What's So Important about Biblical Literacy?
Share
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
One of the greatest gifts God gave believers is His Word. He inspired men to write it, and He infused it with His power to help us live rightly. And today, we have more resources than ever to help unlock the treasures within the Bible’s pages. Sadly though, many Christians admit they don’t make spending time in Scripture a priority.
I have to admit, at the beginning of my faith journey I found lots of reasons not to spend time in Scripture, like feeling intimidated by the size of the book, struggling with the language and being unsure about where to start. But along the way I began to see that the Bible is an extraordinary guidebook for life, one that I needed to understand better.
Biblical Illiteracy Is on the Rise
Thomas Schirrmacher, of the World Evangelical Alliance, spoke in 2020 about the crises of Bible illiteracy in the global church today. He said, “Our biggest problem is that Bible knowledge is fading away.” Schirrmacher’s words are a sobering thought, and not a new one.
According to a Lifeway Research survey released in 2017, less than half of American Christians read the Bible every day. And more recent events have only compounded the problem in the U.S. and beyond.
In 2020, for example, The American Bible Society released a “State of the Bible” report, focusing on the effects the Covid-19 pandemic had on Christians’ Bible reading habits. The findings indicated that the lack of regular church services and meetings contributed to a decline in people staying engaged with Scripture.
But whatever circumstances surround us, our Heavenly Father calls us to stay focused on knowing and obeying Him through studying His Word. Psalm 1 gives a caution and a promise regarding this:
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).
So, What Does Bible Literacy Mean?
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines literacy as, “educated; having knowledge or competence.” So in this case, it means being educated in Scripture. That entails being familiar with God’s Word, as well as being able to read and understand it.
God designed the Bible to show us the way to navigate through this world.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Scripture provides protection and supports us when we are attacked by the enemy.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
The Word is also meant to equip us to teach and encourage others in their walk, by sharing our testimony and talking about the Lord.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
4 People in the Bible Who Revered Scripture
1. King Josiah
When he was told that Scripture had been found sitting neglected in the temple, this wise ruler quickly repented and led the Israelites into a spiritual revival.
“Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant” (2 Kings 23:1-3).
2. Ezra
The prophet made the reading of God’s Laws the centerpiece of a full festival and assembly to rededicate the people to their Lord.
“...all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel ... Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God” (Nehemiah 8:1,18).
Photo credit: Unsplash
3. Jesus
During His Earthly ministry, the Lord often corrected and even rebuked the religious leaders for not having more understanding of the Word that God had entrusted to them.
“Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God’” (Matthew 22:29).
4. The Apostle Paul
As he trained up Timothy, a rather young and shy fellow worker to be a pastor, Paul encouraged him that speaking God’s Word was an essential part of his duties.
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13).
The Benefits of Bible Study
I was told many times about how vital knowing God’s Word would be for me, so I slowly built up a habit of reading a few minutes each day. But I still found myself moving on quickly, often puzzled, without gaining much insight from it.
By learning to dig a little deeper, examining and exploring passages, I began to be changed by them in a positive way. For example, accounts about God’s love for the Israelite nation softened my own heart. Teachings from Proverbs made me more aware of my thoughts and attitudes. The Gospels inspired me to love and serve others better. And Revelation filled me with a sense of awe about our amazing Lord.
4 Steps to Becoming More Bible Literate
To tap into all that God’s Word had for me, I had to commit to what I call “digging in” to each verse. It didn’t happen all at once, but each small step brought me into a more meaningful connection to Scripture.
1. I decided to seriously pursue reading the Bible.
It may sound obvious, but I had to claim that goal to start the momentum for my journey.
2. I lifted that desire up to God.
It was clear to me that I couldn’t lean on my own abilities to understand God’s Word.
3. I devoted myself to a quiet time each day.
I needed to actually set aside part of my day to focus only on the Lord.
4. I found resources to develop my study skills.
I found respected mentors in my church, as well as advice from Bible-based online sites for support.
Becoming more Bible literate does require commitment and drive. But I’ve discovered a joy in the work of doing it. And now I have an excitement about being in God’s Word, because I know it will always bring me blessings - truths that I want to live out and to share.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
“...so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
Related articles
5 Powerful Reasons You Need to Study the Bible
How Can I Get Started Reading the Bible?
8 Steps to Take When Reading the Bible Feels Boring
Photo credit: Pexels/Oladimeji Ajegbile
