BIBLE ILLITERACY

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord God, "when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
Amos 8:11

A few days ago, I was watching the 700 Club and they were asking college kids very basic questions about the Bible and their general knowledge of religion. The answers those kids gave broke my heart.

The first question was if they could name 3 of the 10 commandments. One by one, they couldn’t even name one of them.

The worst answer came when a boy (I can’t get myself to say young man) was asked if he knew the first book of the Bible. The slack jawed, spiked haired, skateboarder blinked with the most awkward stare and after considerable thought, mumbled his answer; “Testament”. He believed that the first book of the Bible had the title, “Testament”.

You can point fingers of blame at parents or schools all you want but illiteracy is a cultural fashion. It’s just uncool to be the least bit literate.

We can’t expect Bible literacy when Rap performers teach kids vulgarities, half words and grammar is tossed out the window. When bad grammar and slovenly speech is repeated enough times, Oxford writes a new dictionary to accommodate the fools. Puhleeze! (Yes, that’s a new entry in their dictionary.)

In the early days of public schools, the Bible was used to teach kids to read. It was also used to teach behavior and many of the parables Jesus used were passed on to illustrate how the Bible related to everyday life. Of course, that was when the day started out with the pledge of allegiance with the line, “One nation under God” still included and everyone said a prayer of Grace before eating lunch.

I’ve said many times that we are giving away our faith in pieces, bit by bit, to fit in with the ways of the world and the world will never give it back. It starts out by not including “God” in our vocabulary so as not to insult a very small minority of atheists. Vulgarities and bad grammar does not seem to bother those same atheists and that speaks volumes about their wishes for Christians.

Many [are] my persecutors and mine enemies; [yet] do I not decline from thy testimonies.
Psalms 119:157

Proverbs 22:6 is one of my favorite lines in the Bible and it simply states, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I’ve quoted it many times in previous newsletters and it makes sense.

Mary and I attend a church that has more young people than many churches claim for total membership. They not only attend services but I’ve been in the building for many extra events that have brought me there every night of the week and at each event, I’m overwhelmed by the number of people under 18 crossing my path. Those I’ve talked to say they would rather be there than anywhere else. Those parents really understand Proverb 22:6.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth,” is from 3 John 1:4. It can mean that Jesus has great joy when all of us (adults and children) follow the words of the Bible but by passing on what we learn to our children, we feel the same joy.

However, there is a secular world imposing man made laws, written by atheists on all Christians. We can end up in jail by praying in public or by saying something they find offensive, even though it’s true, about some person or some thing.

Displays of the Ten Commandments are gradually being banned from public places. Bible studies in private homes are being successfully attacked by the ACLU. Even Christmas displays are contested and people are being told that if a manger is displayed, a symbol of every other religion must be displayed on the site as well.

The bands of the wicked have robbed me: [but] I have not forgotten thy law.
Psalms 119:61

Bible illiteracy has come about through fear and intimidation. When children aren’t part of an active church, they become weak and not only become Bible illiterate but wallow around in the illiteracy of a secular world that takes pride in keeping them in a lower place in life.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1

Your faith can’t be taken away but it can be handed over, bit by bit, to fit in with the ways of the secular world. That world will never give it back and one day, if they have their way, the only place you or your children will be able to read the Bible will be in prison.

If you haven’t read the Bible, start out with a study Bible. They have details in the borders of each page to help you along and soon you will find that the Bible has an answer to every situation in this world. It really is a book of truth and the truth will set you free.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35