Both Cannot Be True

Published on by D. G. Hart

On the one hand, preaching the Bible is haahht:

According to a new study by Gallup, the hottest thing at church today is not the worship and not the pastor. It’s not the smoke and lights and it’s not the hip and relevant youth programs. It’s not even the organic, fair trade coffee at the cafe. The hottest thing at church today is the preaching. Not only is it the preaching, but a very specific form of it—preaching based on the Bible.

On the other hand, Americans who go to church wouldn’t know a Bible if you threw it at them:

Over half of Americans have read little or none of the Bible, according to findings released Tuesday (April 26) by LifeWay Research.

“Most Americans don’t know first-hand the overall story of the Bible—because they rarely pick it up,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Even among worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily. The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.”

Only 11 percent of survey respondents said they have read all of the Bible. Even less (9 percent) have read all of the Bible multiple times.

Stop making sense.

7 thoughts on “Both Cannot Be True”

  2. And I’ve sat through some DTS styled preaching through a book of the bible, yowza. “Let’s talk about what ‘the’ meant in the greek”. Let’s not. Who knew you could freight a definite article with an ST worth of information.

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  4. I liked these two best: “Also among the reasons given was 13 percent said “they’ve read it enough” and 9 percent said “they don’t read books.”

    At the least, do some lucky-dipping.

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  5. I don’t see why both items can’t be true. Not knowing the Bible results in too much tolerance what is defined as Biblical preaching. And all a pastor has to do is to tell his congregation that he is preaching from the Bible.

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  6. I think this trend reflects a general laziness among Christians today. They are happy to sit back and let a pastor spoon feed the Word to them, but they are unwilling to put the time and effort into studying it themselves. A sermon becomes a form of feel-good entertainment rather than a means of grace.

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  7. Letmesplainsean says: I think some refraining from ‘bible study’ is probably helpful.

    Who would oppose being a studier God’s word, sean? I can only think of one.

    Jesus:
    John 6:63b the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
    John 17:3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
    Jer 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

    Peter:John 6:68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

    John:Rev 13 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

    David/psalmist:
    Psalm 119 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
    18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.
    30 I have chosen the faithful way;I have placed Your ordinances before me.
    50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.
    7 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
    104 From Your precepts I get understanding;Therefore I hate every false way.
    105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
    130 The unfolding of Your words gives light;It gives understanding to the simple.
    140 Your word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it.
    144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live.
    147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;I wait for Your words.
    160 The sum of Your word is truth,And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
    175 Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me.

    Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.

    2 Chronicles 1214 He (Rehoboam) (and sean? ) did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

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