Are You 40% or 60%?

I have been a born again believer in Christ for 26 years and preaching the good news for about 12 of those years. As the years go by, I notice that there is a great decline in the number of people attending churches, and increase in moral depravity, and a general apathy amongst “born again believers”. Trying to understand this trend, I thought back through my walk as a Christ Follower, and discovered that it was during these times that I wasn’t reading my Bible on a regular basis or spending regular time in prayer. The times I was most spiritually healthy were the times I spending ample time in regular prayer and Bible reading.

A few days ago, the Barna Group released a study examining trends in 14 religious factors over the last 20 years. In this recent Barna Group Pole they discovered that only 38% of adults strongly affirmed that “the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.” To me, and I hope to many of you, this is an alarming statistic, especially when 86% claim to be Christians. A society that does not have a basis for their standard of morality will eventually fall to depravity. This lack of trust or belief in the Bible may be attributed to only 40% of adults engaging in weekly Bible reading.

Joshua 1:7-8 says, "...Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 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." Among the Israelites it was custom that they taught their children the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible which we now call The Pentateuch. They would read it daily. They would study and memorize it so their children would grow up knowing what it said.

If only 40% of people, during a weeks time, are picking up their Bibles and reading, then the majority of people don’t even know what is in the Bible. How can you believe in something that you have never read; that you don’t know anything about; that you have not put to the test. As believers in Christ, if we want to see true Revival, then we must have an awakening among believers. We must get back to the grass roots of following Jesus and that begins with reading his Word, the Bible. Proverbs 1:7 says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

In discussions about the morality of America, most Christians say, “we need to stand up against … We need to fight against…”, but I believe the solution is much simpler, just get back to regular reading. As we gain knowledge we will share knowledge and isn’t this what Jesus told the disciples to do, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19. I challenge you, if you are not part of the 40% that set aside time each week to read your Bible (not just on Sunday mornings during the sermon) then join the 40% and get back into the Word of God. It will change your life forever!