TEACHERS WANTED: How Adult Illiteracy Spotlights Biblical Illiteracy in the Worst Way

When I was a child, reading was my world. My siblings and I grew up on Pizza Hut’s Book-It! Program (pan pizzas were rolling out every Friday). I had teachers that encouraged my love of reading and we all won school prizes for the vast amount of books we read. Thanks to this huge support system, I have a strong love for reading in me and I plan to make time so I can enjoy it more often.

Now if you’ve been in church long enough, you’ve probably heard it from the pulpit on down that we need to read and study the Bible. You’ve heard how important it was and how it will help us get ready for the Second Coming of Jesus. But the problem is that that’s as far as these people go with it.

They tell you to do it. They tell you it’s important. It is. But what these advocates of Bible study don’t do is teach you how to do it. No “come into my home and let’s study together.” No “I bought you the same guide I use, so try it out and let me know what you think.” No “How to Study Your Bible” class in church. Nothing. The support system that should exist in the Christian faith to foster a strong love of reading and studying the Bible, the most crucial book in the Christian faith, is not there.

As a result of this deficiency, we are struggling with a form of illiteracy among Christians known as biblical illiteracy. The “people of the Book” do not know how to read or study their own Book, the Bible, and the effects of this problem are apparent.

How Bad Is This Problem Anyway?

Looking at this through the lens of adult illiteracy, a similar, significant problem, will help you understand that this is a serious problem. A 2016 article in the Washington Post reported that found that 32 million Americans can’t read, according to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy. That’s 32 million Americans, 14% of the entire adult population in America,

Even worse, illiterate adults that don’t see the value of reading are likely to pass these views on to their families, leading to future generations of illiterate adults. That’s 32 million Americans in every generation struggling to get by, taking low-paying jobs, facing limitations in their ability to fully contribute to the success of their families, communities, and cities and dealing with the psychological effects of being illiterate.

Now take these effects of adult illiteracy and shine them on 14% of the 160+ million people that identify as Christians in the US today. That’s 22.4 million Christians. If we assume that the effects of biblical illiteracy are similar, then that means that 22.4 million Christians in America

By this one example, the problem of biblical illiteracy speaks for itself. It is affecting Christians in America and around the world, making the number of those illiterate in the Bible far higher than 22.4 million.

Although this is shocking to the devout in faith, we shouldn’t be surprised. The Bible tells us that many of God’s people will be swept away by seducing spirits, doctrines of devils, and the influence of ungodly men and nominal Christians (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) right before the coming of Christ (2 Thess. 2:1-4).

But these end-time prophecies weren’t meant to encourage a spirit of apathy among God’s people. They were meant to spur us to action and there are actions that every one can take.

Teachers Are Wanted

It was only when someone asked me to teach them how to study the Bible for the first time last month that I really understood that this was a problem. Now I’ve never taught anyone how to do this before, but I knew it was important. So I prayed before, during, and after our session. Through the grace of God, I taught this person how I studied the Bible, and took notes throughout the session.

After the session was over, we (God and I) developed our first-ever PDF Study Guide designed to teach you how to study the Bible. It will take you through how I learned to study the Bible in 2013. It’s been very effective and I know it will help you. Please download it, read it, and follow its directions. If you need help, please leave a comment or contact me. I’m more than happy to help.

But there are many more teachers out there, many others who the Lord showed how they can study His Word with great success. It’s these persons who we need to step up and become teachers. The Lord needs your service.

There are a lot of Christians who need you to teach them how to study the Bible. They need to feel that same joy you feel whenever God reveals something to you in your studies. Like you, they should have the same assurance that God has shown them the truth and how they can walk in it. They need to know how to withstand temptation and determine whether or not doctrines are in harmony with the Bible just as much as you do.

Biblical literacy will help many Christians gain an experience beyond vain professions of faith in the Word of God, belligerent attacks on the LGBT community and people of other faiths, and threats of eternal torment (another false doctrine, but I digress) from the pulpit.You read that right. Even preachers and church leaders need to be taught how to study the Word of God.

Building a support system of teachers will do much in delivering our fellow Christians and even our non-Christian friends from the snares of the devil. They will be enabled to discern the ministering spirits of God from the spirits that feign to be the spirits of our departed loved ones. The doctrines of devils will dissipate from those who know how to rightly divide the word of truth. A strong relationship with the Lord through studying His Word and obeying it will separate true Christians from the influence of ungodly associates and nominal Christians.

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12:3).

Did you know that in the margin, the word “wise” in this verse also means “teachers”? That means this promise to shine among the faithful as a star can belong to you if you will teach others how to study the Bible. Your lifelong experience as a student can help you turn many others to righteousness. If you take up this work to “teach all nations” (Mt. 28:19,20), your reward in Heaven is promised.

Biblical illiteracy must be handled in the same way that families and schools for children and adults work to deal with illiteracy, by providing a strong support system that encourages and fosters a love of reading. Only then will the call to study the Bible be effective in encouraging people to know the truth stored in its pages.

I could go on, but for now, I will leave you with the some encouraging Bible verses I use when I am anxious or afraid about teaching. I hope it will help you as you cooperate with the Lord to begin your work. Because we need you. Now.

“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (Ex. 4:12)

“Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them… Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.” (2 Chr. 15:3,4,7)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mt. 28:19,20)

How have you benefited from studying the Bible? How do you study it and how has it benefited you? Have you taught someone how to do it? Leave a comment below and help us encourage Christians and non-Christians to study the Bible.