I’m always surprised at how much “stuff” people can cram into their heads and spit it out on demand.
- The starting lineup of both teams in every World Series in the 1940’s (not to mention the batting average and earned run average of the same)
- The lyrics of every musical theater performance they’ve watched over the last 2 decades
- The name of every episode of Friends and Seinfeld over the entire run of both shows
You get the idea. We accumulate a lot of knowledge without realizing that we’re doing it. For the most part it relates to something that we’re really passionate about. But it often isn’t anything that has real life-changing impact.
Like the Bible.
Often the Bible is a book that just doesn’t make sense and we don’t understand very well.
- Like who was Ehud and why was he special (or different)?
- Who lived in the town of Ziklag?
- Who was the fig-picker of Tekoa?
Maybe you now the answers. That would be great. But a lot of people would suffer a mental melt-down if they had to learn information about the Bible. It’s just something that they don’t think they can do (while at the same time they master tons of other facts).
Biblical literacy matters.
How much we know about God’s Word sets the bar for how much influence God has in our lives. If we don’t know what God has said, we don’t know how we should live. If we don’t spend time looking at what He has communicated, we won’t be oriented toward Him in the way that will bring glory to Him, or joy to ourselves.
I’ve started noodling on a new project targeted at Biblical Literacy. I want to help people who don’t have a pattern of learning their Bible. It’s all about giving them a shortcut to know what to focus on. Someone who didn’t start when they were young and doesn’t have a long time working on their knowledge.
If you consider yourself a mature Christian, reply to this email and send me a list of the Old Testament stories you think a younger Christian should know to build a solid foundation of biblical literacy.
I’d love to hear the stories YOU think are important and most relevant.to help people start to build the foundation of knowledge that will propel them on their spiritual journey.
Thanks!
Dennis
