It’s been said, “To most Christians, the Bible is like a software license. Nobody actually reads it. They just scroll to the bottom and click ‘I agree.'” The lack of Bible reading is leading to lack of biblical beliefs. It was reported in July that fewer than half of “Evangelicals” (those who are supposedly Bible believers) believe the Bible is literally true. Of course not everything in the Bible is meant to be read literally. When Jesus says, “I am the door,” or “I am the gate,” he’s not being literal. Yet, unless the text is obviously figurative, it should be taken literally as God’s Word.
I think we all know there’s been a dramatic drop in general among Americans who believe the Bible is the literal Word of God. It’s now at just 20% as an historic low. It’s also the first time that more (29%) say the Bible is just a collection of human recordings instead of divine revelation. Yet just 51% of “Evangelicals” see the Bible as the “inspired Word of God.” What?! How can you call yourself a Bible-believing Christian but not believe the Bible is God’s Word?! The stats fare worse for both Catholics & Protestants.
How is it that people can identify as “Christian” yet reject so many biblical teachings & principles? If we don’t know the Bible, how can we hold a biblical worldview? How can we discern between what God says & what the world says? How do we not succumb to “the spirit of the age” that the culture promotes?
Don’t take for granted the blessing of being part of a church that believes & teaches Scripture faithfully. Our Elders & staff all are committed to the inspiration, inerrancy, & infallibility of Scripture. Such leaders, no matter what area they’re serving in, need to specialize in sound doctrine. So I want you to be aware that our Elders & staff are reading & discussing a series of 13 books over the next year on doctrine & theology published by Renew.org/books. “Renew” offers many great free resources & others for purchase. If you’d like to read the same books, you can purchase them as one big volume called “Real Life Theology”.
Church shepherds & teachers are charged are charged with equipping the saints. One of the purposes is “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…. (Ephesians 4:14-15).
If you want to grow up in your faith, to understand God’s will, to develop in sanctification, to correct previous false beliefs (all the “-isms”), prevent future deceptions & defeat the devil, you need to know the Word. It’s true that you don’t have to read the Bible to be saved-you need a saving relationship with Jesus for that. Christians for centuries didn’t even have their own Bibles to read-the only time they heard it read was on Sundays (if even then). But don’t take for granted that more is expected of us now because “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48). We now have multiple ways to access Scripture 24/7.
Do you want to make spiritual growth a top priority? Read your Bible regularly. Find a Group to join where you can study Scripture together. Spend time relationally learning the Bible with a “mentor”. We’re also going to be starting some Bible classes this fall. Can you devote time to getting educated? What do you think?