A View from the Classroom
David R. Nienhuis
“For well over twenty years now, Christian leaders have been lamenting the loss of general biblical literacy in America. No doubt you have read some of the same dire statistics that I have. Study after study demonstrates how nearly everyone in our land owns a Bible (more than one, in fact) but few ever take the time to read it, much less study it closely. Indeed, while the Exploring Religious America Survey of 2002 reports that over 84 percent of Americans consider the Bible to be “very” or “somewhat important” in helping them make decisions in life, recent Gallup polls tell us that only half can name even one of the four Gospels, only a third are able to identify the individual who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and most aren’t even able to identify Genesis as the Bible’s opening text.”
This is the opening paragraph of a much longer article that speaks to a serious issue in today’s evangelical church. I encourage you to read the rest of the article here. I also encourage you to listen to this last Sunday’s broadcast of The White Horse Inn, which can be found here. the above article was quoted from by the hosts of the broadcast introduced the theme of the weekly broadcasts for the year 2010. You can listen to the latest White Horse Broadcast, Recovering Scripture, as well as several previous weekly broadcasts in the “Listen Now” section of the page. Directly beneath that section are links for listening and/or recording broadcasts in several other formats.
Have a blessed week!
The Battle Cry 
Evangelical Biblical Illiteracy may not be a bad thing afterall for the following two reasons:
1) Study of Scriptures, by itself, did not at all help the Jews to know the truth (or Jesus Christ) and have eternal life (John 5: 39-40); and
2) The less one knows the Scriptures, as taught by the church (itself a misnomer), the higher will be his/her prospect of seeking, finding and knowing firsthand Jesus Christ in his self-revelation (as self-sufficient life) at his, once and for all, perfect and transfigurative death on the cross (Matt. 16: 13-28; 17: 1-13; John 3: 1-21; 8: 21-28; 14: 15-21; 16: 5-15; 17: 1-5; 19: 30-37).
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Ephrem,
I agree that all the scripture study in and of itself, accomplishes nothing but ‘law’ and following a set of rules. At the same time, when we have been brought by God to the Cross of Christ and have believed in the Son, we need to also study scripture, in the solitude of our own time(s) with God and His revealed word, and also with the aid of sound exegital preaching and teaching After all God has given to His church both.
Our challenge is to be able to discern from what we are taught by the church (and from books about scripture) the tru from the false. The way to do that is to apply the Berean principle, exposing what we hear to the clear light of scripture.
One of the passages you referenced was John 17:1-5, in which we find that to know God and His Son is woven into the very fabric of eternal life.
Your use of the term ‘church’ with the accompanying parenthetical note has something undefined behind it or it wouldn’t be there, but there are some very doctrinally sound churches that preach more than therapeutic sermonettes for Christianettes, although they may sometimes be hard to find. 🙂
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Hi, Dan
It’s a mystery that in countries where the bible is scarce because of persecution, a man will risk his life and the lives of his family to carry a heavy backpack loaded with bibles through the jungle heat in order to provide the people of his village with God’s word, while we here in the (still) free world, who have 4-5 translations on the bookshelf and another dozen on the e-sword software, often do not bother to read this precious book once.
I wonder if part of the reason doesn’t have to do with the predominant structure of the traditional church today, in which one or two or (in very progressive churches) even three individuals may minister the word to several hundred spectators who only open their mouths to say “Amen!” or to sing the songs they’re told to sing? We are taught by the very structure of this system to sit down, shut up, and listen to what the professional is saying.
What would happen in most of these churches if a member stood up in the middle of the sermon and said to the preacher, “That’s right, Marv, and it reminds me of something God was impressing on me this week as I studied Eph 2. Let me share what I wrote here in my journal . . . ” We know we’re not going to be allowed to share our portion of Christ with our brothers and sisters. We expect to be fed in church. Why would we read our bibles? That’s the professional’s job–to explain what’s written there.
Even after leaving, this takes a while to get over. We still have sibs in our church who could do a bit of bible study and meditation on their own and don’t. In their defense, they all have many small children, but still–you’ve got to eat if you’re going to live and mature. We’re accustomed to being spoon-fed, and old habits die hard. I feel confident, however, that these old habits will die quickly at the first whiff of real persecution. Not what you want, but if that’s what it takes . . . .
Love, Cindy
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BTW, I should mention that when I say “our church,” it’s obviously Jesus’ church–the part we belong with–in this case we meet from house to house and everyone participates under the headship of Jesus.
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Hi Cindy!
Why some who name the name of Christ have a deep hunger for the written word and others do not might, in some cases, have something to do the genuinenes of their faith. Note I said might. I’m not sitting in judgment on anyone, but I do know that the Holy Spirit indwells believers and works within us to desire and to do what pleases God (Phil 2:13).
When believers who sit in churches in which the ‘leadership’ does not encourage/challenge the study of scripture they will remain biblically illiterate until they actually pick up the Book and read. then the Holy Spirit will cause their hunger for more to grow.
I can also see the need for home fellowships and at the same see the need for ‘organized churches’ patterned after the NT church, with its gifts of preaching and teaching, and offices of elders and deacons. And there is I think a need for us to just sit and listen to the sound doctrine preached exegetically from the pulpit or gifted teacher.
I remember more than a couple of years when we attended on a regular basis ‘what this verse means to me’ Bible studies in which ‘personal’ insights (good and/or bad) were the rule rather than the pure exegetical study of the word.
I guess what I am saying is that wholesale abandoning of organized/structural churches is not THE answer to what ails the organized variety, but might be called for in some circumstances.Third world countries where organized/state sanctioned churches are corrupt and apostate is a prime example and I don’t think it’s wise to compare the house church movement in America to those countries – yet. 🙂
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Hey, Dan
I think what I’m trying to say is that we often get enough gospel in an audience setting to stave off the hunger pangs. This reduces motivation to go out there and hunt down food for ourselves. In organic church, if you don’t bring it there, you won’t find it there. Other people will bring stuff, but if you’re not seeking God on your own, it’s hard to be in a position to benefit from this.
House church isn’t necessarily the same as organic church. If you’re interested, look at my post (the latest but one) about that subject. We do lots of stuff, including listening to sermons–just not every time we gather.
Organized church is a good thing. I don’t think it’s the best thing, but probably it’s the best for some folks. It all comes down to what God is telling you to do, and you didn’t ask for all this in your post–really! 😉 I just had to give you a hard time and get all off topic.
Love, Cindy
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Cindy, you bring up some good points. I’ve found tthe church needs and ought to have both, to the glory of God.
Your comment about motivation is revealing and on topic. Why are some motivated to dig into God’s word and some not? God works in all individuals believer to generate a hunger for His word that hasn’t a whole lot to do with the size/type of gathering we hold.
I’ll have to come visit your site, but at the moment, it’s time for my early AM workout, as much as an old guy works out any more…..:)
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Firsthand vision of Jesus Christ, in his self-revelation at his perfect and transfigurative death on the cross, a.k.a. the “my church” (the heart of the gospel) is the only “key” one requires to sow the seed of faith, to worship God as he really is, to open the Scriptures and to make the seed grow sustainably to eternity! AMEN. (Matt.16: 13-28; 17: 1-13; 26:64; 27: 50-56; John 4: 21-26; Col. 2: 2-3; Rev. 5 passages are sparingly quoted)
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I posted on this subject, following George Barna’s 2009 survey results. Are we becoming Biblically illiterate? I think so – Christian believers are not reading the Bible regularly or contextually.
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Agreed.
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Without the pre-requiste of the “key” or prior knowledge of the divine identity and authority of Jesus Christ to act as divine teacher (Acts 2), Christian believers are indeed becoming more and more Biblically illiterate!
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Cindy,
In principle and practice, there is no room whatsoever for organized churches in God’s will for the “new covenant” worship! (Jer. 31: 31-34; Matt. 26: 26-29 ff; John 4: 21-26; 16: 5-15; 19: 30-37)
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Ephrem,
The Jeremiah passage speaks of a new covenant that is fully realized in the Millenium reign of Christ. It is also true that the church today is part of the new covenant, a church established and ‘organized’ the the extent spoken of in the New Testament. So while there might not be a need for ‘organized’ churches in the Millenium, the passage does not say there will not be ‘room’ for them, or that they will not exist during the millenium.
Your Matthew passage speaks of the establishment of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper to be observed until we join Him in His Father’s Kingdom. How does it come close to applying to ‘no room’ for organized church, now or then?
The John 4 passage speaks of true worship being in spirit and truth. This is the characteristic of true worshippers and has nothing to do with ‘the context of the physical church being organized or not.
John 15 concerns the coming of the promised Holy Spirit and the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, not whether there exists ‘organized’ churches. Also, it was after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost that the church was born and further ‘organized’ when needed, as it grew.
John 19 speaks of the crucifixion and not the organizm of the church at all.
So what is your point? Is this about the “2” keys that you say are essential for the believer? Your “As any modern-day, bona fide disciple of Jesus Christ can confirm, knowing the exact manner of Jesus Christ’s death and experiencing His baptism work in the Holy Spirit, acting in concert, are our two exclusive sources of knowledge on His Divine identity.”???
I would submit that the revealed, written word, is the best source of knowing God and the Divine identity of Christ – the Old Testament prophecy and NT fulfillment, not just your “2 keys”, that sound like you think you have some special knowledge.
I guess it’s hard to see your point here.
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Without first agreeing on the ONE-TO-ONE ground rules, pursuing the “good fight” (or the “Battle”) any further will get out of hand!
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I an mot battling, nor do I have a set of ‘ground rules’, other than having solid scriptural support for teachings or doctrine, and clarifying terms.
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No problem! It is better to practise battling against each other than having to face Satan disguising himself to look like an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)
Therefore, I am ready when you are.
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Ephrem, I sent you an email and I hope you have had a chance to read it…..! Better place for a discussion, but still not as good as face to face! Blogging/emailing just fails in some respects!
May God bless you!
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Acknowledge your email with thanks. Will respond soon. Blessings!
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