"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. . ." Numbers 23:9

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THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER

November 2005
Volume 2..........................Number 11
Crum, West Virginia

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Biblical Ignorance and Illiteracy Are Out Of Control!!!

By James E. Farley

Many of you, no doubt, like to watch the television program, Jeopardy. I often watch it, and find it interesting. However, I am amazed when these seemingly brilliant people get stumped on the "Bible" categories, aren’t you? It just seems that many people are ignorant and illiterate when it comes to the Word of God these days . . . and this is a shame.

When I was a senior at Freed-Hardeman College, studying Bible, brother G.K Wallace came to address our class of Bible majors. He had preached the gospel for many years . . . tried and tested . . . and battle-worn. He said, "Young men, when I first began preaching the gospel it was relatively easy, but you are in for a hard time. When I began preaching, even those among the denominations claimed to believe what the Bible taught, and were readers of the Book. You are living in a time when most folks do not read the Bible, and many among the denominational leaders have openly said that they do not believe it to be the Word of God.

Such an attitude does indeed make it harder to preach the "unsearchable riches of Christ" to a lost world. Our society is even now bearing the bitter fruits of planting such seed as this. If I may borrow from the great prophet, Hosea, our culture has sown the wind, and now we are beginning to reap the whirlwind!!! (Hosea 8:7). Our current problems with such things as abortion, homosexuality, divorce and the eroding of family values, pornography and sexual promiscuity, and denominationalism can be directly traced to a lack of knowledge of God’s Word. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee . . ." (Hosea 4:6).

Many are ignorant about what God says in the Bible, and they care little about their ignorance. There is a bumper sticker on the market that reads, "IGNORANCE & APATHY: I Don’t Know Anything About That, and I Could Care Less!" Well, that would be comical if it were not so terribly true. Biblical ignorance is a serious matter in our society today, and sadly we are living in a time when many who claim to follow the Meek and Lowly One are ignorant of His Will.

On May 12, 2005, the Chicago Tribune ran an editorial entitled, BIBLICAL IGNORANCE." Following are the first two paragraphs of this editorial: "When American novelists gave their books titles like ‘EAST OF EDEN,’ ‘ABSALOM, ABSALOM!,’ and ‘SONG OF SOLOMON,’ they assumed their audience would immediately understand the biblical allusions. With today’s readers, that may be a mistake. In a recent survey, only one our of three American teenagers could identify who asked, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ (It was Cain, in the book of Genesis)"

"It’s every person’s decision whether to believe or practice what is taught in the Bible. But no one can deny it’s influence. Trying to understand American literature and history without some knowledge of the Bible is like trying to make sense of the ocean despite a complete ignorance of fish."

The Tribune editorial went on to stress how the Bible has indeed influenced our Western culture and American society, and then adds, "Yet many American high schools choose not to teach their students about what is undoubtedly the most influential book in Western history." The Dept. of Education and the Supreme Court have both said that the Bible can indeed be taught in public schools as history, but most public school systems in America choose not to do so.

The editorial said that only 34 percent of American teens surveyed know what happened on the road to Damascus. 28 percent did not even know who Moses was! The writer says, "Anyone unfamiliar with these stories would be puzzled by countless biblical references in poems, novels, and speeches." He says that in 1986 several college professors were polled and asked what book they wished their incoming Freshmen had read . . . The Bible ranked number one on the list! In fact, in a more recent poll, 90 percent of high school English teachers said it is "very important" for all high school students to be acquainted with the Bible, but added, "Most of our pupils are not."

In another article, "THE SCANDAL OF BIBLICAL ILLITERACY: IT’S OUR PROBLEM", Albert Mohler refers to a recent survey by George Gallup and Jim Castelli. They concluded, "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."

In the survey fewer than half the adults polled could name the four gospels. According to data from The Barna Research Group, 60 percent of Americans cannot name five of the Ten Commandments. Barna concluded, "No wonder people break the Ten Commandments all the time. They don’t know what they are." Barna’s poll revealed that 12 percent of Americans believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife! 50 percent of high school graduates thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. And some even said that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham! We are in deep trouble if these facts and figures are correct, and if they reflect what the average American knows and believes!

Ignorance of God’s Word will cause people to make wrong decisions because they have no real guidance and direction . . . they have no "light". (Compare Psalms 119:104-105). People will begin again calling good things evil and evil things good. (Compare Isaiah 5:20). Are they not doing this already today? People who are ignorant of God’s Will will do what is right in their own eyes, and this leads to division and confusion. Look around you . . . is this not what modern America looks like? (Judges 21:25; Compare I Corinthians 1:10-13).

Many of our own congregations among the churches of Christ are weak and dying due to a lack of teachers and preachers . . . a lack of Biblical teaching and preaching. Many are led astray because false teachers readily take advantage of their Biblical ignorance. It is far past time to wake up and get BACK TO THE BIBLE!!! We must once again STAND for what is right . . . If we do not STAND and teach our young folks to STAND . . . we will FALL!!!

Ignorance of God’s Word is like a deadly poison that is affecting our homes, our society and culture in general, and our churches. Satan loves to have it so!!!

But there is an antidote to this poison. It is for us to READ THE BIBLE! We must know the Truth in order to be free. (John 8:31-32). But we will not know and understand the Truth unless we read it! (Ephesians 3:3-5; 5:17). We must cultivate again that desire, delight and love for reading and applying God’s Will to our hearts . . . to our lives. (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:97-98).

Have you read the Bible? Did you know that the average reader can read the New Testament in just about 27 hours? This means, my friends, that if you dedicated one hour each day to reading the New Testament you could read it through once each month . . . 12 times each year! Read it 15 minutes before breakfast . . . 15 minutes at lunch-time . . . 15 minutes before your supper . . . and 15 minutes just before you go to bed at night. Do you think you might benefit from reading the Bible in this way? Do it!

Attend the regular Bible classes of the church on Sunday mornings AND on Wednesday nights. This is for your benefit also. (Hebrews 3:12-14; Hebrews 10:24-25). Some sneak in after Bible Study is over, and try to sneak out just after communion is served . . . and wonder why they are not as strong in the faith as they should be.

Parents . . . have regular Bible studies and devotions with your children at home. While the church can and should be of some help to you in this matter, YOU are primarily responsible to teach your children the Word of God. (Compare Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and Ephesians 6:4). Oh . . . we have failed our children greatly by not doing this!

Furthermore, let us begin again to EMPHASIZE PREACHING as we once did. Read Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:13-17; I Corinthians 1:18, 21; I Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; etc. We used to have two, three, and four week gospel meetings, with powerful sermons that were FULL of Scriptures. Nowadays we have these little 2 and 3 day seminars with 15 or 20 minute sermonettes that are full of cute stories geared toward tugging on people’s emotions . . . and we wonder why the church isn’t growing like we once did!!! SHAME ON US!!! We can’t grow on "junk food" . . . we must have the sincere milk of the Word, and the solid meat if we are to grow as God would have us grow. (I Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:11-14).

Many places have given in to the "entertainment mentality" and their services resemble a "religious grand ol’ opry" if I might borrow from the late brother Franklin Camp. Some are having quartets, choirs, mechanical instrumental music, bands, skits, dramas, and even dancing in some services. People are doing what is right in their own eyes, and they love to have it so! They seek to be entertained and not instructed. Ours is a TAUGHT religion!

Some of you reading this may style me "too traditional" and not "progressive" enough. Well, if by "progressive" you mean that we should step over the doctrine of Christ and therefore transgress . . . you are right. I am not progressive after that fashion . . . BUT NEITHER SHOULD YOU BE!!! (John 4:1; 2 John 9-11). THE BIBLE IS RIGHT!

James E. Farley -To Contact Jim by email, click here