Even though most Christians in the U.S. own a Bible, few
treasure it. In a George Barna survey, only half of evangelical
Christians could name one of the 4 Gospels, only a third knew who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and most weren't
able to identify Genesis as the opening book. If books, radio, TV, and Internet have made the Bible more accessible to us than any generation in
history, why is biblical illiteracy on the rise? Is it because expository exegesis of the Bible has been replaced with topical, pragmatic ‘sermons.’
In the 16th century, William Tyndale translated the Bible into English so it could be read by the common man. Thus considered a heretic by the Pope, he was burned at the stake. Fast forward 500 years. Unaware of the sacrifices made for them, 21st century Christians now take the Bible for granted.
Tyndale would be glad to find that there are still people in this age who love
the Bible, among them, the persecuted Christians around the world, many of whom can't even afford one of their own. So they memorize it! And as they suffer for
their faith, they recall Scriptures that promise hope, comfort, joy, and real life. They treasure the Word(s) of God beyond anything else. What will it take for American Christians to love the Bible again, to treasure God's Word(s) as our forefathers did (and as the Chinese do)?
In the 16th century, William Tyndale translated the Bible into English so it could be read by the common man. Thus considered a heretic by the Pope, he was burned at the stake. Fast forward 500 years. Unaware of the sacrifices made for them, 21st century Christians now take the Bible for granted.
 |
| Sharing a Bible |
Hello Greg,
ReplyDeleteThere is an increase in biblical illiteracy, and it has been getting worse for decades. I can remember a bible college needing to revamp their incoming bible exam because students were failing horrendously. They could not just artificially increase the scores. Too many were too low to be meaningful, even if inflated. The question that seemed obscure at the time was who was the left handed judge. But as meaningless as that may sound, it was Ehud's left-handedness that God used to defeat an enemy.
Study is hard work. But I would assert that lessons learned through personal study of the bible are the ones most readily remembered when confronted with an opportunity. I liken it to how birds feed their young. Eating regurgitated food is something for babies. Adults eat heartier fare. I would assert that Christians who study for themselves are more adult in their Christian walk than those who listen to just a pastor's sermons.
Godspeed!
Larry
Hello Larry. A great analogy of baby birds eating regurgitated food!
ReplyDeleteThe problem with people whose only feeding is the weekly sermon wouldn't be so bad if those sermons were teaching the Word in a systematic way (expository) that builds the believer's understanding of the Scriptures. We need more teachers and less 'preachers.'
Good morning Greg,
ReplyDeleteWe need both preachers (because it is in the foolishness of preaching that people are saved) and teachers (what does it say, what does it mean, what does it mean for me today). I would draw a distinction between what passes in some circles for preaching and what bibilical preaching really is. What we do not need are people who only tell stories or jokes and tack a moral platitude at the end. I heard a self development speaker say that one should cling to a belief only as long as that belief is supportive. And if the belief is not supportive, then it should be jetisoned.
That path (doing what is right in their own eyes) leads to destruction, because the foundation is flawed.
Godspeed!
Larry