I know I have spoken about this before...And it's a topic that comes up regularly in my church. So tonight, I felt like it's important to talk about it, because I'm pretty sure this isn't limited to just my church...
Like most Protestant churches, we gather multiple times a week for prayer and bible study. Traditionally, we meet on Wednesday nights for prayer meeting. However we also have a 'book club' of sorts on Monday night where we all go through a theology book together. And Friday nights we have a bible study as a group as well.
Now for some numbers...
Weekly attendance at the church I frequent is around 150-200 people a week. It's considered a traditional and even conservative church in my faith. Not a huge church by any means, but still more than 2-3 families gathering weekly.
And here's where the numbers really shock you...
On Wednesday night prayer meetings we get about 10-15 people on a Zoom call, and another 10 or so physically in the church. So let's say between 20-25 participate in the meetings each Wednesday.
That's a massive drop. From 150 weekly attendees on Sabbath services.
But it's even worse for Monday and Friday nights. On a good night, we get around 10.
10 out of 150-200....
And here's the reason.
I've even heard this from the lips of some that even attend the weekly meetings...
"I really don't like to read."
Huh?
In the day and age of digital tech, AI answers for everything, and bite sized social media content to grab our attention, sitting down with an actual book is considered....Boring.
What's even scarier, most people get their doctrines and theology from their pastors and whatever the watch in TikTok. What are we even doing here?
This is such a massive problem for anyone that claims the bible as truth. Because bible literacy must be at an all time low these days. Sure you can find the odd YouTube creator that will proof text you to death, but the every day laymen church attendee....Spends very little time with the Lord in Scripture.
Here's my conspiracy theory on it too...
It's all planned by the devil. If he can separate you from the Word, he can separate you from heaven.
How important is reading Scripture? I think there is a three fold 'power strategy' that Christians should follow:
Read their bible daily
Pray daily
Witness & live Matthew 28:19
But I truly believe it starts with God's way of talking directly to us. Everyone always says they are waiting to 'hear from God', yet never pick up their bible. Hey I'm not even trying to go as far as saying Christians need to read and study world history, theology and church history here...I'm saying the basics at first.
Picking up their bibles!
Scripture is beautiful. It's God's love letter to us and He's given it to His people to learn about His character. I know there is the popular acronym that's been floating around for years and it goes something like this:
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
And I love it. They are the BASIC instructions, but the deeper you dig, the more blessings seem to follow. And please note, most of you know my story. I was as secular as it came. I used to mock religion and clown anyone that believed the bible. Yet, here I am...
This book changes you. It fills your. And it makes everything make sense.
So my plea to you and to anyone that's curious, pick it up. Soak yourself in it and see the history of the world actually make sense to you. I know my church is hurting because most people don't even read Scripture like we should...So instead of whining and complaining about it....I'm going to live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Jesus did. And He's my example. I pray that He is yours too!
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