One of the things that has really struck me meeting so many Soldiers from so many different places is the differing perceptions of what it means to follow Christ. Really though, it's not so much different in most local churches. What often happens is we often know a little bit of the story of Christ and then we fill in the rest with whatever makes us comfortable in our lives. It's kind of like when a story from a book is made into a movie - a lot of details are filled in using 'creative license.' We sometimes do the same thing with the Bible. We often come up with a syncretistic mixture of Christianity, American culture, and comfort. The main reason for this is simply not reading the whole story.
Pollster George Gallup writes:
"Americans revere the Bible, but they don't read it. And because they don't read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates. Four Americans in five believe the Bible is the literal or inspired Word of God, and yet only 4 in 10 could tell you that it was Jesus who ave the Sermon on the Mount and fewer than half can name the Four Gospels."
I really think that first sentence is incredibly convicting. I would even go so far as to say it this way, "American Christians revere the Bible, but they don't read it." When we don't read it, we eventually add to it, subtract from it, and sometimes even shape it into something that really, it isn't. It becomes what I call 'folk Christianity.'
I always taught my students that the Bible is an incredible gift. One of the reasons I loved teaching that is because every time I did, I reminded myself.
Be the real deal. Read the book, it's better than the movie.
Ouuuch! No minced words. Keep telling the truth, we're bound to hear it.
Posted by: Stephanie | August 17, 2010 at 10:32 PM
You speak TRUTH like the book say. I think I'll take your comments to my S.S. class this sunday, we are in Hebrews 11:7 the FAITH LINE chapter. One can heardly exercise FAITH unless he knows the WORD. Great to see you back on the blog. DAD
Posted by: Robert Miller | August 18, 2010 at 04:02 PM
Agree with your point of view
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