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Monday, April 2, 2012

Not Biblical Illiteracy, But Biblical Laziness



I read a great article this morning.  It was called "The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem" and I really enjoyed it.  Now enjoying something and being in 100% agreement are two different things.  As Jackie Chan said in the Karate Kid, "Being still and doing nothing are two very different things."  I often try to avoid the phrase "Biblical Illiteracy" because it is not true, in my opinion.  Allow me to explain, illiterate is defined first as not having the ability to read.  Most people are not "Biblically Illiterate" because many people have the ability to read the Bible, they just choose not to.  I see that as lazy as opposed to illiterate.  You don't have to agree with me on that, you have the right to be wrong.  I'm just kidding!  However, I am not ignorant to the second definition of illiterate which defines it as having or demonstrating little or no education.  Many will argue that this second definition proves people to be "Biblically Illiterate" but to that I respond with the fact that we are just too lazy to read and that is why we have little or no education. However you feel about this phrase or definition is irrelevant because I believe most would agree this poison of "Biblical Laziness" or "Biblical Illiteracy" is the main cause of the immoral behavior growth we see today.  Look at this poison at work.

It affects individuals.  Individuals want to think that if they don't know or believe something is sin it can't hurt them or be held against them.  That is simply not true.  If we are driving 55mph in a 25mph zone and do not know we are speeding and get stopped by a police officer do we get convicted of speeding?  WE SURE DO!  This illustrates that rules are rules and laws are laws whether we accept and obey them or not.  God's people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge in Hos 4:6.  Consider Ps 119 for a moment.  Ps 119:97 refers to loving the Law and it being our daily meditation.  We must make efforts to meditate on God's Word or we will be destroyed for ignorance that is a result of laziness not illiteracy!  Maybe a lack of priorities would be better terminology than laziness.  With out a knowledge of or meditation in God's Word our paths are dark (Ps 119:105), we have no joy (Ps 119:111), and we stumble with no peace (Ps 119:165).  This poison has drastic affects on individuals.

It affects congregations.  Congregations are weak because they lack teachers.  Heb 5:12  This need for teachers makes congregations put in teachers that are not qualified or ready to teach. They quickly become false teachers. 2Pe 2:1-3.  What we have is members of a congregation that lack the knowledge to discern between true and false teachings.  Many congregations hurt because they do not have the knowledge of God's plan for the congregations.  That is why we have Evangelists doing the Elder's work, the Elders doing the Deacon's work, the Deacons doing the members' work, and members doing nothing at all.  This shouldn't be but it is reality because we have our priorities mixed up and we are too lazy to daily meditate and feed on God's Word.  This poison has drastic affects on congregations.

It affects society.  Society's standards of morals are destroyed because good is evil and evil is good. Isa 5:20  We slaughter the innocent with abortions and spare the guilty with no capital punishment.  We reward the wicked drug abusers and sellers like movie stars and athletes while we deprive the good like teachers.  The few good movie stars and athletes are silenced or at least the attempt is there.  Children are deprived good parenting which leads to juvenile delinquents because they are doing what is right in their own eyes. Jud 21:25  This poison has drastic affects on society.

This poison has affected individual people, congregations, and society.  What is the antidote?  The antidote for individuals is in the removal of our laziness and ignorance.  It begins in the homes like the main passage above.  We must learn and teach God's Word in our homes.  We must feed on the Word with daily meditations.  That is how blessings are harvested. Ps 1:1-3  Jesus himself told us blessings come from observing, or doing, his word. Lk 11:28  This will remove the poison from the individuals.

The antidote for congregations is in the proper listing of our priorities.  The fellowship of the saints and the group studies must be at the top of the list.  We must recognize the value of mutual edification.  Heb 3:12-14; 10:24,25  You see, we will reap such rewards when we study collectively with the congregation and daily at home.  This will remove the poison from the congregations.

The antidote for society is the individuals and congregations doing what they are commissioned to do, and that is take the Gospel to the lost.  When the evangelists are evangelizing, the elders are elding, the deacons are deacing, and the members are remembering God's plan for the Church is being fulfilled and society will return to moral living.  Society will benefit when we go, preach, baptize, and teach in Christ's authority. Mt 28:18-20 This will remove the poison from society.

As the article above said in its last paragraph, "This generation must get deadly serious..." about this problem.  

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22      




          


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