Hinderance #3 Biblical Literacy

#9 April 5, 2010

Part 1

In a survey taken among 100 people attending a Conference on Music & Worship (hosted by a major Christian Organization) so it is reasonable to assume that the vast majority of the participants would be professed believers - - 39% indicated that "they had never heard of justification". This is a tragically representative sample of the evangelical church in America. The level of Biblical Literacy is low and declining all the time. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to obey all that Jesus commands when we do not even know what he has said.

Part 2

As is true of other aspects of the Health & Effectiveness of the church in America, there is no quick fix for this malaise. The burden for this rests on the Leadership in each local church. We must return to some process similar to Catechism. As a young man (12-13) I attended two years of instruction on Saturday mornings. I memorized the Apostle's Creed, The Ten Commandments and other foundational Christian essentials.

Pastors must abandon the focus on mere activity and entertainment and equip Fathers to fulfill their God-given role in the lives of their children. Eliminate the traditional 'Youth Pastor'. Replace them with Staff members whose function is Pastor of Family Ministry. They equip Fathers and Mothers with the skills and resources to disciple their children. They hold these people accountable for this glorious privilege.

God's profile for Biblical Literacy is infallibly effective. That is true only when we follow his mandate and process. Unless this egregious deficiency is corrected the church will continue to decline and the power of the collective witness of the Body of Christ will be seriously compromised.