses
to someone's Bible questions to a Christian group on Facebook. In many ways this group thinks they are so "on the mark"
of Christianity. I was
saddened as most of their answers to the Bible questions were general,
philosophical, and relational, but
not Biblical.
Spurgeon said it so well: "Men talk about building upon Christ, and not upon the Scriptures; but they
know not what they say; for our Lord continually established his own claims
by appealing to Moses and the prophets. They would be Christo-centric, they
say: I only wish they would. But if they take Christ for a centre, they will
inevitably have the Scriptures for a centre too; and these men neither want
the one nor the other. 2212.364
As I talk about "Biblical illiteracy," I am
not talking about having to memorize the entire Bible, though memorizing is a
very good and profitable. I am also not
talking about us all being Biblical scholars, although the Bible does say, "…be ready
always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear:– I Peter 3:15.
I'm a pastor-teacher with a humble
intelligence, so everything doesn't come easy for me, I have to study a lot,
and I still forget things; but I don't use that as an excuse for being
Biblically ignorant (illiterate). You or
I may not be able to rattle off scriptures on every subject, but how about an
overall understanding of the Bible and the doctrines (what the Bible teaches).
I really cringe at the answers you get in the "church" and
"born-again" crowd when you ask, "how
do you know you are saved or are a child of God?" Especially, of the younger generations,
usually they hem and haw and give some really weak answer. I don't want to give them the nth degree
(well I sort of do), but most don't have
a clue what "salvation" is!!!
If they are saved, and some may be, it is in spite of their
ignorance. It is still scary, sad, and sickening
how few really understand God, salvation, and THE BIBLE!
I personally say I was
saved June 21, 1975, because that was when I gave my life to the Lord, though I
didn't really "understand" Biblically what was happening to me. I
simply (and amazingly) believed in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Immediately following I was so hungry to
learn more about Jesus, so I turned to the Bible and read, and read, and
read. Also, the Lord provided a very knowledgeable Christian brother (at a
distance, and this was before e-mails existed). I would write questions and wait for his
answers, which were always full of scriptures.
I still have many of those letters 35 years later, and I thank God for
putting this Christian Bible literate man in my path. Then, in more recent years in the 1990's I met
a very Bible literate brother/minister that I can always throw questions to, on top of my own studying for answers, and
not as a replacement for my own studying, "…to see if these things be so" Acts 17:11
While there is a famine of
God's Word out there, there is hope for anyone to grow in the Lord. If you really want to learn the things of God,
in addition to your own study time in the Bible, there are spiritual Bible
literate people to help (you may have to search and pray to find them).
This is a little bit of my
heart on a big and serious problem in the church of the 21st
Century.
Below are some passages
for you and me to ponder, meditate, study, memorize, think on, and let God use
to change our lives and help us to value God's Word to the utmost!
Study [be
diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing [handling accurately] the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15
All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof,for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: 17 That
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. - 2
Timothy 3:16-17
Thanks for listening, and may you
grow in the Lord as you build on the solid foundation of God's Word (the
Bible).
If you want to know more or join us, please call me at
704-456-8771 or email me at: jim@goproclaim.com or
biblefood@gmail.com
Lord bless you all as you seek to serve God for His glory alone
:-)
Jim
