Ignorance is Bliss

Survey: Americans don't know much about religion - Yahoo! News

According to the article above, "Christians" are woefully ignorant of Christianity. What a surprise! Pardon my sarcasm but this is pretty much a vindication for me personally and professionally. Years ago I went through an assessment by a religious agency to see whether or not I was qualified for a position. One person asked me, "They tell me that you're 'intellectual.' How will you relate to people then?" I (sarcastically) replied, "Oh...I'll just tell stories."

Now, 5 years later the Pew Forum surveyed over 3000 Americans and discover they don't know much about religion. Atheists (!) scored the highest, knowing more about religion than Protestants or Jews. Postmodernists, at least "religious" postmodernists, have a mantra: Jesus is not a doctrine...he's a person. The fact that this has nothing to do with their main point aside, one has to have CONTENT in order to have a "relationship" with Jesus Christ. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote to a Jewish-Christian congregation:

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. (12) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, (13) for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (14) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.Hebrews 5:11-14 ESV

They had heard the gospel (Heb.2:3) and trusted Christ as Messiah. But now they were in danger of turning their backs on Christ to return to the synagogue because of Roman persecution. It seems modern Protestants are in danger of turning their backs on Christ because they are more interested in the "I just want to love Jesus" mantra. I had an interesting conversation with a "pastor" some time ago. While we were talking about a mutual admiration for a fellow pastor's preaching ability he remarked that he didn't care for anything "deep." He just wanted to love Jesus. As we conversed I sensed that his Christianity was about a mile wide and 1/8 inch deep. And this kind of Christianity will not hold you up when tough times come: when you find out that you have aids, cancer, or your son is on methamphetamine.

According to one source over 100 million bibles were sold world wide. This doesn't include the number of bibles that were distributed free by various agencies throughout the world. Yet there is still this woeful ignorance. And that number likely includes all the latest study bibles to come along.

Historically, the Reformed expression of Christianity, and especially Presbyterians, have been leading the forefront in Christian education. When John Calvin, the Swiss Reformer, was challenged by his Catholic opponents over the issue of statues he had an interesting reply. They challenged him because they said most parishioners could not read so the statues and portraits of the saints helped them in their faith. Calvin replied that we need to teach them to read.

So rather than just be an angry curmudgeon over this let me encourage you to begin digging into your bible and reading it on a daily basis. Instead of listening to the local radio station, Rush Limbaugh or some CD, get the free Iphone app Bible.Is, and begin listening to the bible on your daily drive to work. Purchase an audio bible or get one from the library and listen to it. You might also find "You Version" bible app valuable. Both are free. The Navigators, among many others, have a daily bible reading guide. Dig, Dig, Dig. You won't be sorry.

Acts 17:10-11 ESV The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. (11) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.