The Bible Basics Series: Introduction

Though the Western world has more access to the Bible and accurate Biblical teaching, Biblical literacy is declining.  It amazes me how many people claim to be Christians but have never read God’s word, let alone study it.  In addition, since the Bible is so easily accessible I usually assume that people, believers and non-believers alike, have an adequate understanding of the Gospel message. 

This is an incorrect assumption. 

I use the word adequate, because I do not think it is wrong to assume that most people have heard of Jesus, gone to church or have seen, held, even heard parts of the Bible.   Most Americans have been “exposed” to the Bible or Jesus or some Christian concepts.  That is probably a fair assumption.

What is not true anymore is the adequate exposure to the Bible and God’s saving message through Jesus Christ.  While social media and tech advances in general have made the Christian message easier to hear, they have simultaneously made so many other things, including complete heresy, easier to hear as well.  As a believer in Christ Jesus as Lord, though much of what I will write is easy to find on the internet and in your very own Bibles, I/we as Christians must continue to remind one another of the true Biblical message while at the same time doing our best to reach anyone who has only a very surface idea of Christ, an inaccurate view, and even those that have dug their heels in.

We can never grow weary or give up because there is not limit to whom God can save.

Biblical Roadblocks

All roads lead to somewhere and if we are to truly explore the great Truth of life, we must not only recognize the roadblocks but do everything in our power to break through them if we are to make it to our final destination.

Roadblock #1:  Inaccurate information and exposure. People, those who profess belief in Jesus as Savior and Lord AND those who do not, are getting just enough inaccurate information and exposure to allow them to compromise the Biblical message or to turn away without actually ever hearing or understanding the true message of reconciliation through Christ. 

• If you are an unbeliever, do you actually know about Jesus?  Do you have any idea what the Gospel message is?  Have you ever read the Bible for yourself or are you just relying on what you have heard about it from other people?  Further more, if you have read the Bible or any part of it, did you read it earnestly seeking God or just to check it off or prove it wrong?

Roadblock #2:  Avoidance of anything difficult.  We have adopted this mentality that seeks comfort at all costs and avoids anything difficult including questions about life and death.  It is MUCH easier to allow ourselves to be completely distracted by all the other things to do, be and read.  We never take the time or the mental space to seriously consider if the God of the Bible is real.

It is much easier and even encouraged to simply try to do “good” things or even fun things than to contemplate life and death, good and evil, divinity and humanity, or submission to Truth.

What Do We Do?

As a Christian, though I do not approve of or enjoy watching what is happening around the world, I have to remember and appreciate God’s sovereignty. 

If you are also a Christian, you and I have been created for just a time as this.  In spite of, and indeed in light of all the chaos and all the confusion and all the evil, there is no better time to speak truth and the Truth, to share the Gospel, and to offer hope than today. 

If you have read your Bible or any of the missionary stories or paid attention to the spread and growth of Christianity, God uses our suffering, and trials to call people to Him as well as to refine, strengthen and purify those of us who are already in Him. 

As believers, we of all people cannot cower back in fear.  We cannot sit quietly on the sidelines assuming people know the Gospel or use the excuse that it is not our “gifting” to spread the Good News. 

“Therefore, since we have this hope, we are very bold.”  

2 Corinthians 3:12

Do you have the Hope?  The hope Paul is talking about is the hope in the New Covenant, which is reconciliation to God through Jesus. When we hope in Jesus, we know that all of this mess here on earth will pass away.  We know we cannot control everything and we are not called to control everything, but we are called to be bold in our worship and honor of the Lord.  We no longer live for ourselves but for Christ and in our current cultural climate, this will take a new found courage and boldness for many of us. 

How do we do that? 

We must know Him and make Him known to others.  We must faithfully share the hope that we have in Jesus through both our actions and our words.

The spirit of fear has silenced the words of many Christians while the distraction of Western World comfort has polluted our actions.  Can we all step back?  I know I need to. I need to take an outside look at my life?  I do not life to be offensive and so I often try to live by my actions though they are likely even less attractive than my words.  But it seems easier to just live my own life and see if anyone catches on.  But my actions without words are not any better than words without actions.  I need to examine my life for both and indeed pray for the ability to speak the very words of God.

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”…..So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” 

Romans 10: 13-17

If we pay any attention to history, Christians have been persecuted and tried since the beginning of time.  Indeed struggle in life is not a potential threat but a promise.

The Biblical call is stand firm in the faith, to share the Gospel, to provide hope to the hopeless, truth to the deceived, and freedom for those in enslaved by fear all through the message of Jesus Christ in spite of every obstacle, challenge and roadblock that seems to push against us.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

2nd Corinthians 4:8-9

The path is narrow, really narrow.  We cannot let ourselves be lead astray by compromise.  Though the culture screams for a widening of the path, truth and goodness rests on a ridge top and any deviation to either side can be deadly.

This Bible Basics series will be simple explanations of Biblical truths aimed to equip those who already know Jesus and to inform those who do not.  I know that might not seem exciting, but maybe life isn’t about just having fun all-day, drinking lattes and laughing at the newest movie.  Maybe it is about something much bigger, something much better.  In a world that seeks comfort at all cost, fun over work, and laziness over challenge, I challenge you to open your mind to the possibility of God, of Jesus, of absolute truth, of eternal life.

Have you ever really explored Christianity for yourself?

IF there is the slightest chance that Bible is true, that Heaven and Hell are real, you owe it to yourself, and anyone else you love, to explore the possibility earnestly. 

I pray this series is of help to you.