I come across people on a day to day basis that have no Bible training at all. The lack of Bible knowledge among Americans and within the Lord’s church is stunning. The following statistics are not surprising to me, nor shocking. They explain so much of what has happened to our nation, leaders, homes, businesses, individuals. “Have you not read…?”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.: Hosea 4:6

Fewer than 1/2 of all adults can name the Four Gospel accounts. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Many professing Christians cannot identify two or three of the apostles.

60% of Americans cannot name 5 of the Ten Commandments.

82% of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse. It is not.

12% of Adults believe that Joan of Arc is Noah’s wife.

A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50% believed that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham.

Statistics Courtesy of David Harris, minister
Hillcrest church of Christ

The stats almost leave one breathless. Though some will make you laugh, in actuality, it is tragic to see the numbers, and we wonder why our nation and homes are in such disarray.

Though Christians are not under the Old Law, it was written for our learning.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4

“And these Words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

God intends for us to teach our children His Word. Children, from what I see on a daily basis, have no spiritual training at all. ….but they have sports training. Soccer, Baseball, Track, Football, Volleyball, Golf etc. and those areas are focused on. Trained in one or more on a daily basis. How much more important for those young lives to be trained in His Word…..Children won’t wait. They grow up all too fast. They have to be taught His Word daily. They need leaders in the home, spiritual providers. Otherwise, we wind up just as America is now. Biblical illiterates.

Timothy was trained at an early age by his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice.

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” II Timothy 1:5

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40

“And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking Him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:45-52

I pray that America as a whole, and the Lord’s church will return their focus upon His Word and train their children in the way that they should go. It is not up to the preacher, elders, schools, daycare centers to train your children. God gave that duty to parents. Today’s children will be the Lord’s church tomorrow. They too will be a statistic if we continue to place more importance on the temporal than on the spiritual. A sobering thought!

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw night, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them:…..” Ecclesiastes 12:1

“…..choosing instead to continue through life with an intellectually shallow, emotional-driven faith. Others do just enough studying of His Word to make them dangerous.”

Eileen Light