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

I saw a quote this morning on FB, written by a celebrity. He said:

“Money may not buy everything, but it can certainly buy a lot of cool distractions.” I thought about that for a moment, and then replied to the comment.

That’s the problem…….

Distractions on every hand. While our attention is drawn away to other things, the important matters in life go unattended.

“Life is what happens while we are busy making other plans.”

I once heard a song whose sentiment was, “Don’t Miss Your Life.” I believe Phil Vassar sang that song, but the song certainly will hit home with so many in America now. In that song he sang about a man having sat next to him on a flight that gave him some advice. He told him that:

“30 years prior he had made a ton of money, climbed up the ladder, but now, what does it matter? He had missed all of the growing up years of his children. No pictures of him with his children at birthdays, ball games, plays at school……No second chances of being with his family during those years. The moment was gone, and now it is too late. Fame and fortune come with a heavy price. Son, don’t miss your life.”

“And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15

Indeed! Don’t miss your life. There are so many teachable moments, if we get off that perpetual merry-go-round of distractions and focus on those Biblical values that will last an entire lifetime in the memories of your children. When I speak with children, they don’t talk about things, they talk about having spent time with mom and dad, where they went to eat, playing ball together, taking walks together, making cookies together, watching a movie together. If you really listen, you will find out what is important to children. It is during those times of togetherness that we teach children important Biblical Truths that cannot be taught anywhere but in the home…..and it takes time.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might. 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 sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shallt 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 6:5-9

My friend, who is almost 88 years old talks with such fondness of his mother and dad. He told me that his mother played with he and his brother, fished with them, even fried minnows for them. He laughs about that still. She rode bicycles with them, played ball with them and counseled them during those growing up years. He misses the way she would make caramel pies for their school lunches, fried hot water cornbread, made ice cream. So many things he misses about his mom and dad, and his eyes glisten with tears as his memory goes back in time. After all of those years, the memories are still there and a remembrance with much fondness…..of time spent together.

“Spring to summer, fall’s to winter….Those that can just fly away…..To find a place for them that is better. I guess here is where I will stay…….and so it goes…… while we were busy with the details of our lives every day……. thinking time was on our side. I turned around and you were gone……. and I’m left here with the words I never got around to saying. I don’t know why. I guess I never thought our time could pass us by…..and so it goes.”

Don’t miss your life!

Eileen Light

The other day co-worker was telling me that she wanted everything perfect for Christmas. She wanted the perfect tree, meal, presents and everyone happy. I told her that it would be nice if life could be like that, but it is an unrealistic view for troubles, death, illness, accidents knows no holiday.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1

“Go to ye now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” James 4:13-15

The ideal life would be not to have troubles, but until we reach heaven, we face a myriad of hills and valleys, but when faithful to Him, there is nothing that can befall His children that He is not with us and comforting us in all of our trials here on this earth. He loves His children, and cares about everything that happens to us, good or bad.

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” Job 14:1

“Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.” I Peter 5:7

. . . . then for some, animosities build up over the year or years and cause dissension within a person’s family, and makes for a not so enjoyable family get together. Most families have their problems. We all have likes and dislikes, and then there are those within a family, that it wouldn’t matter what you did, they would not be happy. I have known family situations like that. Jealousies, envy and favorites all enter into the mix, and because the families meet in the Christmas or Thanksgiving season, the gathering at times will send some home early with hurt feelings and words that should not have been said, and unless mended will increase animosity.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away form the a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids loo straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established.”
Proverbs 4:23-26

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31

When Christian families meet, let us not check our Christianity at the door. Be kind, helpful, encouraging others and grateful that all may gather together and enjoy one another’s company. Make it a pleasant time, and for those that are not Christians within ones family, you may win them to Christ by your example before them.
“Hearts are apt to open for you, if you use the priceless key of courtesy. It fits almost every locked heart. Like responds to like. Use a courteous approach and you will get a courteous reception – with few exceptions. You don’t crash hearts – they are opened from within. And they open better if the hinges are lubricated with the oil of graciousness. It prevents friction. It is a smoothness that finds easygoingness everywhere. Politeness is so necessary to better relations that it should be a part of every person’s religion. It is religion? For it is an expression of the Golden Rule.”

~ Leroy Brownlow

Eileen Light

We all know some people in our lives that never want to take a position on important matters and had rather remain neutral, and our politicians have certainly perfected this trait. The “go along, to get along” people. I knew some in a congregation once that when matters of Truth, right or wrong would surface within that congregation, these people would always say, “better you than me brother, take care of it” leaving those willing to fight for Truth to go it alone. This same situation happened in another congregation that had elders. Each time a problem, error or a moral issue had to be brought before the congregation, one of the elders would resign from the eldership. This happened on three separate occasions. When the trouble was resolved, he would reinstate himself. It seems almost comical, if it weren’t such a serious matter, and in fact some did laugh. It still is one of the most bizarre situations I have ever witnessed within a congregation. An elder, wanting to remain neutral in situations between right and wrong, Truth and error. Needless to say, we left that congregation.

We read in Scripture, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30

There are times when neutrality is permissible if there are no important matters at stake, but when it comes to the battle between Truth and Error, Right and Wrong, Morality being perverted into Immorality and when Christianity is in combat with the world, we cannot remain neutral. We must take sides. Neutrality is the devil that sits on the fence, and he owns the fence.

“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in Truth: and put away the gods which our fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt: and serve ye the Lord. and if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

We are soldiers of the cross and there are no neutral positions. We must be courageous in the fight against right and wrong. One of the greatest quotes about bravery illustrates this point about choosing that which is right and being courageous in the process.

After invading Greece and receiving submission of other key city – states. Philip of Macedon sent a message to Sparta: “If I invade Laconia you will be destroyed never to rise again.”

The Spartan ephors replied with a single word. “If”

“Constantly choosing between the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.”

Eileen Light

Usually, on a weekly, if not a daily basis I will come across one that will tell me it is wrong to judge those that drink, gamble, take drugs, curse, homosexuality, living together without marriage and any other vice you can name. Even to the point of judging the president of the United States. One man at work, when I spoke against the president and his immoral policies, told me in no uncertain terms that he was my president and I am not to judge. Even now, some in the Lord’s church will tell you, regardless of what the unscriptural practice is or Authority for such, that you are not to judge, and it doesn’t say that you can’t do the practice they are advocating. Proof text does not seem to be in their vocabulary. Authority of Scripture is old fashioned to them.

The world may not know where to find the following Scripture but they know what it says and they use this Scripture to justify what they are doing.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1

There seems to be a conflict between the former verse and the following verses, but God’s Word does not contradict itself.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I John 4:1

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15

”Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
Matthew 7:16

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” John 7:24

From these Scriptures we find that God does not condemn all judgment. There is a righteous judgment and a hypocritical judgment, but it is up to us to study His Word to be able to discern the difference.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” II Timothy 2:15

“Use discernment. The devil comes in many forms.”

Eileen Light

I never had religious training early in life. Just wandered around from whomever would take us to whatever denomination they went to. Sporadic is the best definition of my religious training as a child. I remember being in a denomination where the women were falling on the floor and I asked the preacher if that didn’t hurt them when they fell. He said no and told me they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Even at my very young age that didn’t sound right to me, but of course being a child never thought about it any more, but I do remember thinking. Why aren’t the men doing the same? Children…..

Later on in life I discovered that Tillit S. Teddlie, songwriter for so many songs that the Lord’s church sings today, came from that very town in which I was a foster child. I thought, how close, yet so far to be near the Truth and not discover it til later on. It was rather a scary thought to me. I had never even heard of the Lord’s church. The first time I went in a building where God’s people met, I asked why they didn’t have a piano. I thought they were too poor to afford one. Children….

I do remember reading God’s word as a child, looking at the pictures….and then I discovered the Truth and was baptized at 14 years of age. I have loved the Truth ever since. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

God’s Word was then and has been a great source of wisdom, instruction, stability, guidance and immense comfort in my life, and His Word can be the same for you and your children. Teach your children His Word. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

…and for all of the Bible versions, the best translation is how we live out the conversation of our lives before our fellow man.

The devil is not afraid of a dusty Bible.

Eileen Light