Are We People of the Book

I recently came across an article written in June of 2004 that talked about the problem of biblical illiteracy in the church.  Think about these problems that were cited in a survey.

• Fewer than half of all adults can name of four gospels
• Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples.
• 60% of Americans cannot name five of the Ten Commandments.
• 12% of adults believe Joan of arc was Noah's wife.
• 50% of graduating high school seniors thought Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.
• A considerable number of respondents to one poll thought the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham.

It would be laughable if it weren't so serious!  The survey represented a broad spectrum of Americans.  No doubt, some religious groups are better informed than others, especially among more conservative churches.  Some churches place little importance on Bible authority and inerrancy.  I suspect the lowest percentages come from those groups. But, what about those of us in the churches of Christ?  Our reputation in years past was that we were a people of the book, i.e., the Bible.  People in the communities where we live could count onus for "book, chapter and verse" when it came to answering their questions.  Do we sustain that reputation, today?

Bible knowledge comes in only one way - READING THE BIBLE!  If we are to "give an answer to every man" (1 Peter 3:15) and "speak as the oracles of God, " (1 Peter 4:11) we must devote ourselves to reading the Bible and understanding what it teaches.  It is not just "a" book... it is "THE" book and we need to know it better than anything else.  After all, if you don't read the map, how can you know where you are going?

By the way, what was Barnabas' name before the apostles changed it?

Bulletin Digest