The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
November 22, 2009
In
This Issue:
Are
You Illiterate?
by
Steve Klein
Can
a Christian Fall from Grace?
by
Richard Thetford
Are You Illiterate?
That's a funny question, isn't it? If you are reading this, it's hardly possible that you could be illiterate, is it? Illiterate generally means "unable to read or write." However, there is a sense in which you could be illiterate, even though you are able to read these words. According to Webster's Dictionary, illiterate can also mean "showing a lack of familiarity or acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge." I guess, by that definition, most of us are illiterate to some degree about some things. There are several fields of knowledge about which I know virtually nothing. And that's ok. For most of us, it does not matter that we cannot do calculus, or scientifically classify the bugs in our yard, or explain the social customs of Timbuktu.
However, it does matter if we cannot do God's will because we are Biblically illiterate. And the sad truth is that many are exactly that.
Mind you, the problem is not that people cannot read or do not have access to the Bible. According to a Religious News Service article by David Gibson, the average household in America has three Bibles, and 92% of Americans own at least one copy of the Scriptures. The problem is that people do not know even basic things about the Bible's content. Surveys by Gallup, Barna, and others have shown that fewer than half of Americans can name the first book of the Bible and only one-third (one person out of three) can tell you who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (many named Billy Graham, instead of Jesus). Sixty percent of Americans cannot name half of the Ten Commandments, and 12 percent think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc! Eighty percent of those claiming to be born again Christians believe that the Bible says, "God helps them that help themselves." At a time when more people can read and write than ever before, what accounts for this extreme degree of Biblical illiteracy?
(1) WE DON'T READ. One Gallup Poll revealed that the number of people who claim to read their Bible "at least occasionally" has dropped to 59%, down from 73% in the 1980's. Pollster George Gallup observed, "We revere the Bible but we don't read it." Another survey showed that one reason many people give for not reading the Bible is that they are "too busy" or don't have the time. Maybe that's your reason too. Did you ever stop and ask yourself, "What is so important that it keeps me too busy to read the Bible?" "What better use have I found for my time than Bible reading?" Ephesians 5:16-17 instructs to be "redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
(2) WE DON'T SEEK TO UNDERSTAND. It's easy to read without really understanding what you've read. When that happens, you remain illiterate. Jesus warned that when a person doesn't understand the word, the Devil snatches the word from their hearts (Matthew 13:19). It's like it was never there to begin with. Obviously, every effort must be made to understand what we read. The Ethiopian treasurer gladly accepted Philip's help in understanding the Scripture he was reading (Acts 8:30-31). Let's not be too proud to ask those with knowledge to help us understand the Scriptures, and let's not be too lazy to consult dictionaries or other study helps when we run across words we do not understand.
(3) WE DON'T TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT WE READ. Reading just to pass the time or to hurriedly complete a Bible Class lesson will not make a person truly Biblically literate. Someone who reads a work of Shakespeare, but can remember little or nothing of what it was about, is just as ignorant as a person who never read Shakespeare at all. God's word needs to be hidden in our hearts (Psalms 119:11). It should be something we can think about as we lie in bed at night, and talk to others about day by day (Psalm 119:148, 172).
(4) WE DON'T LIVE IT BEFORE OTHERS. Most people in the world are not Biblically literate and are not making an effort to become so. All that some will ever know about the Bible is what they see lived out in the lives of those who claim to be following it. As the song says, "We are the only Bible the careless world will read. We are the sinner's gospel. We are the scoffers' creed; we are the Lord's last message, given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?"
We are thankful that we live in a time when so many can read and write, and when the Scriptures are so readily available. Our prayer is that more will take advantage of these blessings to become spiritually literate -- acquainted with God's word!
-- Steve Klein
The question asked is a valid question. There are many in the Lord's church who must be-lieve that a child of God cannot fall from grace as evidenced by the life they live after be-coming a Christian. The Bible is very clear as to what we must do to be saved AFTER be-coming a Christian. In Revelation 2:10 it says "....Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Obviously then, if we are not faithful, we will NOT receive the crown of life. If one believes that a Christian cannot fall from grace, then why has God warned against it? The Hebrew writer said: "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12; see also 1 Corinthians 10:12; Hebrews 4:1; 6:4-6).
The Bible teaches Christians to avoid things that may cause one to fall from grace (James 5:12). Peter writes: "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked" (2 Peter 3:17). It is clear that Chris-tians can and sometimes do fall from grace; if this is not possible, then why does the Bible teach that when one does fall, that they need to repent in order to return to God? Repentance would never have to take place if we can never fall from Grace. Notice what is written in Revelation 2:5: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-- unless you repent."
Yes, the Christian CAN fall from God's grace and that is why the Christian is instructed to develop the appropriate character in their life in order to keep one from falling (2 Peter 1:4-10). When we do not attempt to live our lives FOR Christ then we fall in the same category as those Galatians that the apostle Paul wrote: "You have become estranged from Christ; you who at-tempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). May we all strive to take hold of God's grace and never let go as we journey through this life looking for the blessed hope of eternity with Jesus!.
Richard Thetford
Via Walking in the Light, Vol. 3, No. 42, October 18.2009