As research shows the correlation between spiritual maturity and reading the Bible, one organization is addressing the significant lack of biblical literacy within the Christian community, as few Christians take time to make Bible study a daily practice.
Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, says his group's findings indicate that church members may be aware of general themes about Christianity, but they lack the biblical literacy necessary to better understand the full story of what God is doing in the world.
"We did a study at LifeWay Research and found the number-one correlated factor to spiritual growth and maturity was consistency in the Bible," he reports. "We know how essential this is to spiritual maturity, so literacy is not just something that kind of floats out there by itself; it is a tool. Biblical literacy is a tool that God uses to grow people spiritually as well."
Stetzer also contends that part of the problem is that many believers consider it the job of their pastor to digest and regurgitate the spiritual gleanings found in scripture.
"And in doing so, their spiritual diet suffers -- and it's obvious by the anemic state of many Christians," he notes. "So I think ultimately, God's given us his Word not so pastors alone can walk through it, but at the end of the day, it's so that they might engage the scriptures themselves and grow from them."
In a column for Baptist Press, Stetzer says he makes it a habit to read through the Bible once a year because if he only reads the parts he thinks he needs, he knows he will "miss a big part of God's design" for his growth.
Results From Our Related Poll
What do you think is the dominant cause of biblical illiteracy?
Modern Culture Discourages Reading … 23.25%
Christian Books Have Replaced The Bible … 17.48%
Focus On Religion Rather Instead Of Relationship With God … 59.27%
4955 Responses
Daily reading essential, encouraged
Three-hundred ministry powerhouses are joining forces to encourage people to engage in reading their Bibles on a daily basis. The American Bible Society (ABS) recently conducted a survey that reveals that even though Americans are pro-Bible, they do not always utilize the Word.
"We buy the Bible in increasing volume, we revere the Bible, we give the Bible as gifts, but we Americans do everything with the Bible except read it," says Lamar Vest, president and CEO of ABS.
But the coalition contends that it is vital that people get in touch with the Bible, both personally and corporately, especially considering the fact that Bible literacy has fallen in the last three years.
"It's not just about Bible literacy; it's about learning what the Bible is all about and learning about the living, active Word of God," Vest adds. "And we find that only about 20 percent of Americans are actually engaged with scripture on a regular basis."
The ministry and church coalition has launched a project called "Uncover the Word," and in the initial stages, more than 250,000 people have already made a commitment to participate. Vest and his colleagues hope that millions of Americans will go on to join the pledge to read the Bible on a regular, if not daily, basis. –One News Now
Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, says his group's findings indicate that church members may be aware of general themes about Christianity, but they lack the biblical literacy necessary to better understand the full story of what God is doing in the world.
"We did a study at LifeWay Research and found the number-one correlated factor to spiritual growth and maturity was consistency in the Bible," he reports. "We know how essential this is to spiritual maturity, so literacy is not just something that kind of floats out there by itself; it is a tool. Biblical literacy is a tool that God uses to grow people spiritually as well."
Stetzer also contends that part of the problem is that many believers consider it the job of their pastor to digest and regurgitate the spiritual gleanings found in scripture.
"And in doing so, their spiritual diet suffers -- and it's obvious by the anemic state of many Christians," he notes. "So I think ultimately, God's given us his Word not so pastors alone can walk through it, but at the end of the day, it's so that they might engage the scriptures themselves and grow from them."
In a column for Baptist Press, Stetzer says he makes it a habit to read through the Bible once a year because if he only reads the parts he thinks he needs, he knows he will "miss a big part of God's design" for his growth.
Results From Our Related Poll
What do you think is the dominant cause of biblical illiteracy?
Modern Culture Discourages Reading … 23.25%
Christian Books Have Replaced The Bible … 17.48%
Focus On Religion Rather Instead Of Relationship With God … 59.27%
4955 Responses
Daily reading essential, encouraged
Three-hundred ministry powerhouses are joining forces to encourage people to engage in reading their Bibles on a daily basis. The American Bible Society (ABS) recently conducted a survey that reveals that even though Americans are pro-Bible, they do not always utilize the Word.
"We buy the Bible in increasing volume, we revere the Bible, we give the Bible as gifts, but we Americans do everything with the Bible except read it," says Lamar Vest, president and CEO of ABS.
But the coalition contends that it is vital that people get in touch with the Bible, both personally and corporately, especially considering the fact that Bible literacy has fallen in the last three years.
"It's not just about Bible literacy; it's about learning what the Bible is all about and learning about the living, active Word of God," Vest adds. "And we find that only about 20 percent of Americans are actually engaged with scripture on a regular basis."
The ministry and church coalition has launched a project called "Uncover the Word," and in the initial stages, more than 250,000 people have already made a commitment to participate. Vest and his colleagues hope that millions of Americans will go on to join the pledge to read the Bible on a regular, if not daily, basis. –One News Now
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