September 9, 2024
Returning to my hometown recently to visit family, I was glad to hear my brother say that he wanted us to attend church with him. He had spoken fondly about the congregation on numerous occasions and now my family would get to experience it firsthand along with his.
First, we had the worship service, which was very nice. Following wonderful special music presented by a men’s quartet, the preacher brought an effective and heartfelt message.
After a time of church-wide food and fellowship came small group time. I was especially excited about that because his teacher was a lifelong family friend I hadn’t seen since I was a child. So you can imagine my shock when she announced that today’s lesson would not come from the Bible, but rather from the New York Times -specifically the Ethicist, described as “advice on life’s trickiest situations and moral dilemmas.”
I have no problem with such material referred to for illustrative purposes. However, when it’s used as the central source for the entire lesson, something is wrong. We spent the next 45 minutes discussing issues such as, “My girlfriend said she loved me. Should I say it back even if I’m not sure?” The Bible, referenced only once, was never actually read.
Needless to say, I left with mixed emotions. I was delighted to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Yet, I was grieved that a group of middle-aged adults came to Sunday School and heard little to nothing about Scripture.
I’m sure they don’t follow that format every week. But why even skip a single opportunity to provide needed nourishment so these hungry souls could go forth into a new week filled and equipped?
Mahatma Gandhi, the Hindu activist who helped lead India to independence from British rule in 1947 said, “You Christians have in your keeping a document with enough dynamite in it to blow the whole of civilization to bits; to turn society upside down; to bring peace to this war-torn world. But you read it as if it were just good literature, and nothing else.”
According to a 2022 Lifeway research project, only 45% of churchgoers read the Bible more than once a week. Another 40% read it occasionally. And that’s among church attenders. Imagine what the number would be if non attenders were factored in.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting the Bible become an object of worship. That’s a role reserved for God through His Son, Jesus. Yet, along with the Holy Spirit, it is the Word of God that draws us to the Son of God. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah when Philip the evangelist came along and led him to faith in Christ, after which he was immediately baptized.
Concerning itself, the Bible says, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it produce and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will my word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Isaiah 55:11, Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
Along with your soul, the word of God will stand forever (see Isaiah 40:6). With that in mind, now would be a good time to make sure you’ll meet Jesus in heaven. In the meantime, learn as much as you can about Him by making Scripture a consistent part of your life.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
