Biblical illiteracy is rampaging through our culture like a bull through the streets of Pamplona. We won’t put a stop to it by fleeing, but by facing the beast and, though it trample us, standing our ground.
Maybe that’s a little extreme, since reading the Bible won’t necessarily be physically dangerous for you, but it is not desperate enough. The great challenge of our day is for Christians to be truly heroic, and true heroes live in reality. Part of being a hero is recognizing what is most important, and another part is acting in a manner that corresponds with that recognizing. We Christians must recognize that there are few things more important for us than reading and knowing the Bible, and we need to act heroically and read it! By reading the Bible, we can save the West. Think that’s an overstatement?
Our spiritual lives are sustained by the Word of God. The health of our churches is sustained by the spiritual life of its members. The future of Western Culture depends on the health of our churches.
Therefore, the future of Western Culture is directly linked to biblical literacy among Christians. Biblical literacy is directly linked to whether Christians stand and face the bull and read the Bible.
Can you put a stop to your hectic life long enough to change the world by reading the Bible every day this year?
There are handy tools available, such as the HCSB One Year Reading Bible:
Whatever fears you may have about doing it. Whatever reasons there may be for not doing it. However likely it may seem that the romping bull will indeed tread you under foot, or rather, hoof. I can promise you that it will be much, much worse if you do not stop running, face the beast, and read the Bible.
Be a hero. Save the west. Change the world. Read the Bible.
It’s a deep problem. Dr.Autrey talked a little bit last semester about the different periods of church history which were characterized by either a high or a low view of scripture and we defintely live in an age which has a low view of scripture. I think that everybody in churches where you would say that would heartily amen to the notion thta we ought to read the Word and then go home and turn on the football game and forget about what they amened that morning and THAT is the root of the problem. It’s not a mere lack of love for God’s word or a Bible reading failure it’s a faith failure. The trouble is we really don’t believe that getting in the Word and letting it nourish and sustain us is necessary or even important anymore. Therefore I suggest that we should preach on WHY they should go home and put it into practice and why man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And then threaten them with the sure destruction of their lives, their marriages, their children and their eternity if they don’t. Samuel told Saul that to rebel is worse than witchcraft, because you have rejected the Word of the Lord then the Lord has rejected thee (1 Sam.15:23) But of course who has the guts to preach like that today. Therefore once again the failure in the pews can be at least partly laid at the feet of those in the pulpit.
Jim,
Thanks. The discipline requires, I believe, saying no to other tasks which also seem good and urgent.
I once heard a pastor liken Bible reading and prayer to tithing. Give God the first portion of the day and trust that He’ll multiply the rest of the time. We then must reject the fear of man by wanting to compare ourselves with others who can apparently accomplish more.
Blessings,
Alex
These are Good words. I like the link between reading the Bible and heroism!