Have you not read? Part One: The Bible - GBC Bulletin Column #11

Several times during his ministry, Jesus had occasion to ask “have you not read?” proceeding to relate some biblical account, fact, or application that those whom he was addressing really should have known. Often those whom he addressed belonged to Jewish sects such as the Pharisees or Sadducees. For example, to the Sadducees (who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead), Jesus said “as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living” (Matt. 22:31-32). He had already given them the bottom line: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29).

His enemies were not the only ones who hadn’t read. In Luke 24, Jesus has risen from the dead and joins two of his disciples (not from his inner circle of twelve, now eleven) who are walking to a village called Emmaus. Clueless as to the identity of their travelling companion, the men speak of the sad death of their crucified teacher and the reports that his body had vanished from the sealed and guarded tomb. At which juncture Jesus exclaims, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Luke tells us “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Biblical illiteracy, that is an insufficient knowledge and understanding of God’s word, is largely to blame for the problems that occur in the congregational life of the church and the individual life of the Christian. A failure to know what the Bible says leads to all manner of foolishness when articulating what the Bible means. Ignorance of the Bible’s message and meaning limits the transferral of its transforming truth to what people believe and how people behave. In asking a question - “Have you not read” - Jesus was also making a statement: “You should know.” Our ignorance is no excuse. The wealth of material God has given us is staggering, especially in light of what others around the world have available. In our church we have clear and accurate Bible translations, growth groups with excellent curriculum materials, worship services with rich lyrics in the songs we sing and solid preaching from biblical texts, Scripture-driven prayer meetings, training days, and leaders able and willing to give biblical instruction and counsel. Perhaps some biblical illiteracy has a cause itself – laziness. What can be done? Really, the only way to learn what we have failed to learn is to…start learning. Have you not read? Pick up your Bible and start – today!

This was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green) on 07/07/2013.