Do You Know Your Bible — E.A. Johnston

Biblical Illiteracy in Modern Society

Let me ask you a question, friend. Do you know your Bible? I believe this generation is the most biblically illiterate generation since the Dark Ages. There used to be a time in America where most homes kept a family Bible prominently on the living room table.

And if they didn't do that, at least they were familiar with God's Word and the Ten Commandments. Because back then, the Ten Commandments were publicly and prominently displayed in society. And many were at least able to recite the Lord's Prayer by memory.

And there was a time in our nation where the Word of God was the rule and standard of the land. But today, the Word of God is mocked by society, rejected by government, and legislated right out of the land.

Why, you're not even allowed to pray in public much anymore. The sad thing is, churches of former days held up the authority of the Word of God and proclaimed her great doctrines so that their congregations were biblically literate.

The Decline of Biblical Preaching and Church Knowledge

But now, you gotta look hard to find a solid doctrinal preacher. And the majority of pastors are more concerned with occupying and entertaining their congregations than teaching them deep spiritual truths.

And the real tragedy is, it lies with many church members who are only exposed to the Word of God on Sunday morning, or maybe once during the week in a Bible study group. And if they neglect Bible study altogether on a daily basis, maybe they only sniff their Bibles each day looking for a lucky dip to get an encouraging word.

The great question today, friends, I ask you again, do you know your Bible? When I was doing my research on the Chinese underground church, I learned that Chinese believers are walking Bibles because they have a great deal of Bible memorized in their hearts because of the Bible's scarcity in China under a communist government and the persecution they receive as Christians under that communist government.

The Chinese Underground Church and the Preciousness of Scripture

So the Chinese believers consider the Word of God to be a very precious thing. It's more valuable to them than anything else in the world because they can say with the psalmist, I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil.

Unlike most American Christians who just take it for granted or neglect it altogether. And pastors of former days knew their Bibles better than we do today. They could quote long passages from it because they had a large portion of it hidden in their hearts and their sermon illustrations were referenced and illuminated by other scripture passages.

Shallow Sermons and the Loss of Scriptural Depth

Their sermons were just chock full of the Word of God. But today, some pastors spend more time on their golf handicap than they do in their Bibles. And it shows when they get up on Sunday and a good portion of their message is comprised of just amusing stories more than the Word of God.

I have a earned doctorate in biblical studies and I had to know my Bible before I graduated seminary but I still don't know my Bible as well as I could and as well as I should. So what's the result of all of this, friends?

We have spoon-fed congregations and a biblically illiterate nation. I'll never forget the observation of the American church by the great British Bible teacher, Major Ian Thomas, who wrote several Christian classics such as The Saving Life of Christ, The Indwelling Life of Christ, and one of my personal favorites, If I Perish, I Perish.

Well, a pastor friend of mine had Ian Thomas come to his church to preach a series of meetings and on the drive back to the airport, my pastor friend asked him a question. He said, Major Thomas, now that you've seen some American churches here in this part of the country, what's your opinion of American Christianity?

The British Bible teacher just stared out the window silently. My pastor friend thought perhaps he didn't hear the question, so he asked it again a different way. He said, now that you've visited some American churches, how would you describe American Christianity?

Major Ian Thomas answered with one word, shallow. Let me ask you, friend, if you were honest with yourself, how would you describe your own Bible knowledge? Would the word shallow apply to you? How would you describe the Christianity in different nations?

Spiritual Shallowness and the Fear of God

How would you describe the Christianity in Australia? How would you describe the Christianity in England today? How would you describe your nation? Is it deep spiritually or shallow? Is the root of the problem a lack of Bible knowledge?

Perhaps if there was more of the Bible in us as citizens, there'd be more of a fear of God in the land. I wanna share with your friends a story that's had a great impact on me. The missionary C .T. Studd was at a Bible conference with F .B. Meyer, and they were both speakers at this conference and also roommates.

C. T. Studd's Method of Memorizing Scripture

One morning, F .B. Meyer asked C .T. Studd the following question. He said, I notice each morning in your daily devotional time, you don't turn the pages in your Bible much, but rather it seems you are just concentrating on one particular verse.

Can I ask you why? C .T. Studd answered him by saying, first, I'm asking God's spirit to help me memorize that verse, and then I ask God to make that verse a reality in my life. Oh, friends, do you take the word of God like that, hide it in your heart, and then ask the spirit of God to make that verse a reality in your daily living?

Preparing for Persecution Through Scripture Memorization

Oh, what if they started persecuting Christians, confiscating their goods, throwing us in jail as enemies of the state, and they shut off, took away your cell phone, didn't let you have a Bible in jail?

How much of the word of God is hidden in your heart already that you could recite it to yourself to get you through and share it with your fellow prisoners? The apostle Paul told his disciple Timothy, and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.

Knowing and Living the Bible

I'll end this message, friends, with the same question I began with. Do you know your Bible?