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Biblical Illiteracy
By Nathan | October 16, 2005
This morning at church our pastor, David Horner, quoted an astounding statement that he came across on Dr. Al Mohler’s web-log. Mohler says, “Researchers George Gallup and Jim Castelli put the problem squarely: ‘Americans revere the Bible–but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.’ How bad is it? Researchers tell us that it’s worse than most could imagine.” I could continue to elaborate on this article, but it is better for you to look at it yourself. However, I must confront the issue at hand.
Church, what are we doing? Are we losing the battle for this world? In some ways I think that we are. I’ll be the first to admit that I do not spend enough time in the Word, but what is it going to take for us to wake up to the reality of the culture around us.
How bad is it? Here is a excerpt from Dr. Mohler’s Blog. “Some of the statistics are enough to perplex even those aware of the problem. A Barna poll indicated that at least 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham. We are in big trouble.”
Let’s first look at what we believe. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” If the Scriptures are really that important, then why do we not read them more? Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” These two Scripture passages are an incredible witness to the argument that we should read, study, learn, and live our life according to the Word of God.
What are you placing as the source of authority for your life? If it’s not the Bible then it has to be something else. Is it the world? Of course not, right? Well if you look at an issue and you judge your response according to what culture dictates then your source of authority is not the Bible. Let’s not even go that far, but lets say that you are worried about what other people think about your decision, then you might be placing something else as the authority for your life. Church, we need to use the Bible as our source of authority for our life. We need to look at culture and everything that we do in it through the glasses of the Bible. We must be faithful to the Word of God. As our pastor said this morning, “If God does not find us faithful, then He will find a church that is faithful to accomplish His work.” Woe to us if we were to be found unfaithful. Father, forgive us for our lack of faithfulness to You.
Topics: Bible Topics |