The ancient prophet Hosea, speaking for God, said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." (Hosea 4:6) Hosea wrote 800 years before Jesus. He wrote of and to Israel's ten northern tribes, who after Solomon's death, quickly established false centers and forms of worship and went into apostasy.
But it is not difficult to determine, from the writings of some of our brethren, in some of the things they say, and in their defenses of sin, that Hosea's words are still true.
It is clear that, despite the fact we are generally more literate and educated, we know less about God's word than brethren a generation or two ago. We also have better learning facilities, teaching aids, and trained teachers; yet, we often seem to lack comprehension of the basic facts of God's word.
Some of us remain unable to tell others why baptism is essential to salvation, or why it is wrong to use instrumental music in worship. Even a new convert should be able to tell others why he or she obeyed the gospel. New converts have to learn what is necessary for salvation before they obey the gospel. But it is particularly sad to see brethren who've been Christians for 10, 15, or 20 years who can't convey the basics of God's plan of redemption.
And some of our brethren balk at what God's word says regarding issues such as divorce, dancing, gambling, and modesty. It seems similar to what happened to Israel in the days following Joshua's death. Judges 2:10 records, "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord, nor the work which He had done for Israel." One generation knew and obeyed the Lord, but they neglected their responsibility to teach that knowledge to their children. The book of Judges records the resulting problems.
Why are Christians today ignorant about God's word? The answer, at least in part, is that secularism and materialism are killing us. We have time for TV, sports, school events, and multiple jobs, but we can't find time to study or teach the Bible. Those who attempt to recruit Bible class teachers at the end of each quarter, and Vacation Bible School teachers often see the problem first-hand.
Both teachers and students sometimes foist spiritual garbage upon us, and we often sit in awesome silence. Have we adopted the denominational view that it is virtually sinful to speak up for the truth if it means making someone angry? Hopefully not, for we must remember that our Lord and most of his apostles were executed by persons made angry by the teaching of truth. See Acts 7 for an illustration.
When we do recognize that ignorance is killing us, we often are suckers for those who would sell us quick fixes and miracle formulas. We look for "programs," or we buy some new equipment to facilitate learning. But no program or equipment works without commitment to learning the Lord's will. It's like an overweight person who wants to lose pounds. It doesn't happen without commitment and effort.
The Apostle Paul's words still ring true. "Study (give diligence) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) In other words, it takes personal effort and work.
We've also developed a sense of dependency, not unlike that of the denominational clergy system, on quasi-professional teachers. Rather than studying for ourselves, we depend on the elders and preachers to lay out for us what we ought to believe. Then, if a preacher or elder teaches error, a whole flock may follow him to the slaughter.
What can we do? As is always the answer, we can repent and change. We can't undo the past or prevent our lack of past work from bearing fruit, but we can begin today, with a different commitment. We can allot an hour or more each day to personal Bible study, in addition to the time we spend in church Bible classes. We can spend a half hour each day reading or studying the Bible with our children or grandchildren. And, we can volunteer to either teach or assist in teaching a class.
We learn well what is repeated. One of the best ways to learn is to teach. You must prepare and then you must show others again and again what you've learned from your study. Before long, you'll know God's word as well as any preacher. You'll learn the secret key to knowledge-preparing to teach others. Paul told Timothy, "and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2)
Brother Blackaby has hit the nail on the head! One of the greatest problems facing the church is members who should be teachers, but still need further instruction. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14)
How many churches have problems finding teachers for the classes? When churches have members who have little desire to "teach others," the result is a shortage of teachers. They have not grown spiritually because they are still "babes." But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever." (2 Peter 3:18)
Developing the ability to teach God's word takes study, preparation, and commitment to growth in understanding. There are no short cuts-just plain old nose-in-the-book study. How much time do you spend increasing your knowledge level by studying God's word? Sadly, many Christians sit back and allow other more-committed members to do the teaching, and they make no plans to qualify themselves to teach.
Another symptom of this problem is seen in the number of the Lord's churches going off into apostasy. How can a church "drift away" from the truth if those in the pews are paying attention? How can a teacher of error and false doctrine convince an entire church to leave the truth if that church's members are testing and proving all things? Teachers can teach error, but it's the Christians in the pews who allow the error to take over a church. Knowledgeable members stop apostasy before it happens. Show me a church whose members allow the preacher to do their studying and thinking, and I will show you a church that is headed for spiritual destruction.
When will we realize that growing in understanding and knowledge is not an option; it's a command! The one who remains a "spiritual baby" can be just as lost as one who has never accepted Christ or the gospel. When a person who has been a Christian for over 25 years needs to call the preacher to locate passages that teach baptism's essentiality to man's salvation, something is very wrong.
If you want to grow, roll up your sleeves, devote the time, and study the Bible. It's the only way to grow. (KMG)