A new George Barna poll finds a sharp increase in the number
of Americans who consider the Bible a book written by men rather than God. Even
among self-proclaimed Christians, only twenty percent read the Bible regularly.
And the number of Millennials who are skeptical of the Bible has doubled since 2011.
At the same time outside the U.S., the number who want a Bible, but don’t have one, is exploding—the Voice of Martyrs
reported their Bible waiting list is 200,000. While these Bible-less believers wait, the average American Christian's Bible sits in the bottom drawer of his/her bedside table, gathering dust!
French philosopher Voltaire wrote in 1728 that in 100 years
the Bible would have passed out of history as people became more enlightened. Since
then, more than 5 billion Bibles were printed and sold. Voltaire is dead now,
but “the Word of God is active and living” (Hebrews 4:12); and one of Voltaire's houses later became a printing and storage center—for Bibles.
Digital devices may be wireless, but their users are
hard-wired. From phone to tablet to television, the hyper-linked are showing no sign of slowing down.
The Millennials are the first generation to grow up so hyper-connected. In a George Barna survey, they
identified technology as that which distinguishes them most. But when
asked what they feel is lacking in their lives, they identified “meaningful”
relationships. It would seem that so-called hyper-connections are starting
to fray around the edges—texters and tweeters are feeling under-connected in ways that matter to them!
Three thousand years ago, David discovered the ultimate connection: “face
time.” “When you
said, Seek my face; my heart said unto you, your face, LORD, will I seek… there is none on
earth that I desire beside you” (Ps. 27:8; 73:25). Whatever generation we are, and whatever high-tech toys we enjoy, we must be careful not to get so distracted that we deprive ourselves of our most hyper connection.
After WWII, automation accelerated. And by the mid-50’s we were imagining the day when ‘robots’ would make our lives much easier—and simpler. In my childish mind, I visualized robots walking around our homes, doing our work. We could never have imagined that these robots would be little computer chips automating everything from cars to toasters. But we did believe 'it' would make our lives simpler.
But the ‘digital’ age has not made life simpler. With the ability to do more, we do more—'multi-tasking.' The governing “value” of the day is speed—fast is good; slow is bad. My generation valued immediate gratification more than any preceding one. Now a ‘new’ generation—the ‘Millennials’—is addicted to speed.
Time is yet to tell how this new ‘value’ of speed will affect the spiritual principles of endurance, patience, longsuffering. God never serves ‘fast food.’ Serious students of the Bible know it takes much time to read and study, pray and meditate until the Word can be digested. Many have become accustomed to the 'fast food' of Internet ‘devotionals’ (one-minute meditations; word for the day) that enter through our web portals every morning. Consumption takes only minutes. Then we rush out the door at break-neck speed, with barely another thought about the 'word' or 'thought' of the day.
I hope my “Dying to Live” devotional postings have not become anyone’s “instant” devotions. My purpose is to give you something to think on; and however brief, to chew on throughout the day. Start chewing!
When I read the words “Burger King Spirituality,” this blog post nearly jumped off the written page onto my keyboard. The phrase was coined by a Huffington Post blogger, BJ Gallagher, member of a new religious movement labeled "I'm spiritual but not religious.”
According to a survey by LifeWay Christian Resources in 2009, 72% of Millennials said I’m spiritual but not religious—a phrase spawning its own acronym ("I'm SBNR") and its own Facebook page: SBNR.org. But what exactly does being "spiritual but not religious" mean?
SBNR rejects organized religion, favoring an eclectic approach to God—gleaning insights from different faith traditions [Christian, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism] to create what the aforementioned blogger calls a Burger King Spirituality—“have it your way."
Paul warns: “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.” (2 Tim. 4:4 NLT) Seems to me the time has arrived!
At the same time outside the U.S., the number who want a Bible, but don’t have one, is exploding—the Voice of Martyrs
reported their Bible waiting list is 200,000. While these Bible-less believers wait, the average American Christian's Bible sits in the bottom drawer of his/her bedside table, gathering dust!
