Twenty-first century Christians in the United States have the potential to be the most biblically literate, theologically informed, holy people in the history of the church. This is not because we are more intelligent or even better educated than those who have lived before us. It is because of the access that you and I have to translations of the Bible in our English language and the wealth of theological material to help us understand the Bible better. With the click of a mouse, the swipe of a finger, or the pressing of an app button there are free podcasts, books, articles, lectures, sermons, and Bible teaching immediately available to us. We do not even have to get out of our pajamas to access these things.
Let me give you just one example that I know of personally that is freely available to anyone with a tablet or smart phone. Reformed Theological Seminary has a free app that contains the audio lectures from their classrooms where students who are enrolled at the school pay thousands of dollars per year to take these classes in preparation for ministry. Not only can we listen for free, they also have the chapel sermons available at the same price. The app is free and the content is free, and I listen to those lectures pretty regularly. I encourage you to do the same.
What keeps modern, American Christians from truly understanding the Bible and all that it contains has to be either slothfulness or disinterest. Imagine yourself living in the first century world as a member of one of the very new churches. You would have no copy of Scripture for yourself or your family. You would hear parts of the Bible read by your pastor on Sunday and then that pastor would spend time explaining that portion of Scripture to you. The church met at other times during the week as well where the Bible was taught. You were dependent upon others for your engagement with Scripture.
Today, buying a paper Bible is a relatively inexpensive purchase. We give them away at our church regularly. Downloading a free Bible app where you can not only read but also listen to someone read the Bible for you is an easy thing to do. Here is my point. To remain ignorant of what the Bible says and teaches in our day is simply our fault. We have no excuse.
Your spiritual growth and spiritual maturity is in direct correlation to your intake, understanding, and obedience to Scripture. From the Old Testament to the New Testament and from the recorded history of the church we can see this truth played out. The ancient Israelites came under the judgment of God for their disobedience and neglect of His Word. The New Testament writers warned the church not to fall into the same patterns of slothfulness and idolatry. We can read of terrible times in the history of the church when the Scripture was set aside and myths and traditions were followed instead. But the Bible and church history tells us of wonderful times we call revivals where the people of God grew serious about hearing and obeying the Word of God and were blessed because of it.
Let me close this article this way. I encourage you, Christian, to read the Bible daily. Start slowly and increase over time. Use your exercise time or commute time to listen to a sermon or lecture that will help you understand the Bible better. Incorporate reading or even listening to books written by solid Christian authors. Ask your pastor about who to listen to and who to read. That would probably make your pastor’s day.
Joe Tolin pastors at Kingman Presbyterian Church.
