Got Bible?

Biblical literacy in the United States is in trouble.  People who study such things cite ample evidence that it is so:

“The Bible in America is a massive industry ($2.5 billion) yet it is the best seller few read and fewer understand. The Bible has become a moving target. One can strip it down, twist it, misread it, add to it, supplement it, and even overrule it, and, unfortunately, 95 percent of the congregation will not realize it. Why? Because Americans no longer know the Bible. The evidence is overpowering that contemporary Christianity is Bible-ish, at best, and at worst, in some cases, Bible-less. The American Bible Society releases an annual State of the Bible report and their research is persuasive in understanding the declining influence of the Bible in America. Everyone has an opinion about the Bible. Politicians attempt to use the Bible, Grammy-award winners quote it and Hollywood has portrayed it on the big screen. Yet one problem remains: most are oblivious to the Bible’s basic content, meaning, and message. Across the pond, the results are even more dramatic: one-third of British parents thought Harry Potter was a thematic plotline derived from the Bible.” (Jeremiah J. Johnston, Fox News)

George Barna, a renowned researcher and compiler of statistics about the church, reports the following about the beliefs of churchgoing American Protestant denominational members:

·         Only 35% of mainline Protestant church members believe Jesus was sinless.

·         Only 34% believe the Bible is totally accurate.

·         Only 27% agree that works do not merit salvation, only faith does.

·         Only 20% believe that Satan is real.

Don’t assume it’s any better among Roman Catholics, either.  That denomination, too, is rife with people who will identify as Catholic but when pressed will admit they aren’t “practicing.”

Why bring this up during Holy Week?  Because I wonder if the average U.S. citizen has any working knowledge of what the expression “Holy Week” means, or what four important events in the life of Christ happened that week.  The events of Holy Week are the very heart of the Christian faith.  If a person does not know what happened on Good Friday and Easter that person simply cannot authentically claim to be a follower of Christ. 

I’m not going to suggest any sweeping new programs to change that national trend toward the spiritual oblivion of total Biblical illiteracy.  I am going to flat-out tell you that there is only way to avoid it on a personal level:  study the Bible, read the Bible, get familiar with what’s in the Bible.  That only happens if you make the personal commitment to be in the Word of God.  So here are some concrete steps that you can take to do that:

1.      Does your church respect the Bible as the Word of God, every word of it breathed into the Bible writers by God, and true in all that it says?  If it doesn’t, you need to move on to one that does. You aren’t going to get to know what’s in the Bible from someone who has already rejected it.

2.      Don’t buy into the oft-repeated statement that the Bible is a dark book that is hard to understand and can be interpreted in lots of different ways.  God wasn’t playing games like that when he guided the Bible writers to write what they did.  He actually intended to communicate really important things to us in that book.  So there’s no need to try to imagine all kinds of fanciful hidden meanings.  Let it say what it says.

3.      Choose a good readable translation. For my money, you may want to watch this year for a new one coming out, the English Heritage Version.  New Testament and Psalms will be out this year some time.  The entire Bible will be ready next year.  If you want to know more about it and where to get it visit www.facebook.com/wartburgproject or www.wartburgproject.org.  Until then, a paperback New International Version or English Standard Version will do.

4.      Start with one of the gospels.  Mark is the shortest, so maybe start there.  When you’re done, read Matthew or Luke.  When you’re done there, move on to John.  That will give you a well-rounded grasp on the basic facts about the life of Jesus.  After that, email me and I’ll give you some suggestions.

5.      Jettison the idea that church is about an hour.  Make it a two-hour commitment:  an hour of worship and the Bible class that is typically offered either before or after.  Or maybe do the hour of worship on one day and take advantage of a midweek Bible class.  Where you do both is important. See #1 above.

6.      Stay with it.  Ask your questions.  Ask God to open our mind and heart, and ask him to send the Holy Spirit to work.  He will.

This is important for you and for your family.  If you are a parent, you are the most influential teacher your child is ever going to have.  Let them see you setting a personal and family culture that says that growing in the Word of God is important. 

I’m with the apostle Paul on this subject.  He wrote to the young pastor Timothy, “...God ...wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  (1 Timothy 2:3)  There’s no better time than Holy Week to make the personal commitment to do what you have to do to get that knowledge.  If you want some help, that’s what we’re here for.

Pastor Dan Simons
Ascension Lutheran Church,
Macomb Township Michigan